Shocked GOP senators pan Trump's tariff announcement

[edpc]

Steel and aluminum tariffs are not going to help American workers.  The tariff is a tax on every manufacturer that uses these metals to manufacture in the USA.  That includes automobiles, aircraft, home appliances and many other goods.  So while it may help steel workers, it harms auto workers and assembly workers, and there are many more of them.  GWB did this several years back and had to reverse the decision because it backfired, just as this will.

This is an election year ploy to appeal to the industrial midwest, but anyone with any sense will understand that it harms many more workers than it helps.

Just like when Bush 43 imposed the tariffs, there's liable to be an appeal to the WTO and counter moves made by China, the EU, Canada, and Mexico.

[Fantom]

WAIT just a minute... YOU'RE the one who's wanting to damage American business!  You're the one trying to drive the price of their raw materials up so American-manufactured goods are more costly (i.e., uncompetitive). 

I'm the pro-American worker/consumer here.   


Figures you'd be against American workers/consumers and pro-union-bosses.

Guess I left a mark, truth has that way 'Bout it.

Actually, I am about as anti-union as one can get... been there, saw from the inside what it is.

And no, you are not pro-worker. If you were you would not let a foreign country tax our goods, while we do not tax theirs.... dump steel/any product below production costs. None of that is pro-American worker.

You just like your cheap stuf,

[Sanguine]

Steel and aluminum tariffs are not going to help American workers.  The tariff is a tax on every manufacturer that uses these metals to manufacture in the USA.  That includes automobiles, aircraft, home appliances and many other goods.  So while it may help steel workers, it harms auto workers and assembly workers, and there are many more of them.  GWB did this several years back and had to reverse the decision because it backfired, just as this will.

This is an election year ploy to appeal to the industrial midwest, but anyone with any sense will understand that it harms many more workers than it helps.

Exactly.

[Fantom]

Just like when Bush 43 imposed the tariffs, there's liable to be an appeal to the WTO and counter moves made by China, the EU, Canada, and Mexico.

Well, I am glad we have Trump then. National sovereignty over one world order seems to be his forte. 

[Suppressed]

Steel and aluminum tariffs are not going to help American workers.  The tariff is a tax on every manufacturer that uses these metals to manufacture in the USA.

@massadvj  Exactly right...quite a simple yet important point.

I would have thought even a Simple Bricklayer could have understood that, but it's evidently over @Fantom 's head.

[edpc]

Well, I am glad we have Trump then. National sovereignty over one world order seems to be his forte.

Well, like it or not, the majority of our imported metal comes from Canada, Mexico, and the EU.  It's not going to impact China as much.  There will be short term effects at the very least.  There's also a potential spillover effects on our agricultural and energy exports to other nations. 

[GrouchoTex]

Steel and aluminum tariffs are not going to help American workers.  The tariff is a tax on every manufacturer that uses these metals to manufacture in the USA.  That includes automobiles, aircraft, home appliances and many other goods.  So while it may help steel workers, it harms auto workers and assembly workers, and there are many more of them.  GWB did this several years back and had to reverse the decision because it backfired, just as this will.

This is an election year ploy to appeal to the industrial midwest, but anyone with any sense will understand that it harms many more workers than it helps.

Add to the fact that bauxite is needed to make aluminum.
All but one region in the world, Central America, has more bauxite than we do.
These bauxite suppliers could simply jack up the bauxite price or add a tariff to retaliate.
This is a stupid idea.

[XenaLee]

Add to the fact that bauxite is needed to make aluminum.
All but one region in the world, Central America, has more bauxite than we do.
These bauxite suppliers could simply jack up the bauxite price or add a tariff to retaliate.
This is a stupid idea.

Makes me wonder..... which Establishment RINO ahole is advising Trump to do this tariff crap.  One (of many) who wants him to fail, no doubt. 

[GrouchoTex]

Makes me wonder..... which Establishment RINO ahole is advising Trump to do this tariff crap.  One (of many) who wants him to fail, no doubt.

