Are Tariffs A Good Idea?

[SaxonJackson]

For the most part, I'm a Trump supporter and am generally happy with the direction he's taking the country. It's too soon to know what the long term effects of his executive orders and policies will be but I'm very happy with DOGE and very happy with sending illegals back to their crapholes.

By the same token, I believe in transparency and calling a spade a spade. I started out by saying that "for the most part" I'm happy with Trump but everyone has their flaws and/or weaknesses. I'm still on the fence where Tariffs are concerned. I sell welding supplies, gases, and equipment for a living. I just received this message from Lincoln Electric (a major manufacturer of welding machines and filler metals):

"February 12, 2025

Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for your continued business and support of Lincoln Electric. We advised you in our December 5th, 2024 letter that we would continue to monitor the effects of potential tariffs and, if necessary, we would implement tariff-related price adjustments with short notice. As you are aware, the U.S. Government imposed additional tariffs on China that went into effect on February 4, 2025.
These short-notice tariff-related increases have had a dramatic impact on the input cost of many Lincoln Electric products. As a result, we will be implementing price increases on affected Lincoln Electric products. The affected product categories at this time are helmets, accessories, expendables and parts. Pricing for these products will increase by ten percent (10%).
In addition, effective February 12, 2025, the price for all Lincoln Electric products, including consumables and equipment, will be the price at the time of shipment. The prices on Lincoln Electric Order Acknowledgements dated on or after February 12, 2025, will be subject to change until the date of shipment.
We are working to mitigate changes while ensuring we continue to provide uninterrupted service and support to you and your customers. We will continue to monitor the volatile tariff dynamics closely and implement additional changes as necessary.
Distributor-specific price files will be available via the On-Demand Price File request tool on your 'My Lincoln' account by Thursday, February 13th, 2025.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding during these turbulent times. If you have any questions, please reach out to your local Lincoln representative.
Sincerely,

Albert L. Castillo
Vice President - Sales & Marketing, Americas"

Of course, this will translate into higher prices for my customers. A 5% or 10% increase on a $5000.00 or $12,000.00 or $20,000.00 welding machine is pretty significant. So I'm not too sure tariffs are going to be a good idea. At least not from my perspective.

 

[postman]

For the most part, I'm a Trump supporter and am generally happy with the direction he's taking the country. ...

... I'm still on the fence where Tariffs are concerned. I sell welding supplies, gases, and equipment for a living. I just received this message from Lincoln Electric (a major manufacturer of welding machines and filler metals):

As the governor of Virginia told the federal workers who were recently laid off.

This is what you voted for.

 

[okfine]

And I thought your dear leader was going to lower prices.

Is he working on that?

 

[Godboy]

For the most part, I'm a Trump supporter and am generally happy with the direction he's taking the country. It's too soon to know what the long term effects of his executive orders and policies will be but I'm very happy with DOGE and very happy with sending illegals back to their crapholes.

By the same token, I believe in transparency and calling a spade a spade. I started out by saying that "for the most part" I'm happy with Trump but everyone has their flaws and/or weaknesses. I'm still on the fence where Tariffs are concerned. I sell welding supplies, gases, and equipment for a living. I just received this message from Lincoln Electric (a major manufacturer of welding machines and filler metals):

"February 12, 2025

Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for your continued business and support of Lincoln Electric. We advised you in our December 5th, 2024 letter that we would continue to monitor the effects of potential tariffs and, if necessary, we would implement tariff-related price adjustments with short notice. As you are aware, the U.S. Government imposed additional tariffs on China that went into effect on February 4, 2025.
These short-notice tariff-related increases have had a dramatic impact on the input cost of many Lincoln Electric products. As a result, we will be implementing price increases on affected Lincoln Electric products. The affected product categories at this time are helmets, accessories, expendables and parts. Pricing for these products will increase by ten percent (10%).
In addition, effective February 12, 2025, the price for all Lincoln Electric products, including consumables and equipment, will be the price at the time of shipment. The prices on Lincoln Electric Order Acknowledgements dated on or after February 12, 2025, will be subject to change until the date of shipment.
We are working to mitigate changes while ensuring we continue to provide uninterrupted service and support to you and your customers. We will continue to monitor the volatile tariff dynamics closely and implement additional changes as necessary.
Distributor-specific price files will be available via the On-Demand Price File request tool on your 'My Lincoln' account by Thursday, February 13th, 2025.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding during these turbulent times. If you have any questions, please reach out to your local Lincoln representative.
Sincerely,

Albert L. Castillo
Vice President - Sales & Marketing, Americas"

Of course, this will translate into higher prices for my customers. A 5% or 10% increase on a $5000.00 or $12,000.00 or $20,000.00 welding machine is pretty significant. So I'm not too sure tariffs are going to be a good idea. At least not from my perspective.