Maybe someone who has a stake in international bauxite trading?

[XenaLee]

Maybe someone who has a stake in international bauxite trading?

That too.   But.... more like someone who has a vested interest in seeing Trump fail is what I was mostly thinking.  And the list is long and growing....

[GrouchoTex]

That too.   But.... more like someone who has a vested interest in seeing Trump fail is what I was mostly thinking.  And the list is long and growing....

Could be, but he proposed tariffs as far back as the primaries.
Trump may be doing this all by himself.

[edpc]

Maybe someone who has a stake in international bauxite trading?

Maybe it's Bruce Bauxitener.

[cato potatoe]

A tariff is a tax by another name.  Trump has really gone off the deep end the last couple of days, and I am very glad I did not vote for him.

[XenaLee]

Could be, but he proposed tariffs as far back as the primaries.
Trump may be doing this all by himself.

I kinda doubt it.   Haven't seen any evidence of him being a "free thinker".  Originality just isn't in him.  He does a lot of parroting, however. 

I have a friend (like a sister) that is the same way.  Nothing but good intentions, but once she hears or reads something on the internet, she starts repeating it as if it were gospel.  It's weird.

[corbe]

     You NT'ers just don't get it, He's added the Ethanol people, the Steel Workers Union, the Gun Grabbers and the DACA people to his base all in the span of 3 weeks #MAGA2020l

[XenaLee]

A tariff is a tax by another name.  Trump has really gone off the deep end the last couple of days, and I am very glad I did not vote for him.

Levin was screeching and screaming over this tariff stuff.  Have to admit... it was pretty funny.

[Sanguine]

I kinda doubt it.   Haven't seen any evidence of him being a "free thinker".  Originality just isn't in him.  He does a lot of parroting, however. 

I have a friend (like a sister) that is the same way.  Nothing but good intentions, but once she hears or reads something on the internet, she starts repeating it as if it were gospel.  It's weird.

Trump is a populist and tariffs are popular among his supporters.  I think it's really that simple.

[Sanguine]

Levin was screeching and screaming over this tariff stuff.  Have to admit... it was pretty funny.

Yeah, I had to turn him off before he got to the gun grab before due process topic.  Hurting my ears.

[XenaLee]

Trump is a populist and tariffs are popular among his supporters.  I think it's really that simple.

Well then... that shows that his supporters are anything BUT Conservatives.  Just sayin....

[edpc]

Yeah, I had to turn him off before he got to the gun grab before due process topic.  Hurting my ears.

When he gets rolling, it's like being stuck in a murder of crows.

[XenaLee]

Yeah, I had to turn him off before he got to the gun grab before due process topic.  Hurting my ears.

I like his politics, but his delivery is really grating on my sensitivities lately....lol.

[txradioguy]

As for the socialist countries of western Europe. They need our oil and LNG far more than we need a BMW.

@Fantom

Europe buys it's oil from the Saudis and the Natural Gas from Putin via Gazprom.

BMW manufactures various models at their plant in South Carolina and ship them back to Europe and the rest of the world.

They do NOT need us as much as we need them these days.

[kevindavis007]

Guess I left a mark, truth has that way 'Bout it.

Actually, I am about as anti-union as one can get... been there, saw from the inside what it is.

And no, you are not pro-worker. If you were you would not let a foreign country tax our goods, while we do not tax theirs.... dump steel/any product below production costs. None of that is pro-American worker.

You just like your cheap stuf,

God forbid that I get the best bang for my buck.

[kevindavis007]

Levin was screeching and screaming over this tariff stuff.  Have to admit... it was pretty funny.

Levin always screeching and screaming.

[kevindavis007]

"Certain industries cannot compete with foreign producers because of lower foreign wages and cost of living abroad...we pledge [tariffs] so American labor may command the home market, maintain its standard of living and count upon steady employment." --Herbert Hoover, 1930