I much prefer putting tariffs on countries that put tariffs on us, as opposed to letting them put tariffs on us as we do nothing about it and just take it for decades like a bunch of suckers. Fuck that shit.

 

[Godboy]

And I thought your dear leader was going to lower prices.

Is he working on that?

You dont get to be the party that caused massive inflation, and then complain that Trump isnt fixing the damage that YOU caused fast enough.

 

[Meister]

As the governor of Virginia told the federal workers who were recently laid off.

This is what you voted for.

That is exactly what happens with a bloated government at some point.
We are at that "some point".

 

[Concerned American]

I much prefer putting tariffs on countries that put tariffs on us, as opposed to letting them put tariffs on us as we do nothing about it and just take it for decades like a bunch of suckers. Fuck that shit.

Or those who manipulate their currencies. The Chinese are guilty of both tactics.

 

[1srelluc]

I'm fine with both reciprocal and punitive tariffs.

Take Mexico....Deserves has everything to do with it.

 

[Independent thinker]

For the most part, I'm a Trump supporter and am generally happy with the direction he's taking the country. It's too soon to know what the long term effects of his executive orders and policies will be but I'm very happy with DOGE and very happy with sending illegals back to their crapholes.

By the same token, I believe in transparency and calling a spade a spade. I started out by saying that "for the most part" I'm happy with Trump but everyone has their flaws and/or weaknesses. I'm still on the fence where Tariffs are concerned. I sell welding supplies, gases, and equipment for a living. I just received this message from Lincoln Electric (a major manufacturer of welding machines and filler metals):

"February 12, 2025

Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for your continued business and support of Lincoln Electric. We advised you in our December 5th, 2024 letter that we would continue to monitor the effects of potential tariffs and, if necessary, we would implement tariff-related price adjustments with short notice. As you are aware, the U.S. Government imposed additional tariffs on China that went into effect on February 4, 2025.
These short-notice tariff-related increases have had a dramatic impact on the input cost of many Lincoln Electric products. As a result, we will be implementing price increases on affected Lincoln Electric products. The affected product categories at this time are helmets, accessories, expendables and parts. Pricing for these products will increase by ten percent (10%).
In addition, effective February 12, 2025, the price for all Lincoln Electric products, including consumables and equipment, will be the price at the time of shipment. The prices on Lincoln Electric Order Acknowledgements dated on or after February 12, 2025, will be subject to change until the date of shipment.
We are working to mitigate changes while ensuring we continue to provide uninterrupted service and support to you and your customers. We will continue to monitor the volatile tariff dynamics closely and implement additional changes as necessary.
Distributor-specific price files will be available via the On-Demand Price File request tool on your 'My Lincoln' account by Thursday, February 13th, 2025.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding during these turbulent times. If you have any questions, please reach out to your local Lincoln representative.
Sincerely,

Albert L. Castillo
Vice President - Sales & Marketing, Americas"

Of course, this will translate into higher prices for my customers. A 5% or 10% increase on a $5000.00 or $12,000.00 or $20,000.00 welding machine is pretty significant. So I'm not too sure tariffs are going to be a good idea. At least not from my perspective.

So far, the tariffs seem to be working.

 

[SassyIrishLass]

That is exactly what happens with a bloated government at some point.
We are at that "some point".

Let the unbloating continue

 

[BackAgain]

Country X exports some “stuff” for which there is a demand in America. The government of Country X heavily subsidizes that industry. So, we impose a tariff on its import into America.

The U.S. businesses which make use of that “stuff” pay that tariff. Those businesses pass the higher cost thereof on to the ultimate consumers. It’s a hidden tax on the American people.

In that view, tariffs aren’t a good way to go. For us.

On the other hand, that higher cost might make it possible for American producers of the “stuff” to fairly compete with the foreign nation (and it’s unfair subsidies). That could yield more jobs at home.

 

[okfine]

You dont get to be the party that caused massive inflation, and then complain that Trump isnt fixing the damage that YOU caused fast enough.

I caused you to be an absolute moron?

 

[Concerned American]

I caused you to be an absolute moron?

Are you looking in the mirror again?

 

[bendog]

I can be ok with tariff's equal to what other countries put on our exports, and obama was a pussy when Jina sold solar collectors to us at a loss to Jina, just to fuck us.

But Trump's dept of agriculture is already firing up another round of welfare for farmers ... which fucks us with both higher prices and higher deficts to pay off the Trump voting farmers.... and ADM.

 

[sealybobo]

For the most part, I'm a Trump supporter and am generally happy with the direction he's taking the country. It's too soon to know what the long term effects of his executive orders and policies will be but I'm very happy with DOGE and very happy with sending illegals back to their crapholes.

By the same token, I believe in transparency and calling a spade a spade. I started out by saying that "for the most part" I'm happy with Trump but everyone has their flaws and/or weaknesses. I'm still on the fence where Tariffs are concerned. I sell welding supplies, gases, and equipment for a living. I just received this message from Lincoln Electric (a major manufacturer of welding machines and filler metals):

"February 12, 2025

Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for your continued business and support of Lincoln Electric. We advised you in our December 5th, 2024 letter that we would continue to monitor the effects of potential tariffs and, if necessary, we would implement tariff-related price adjustments with short notice. As you are aware, the U.S. Government imposed additional tariffs on China that went into effect on February 4, 2025.
These short-notice tariff-related increases have had a dramatic impact on the input cost of many Lincoln Electric products. As a result, we will be implementing price increases on affected Lincoln Electric products. The affected product categories at this time are helmets, accessories, expendables and parts. Pricing for these products will increase by ten percent (10%).
In addition, effective February 12, 2025, the price for all Lincoln Electric products, including consumables and equipment, will be the price at the time of shipment. The prices on Lincoln Electric Order Acknowledgements dated on or after February 12, 2025, will be subject to change until the date of shipment.
We are working to mitigate changes while ensuring we continue to provide uninterrupted service and support to you and your customers. We will continue to monitor the volatile tariff dynamics closely and implement additional changes as necessary.
Distributor-specific price files will be available via the On-Demand Price File request tool on your 'My Lincoln' account by Thursday, February 13th, 2025.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding during these turbulent times. If you have any questions, please reach out to your local Lincoln representative.
Sincerely,

Albert L. Castillo
Vice President - Sales & Marketing, Americas"

Of course, this will translate into higher prices for my customers. A 5% or 10% increase on a $5000.00 or $12,000.00 or $20,000.00 welding machine is pretty significant. So I'm not too sure tariffs are going to be a good idea. At least not from my perspective.

First you should have another source where you are going to buy before you slap the other country with tariffs. And remember they'll slap them back at you

Here’s What China May Target In Retaliation To Trump’s Tariffs

Beijing is studying both tariff and non-tariff moves to counter the U.S. president's higher tariffs, per Chinese state media.

www.huffpost.com

Trump earlier imposed a tariff of 10% on imports from China and that will rise to 20% beginning Tuesday. He also ended the “de minimis” loophole that exempted imports worth less than $800 from tariffs, in a blow to companies whose online sales direct to consumers had soared in recent years.

“U.S. agricultural and food products will most likely be listed,”

Food prices going up because of Trump?

 

[SaxonJackson]

So far, the tariffs seem to be working.

Too early to tell for sure. I know that Canada and Mexico are bending the knee where border security is concerned. That's certainly a good thing. But if I have to pay Lincoln Electric 10% more for goods, my customers will be paying 12% more for them. Not sure if the average, blue collar welder is going to be too happy. If Lincoln does this then we can expect Miller Electric, ESAB, Hypertherm, and a bunch of other companies to do the same.

 

[okfine]

Too early to tell for sure. I know that Canada and Mexico are bending the knee where border security is concerned. That's certainly a good thing. But if I have to pay Lincoln Electric 10% more for goods, my customers will be paying 12% more for them. Not sure if the average, blue collar welder is going to be too happy. If Lincoln does this then we can expect Miller Electric, ESAB, Hypertherm, and a bunch of other companies to do the same.

You voted for it. You were warned.

 

[SaxonJackson]

You voted for it. You were warned.

Certainly no worse than Pedo Joe's policies. Only his inflationary policies (and idiocy) did nothing to punish nations that were taking advantage of America. His answer to inflation was to wipe out 100 million chickens. That led to no eggs on the shelves and the price of eggs skyrocketing. Genius!!

 

[Concerned American]

You voted for it. You were warned.

He didn't vote for Biden. You are aware that Biden levied 50% tariffs on China in December aren't you?

Biden orders up to 50% tariffs on some solar energy components from China

The duties will target critical solar energy inputs, including wafers, polysilicon and tungsten products, beginning Jan. 1.

www.utilitydive.com

 

[sealybobo]

Too early to tell for sure. I know that Canada and Mexico are bending the knee where border security is concerned. That's certainly a good thing. But if I have to pay Lincoln Electric 10% more for goods, my customers will be paying 12% more for them. Not sure if the average, blue collar welder is going to be too happy. If Lincoln does this then we can expect Miller Electric, ESAB, Hypertherm, and a bunch of other companies to do the same.

I heard the Mexican President knows how to make Trump happy. If he wants her to send the Military to the border just to show his constituents, she'll do it. So she did it. It didn't solve a thing.

Trump tariffs will raise gasoline and electricity prices in the U.S., Canada energy minister says​