Are Tariffs A Good Idea?

[Darkwind]

Really?

Do you live (and pay all your bills) by trading the stock market? I have been doing it for 17 years. Does your track record match mine?

If what you are saying is true, then you already know it has nothing to do with who is President.

So, good luck to you.

 

[22lcidw]

Really?

Do you live (and pay all your bills) by trading the stock market? I have been doing it for 17 years. Does your track record match mine?

The trade deficit with China and the growth of their capitalist manufacturing is a threat to us. We are subsidizing our own demise. Joe expanded that immensely.

 

[frigidweirdo]

So the truth is you know nothing about the Canadian tariffs on the United States and the fact that they are 20 years old and extremely one-sided. Thanks for admitting that.

Yeah, let's go full childish conversation.

I think not. Bye

 

[Correll]

Wow. There is no person, media outlet, or politician you cult zombies won't throw under the bus for Dear Leader.

Your weird need to make everything about Trump is a you thing, nothing to do with us.

I was done with the wsj and their hard line free trade position, long before Trump came down the golden escalator.

 

[Luckyone]

If what you are saying is true, then you already know it has nothing to do with who is President.

So, good luck to you.

You evidently weren't around when Carter was president, right? Or when Bush Jr. was president and almost caused a depression, correct?

 

[Correll]

Thank you....

The Wall Street journal boys are staunchly anti-union and pro illegal slavery.... Also you will notice that they are hands off Russia...

Just Sayin

Huh, slight deviation from standard old guard country club republicans with the hand off russia...

But regardless, they suck and I don't care about what they think or say.

 

[BluesLegend]

The clown even Canada doesn't want has an opinion? Meh.

 

[justoffal]

The clown even Canada doesn't want has an opinion? Meh.

Yeah no shit

 

[Cougarbear]

Really, and you got your degree in economics where?
Ten of the last eleven recessions began under a Republican administration. And Trump is about to make it eleven out of twelve. That's the facts. And as I do have an MBA with an economics minor, I am qualified to say that no, what he is doing is going to tank the economy.

You can get anything at Disneyland U.

 

[AsherN]

If there are no American products, we would not put a tariff on that item. Take TVs for example. Chinese TVs would have a tariff, but Japanese and Korean TVs would not because no one else makes them.

That makes no sense. There are no TV manufacturers in the US, why tariff any foreign producer at all?

 

[AsherN]

They will simply access American parts companies,

Not that simple. The part eco-system has become very specialized in the 6 decades since the auto pact. You can't just ramp up specialized plants overnight. heck, even switching which model an assembly line manufacture can take over a year.

 

[AsherN]

Name something not

Most electronics.

 

[whitehall]

Canada and Mexico have already tightened their security regarding illegal drugs like fentanyl flowing into the U.S.. It might not mean much to the portfolios of WSJ investors but it might save the lives of American kids. Doesn't that count for something?

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

That makes no sense. There are no TV manufacturers in the US, why tariff any foreign producer at all?

Because we don't want the Chinese supplying the cartels with precursor chemicals for Fentanyl.

Now does that make sense?

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Not that simple. The part eco-system has become very specialized in the 6 decades since the auto pact. You can't just ramp up specialized plants overnight. heck, even switching which model an assembly line manufacture can take over a year.

Then those companies that manufacture in Mexico or Canada will just have to pay the tariff if they can't. Sucks to be them. It's better to be somebody who uses domestic manufacturing.

In the town where I sued to live is a Japanese-owned automobile brake manufacturing company. They supplied most Japanese models built here in the US. Recent slow sales caused the new production lines to die off, and replacement brakes could not carry the load. Rather than run several factories below optimal production levels, the company just shifted production to another factory, shut down the plant and laid off every worker from the top down to the floor sweepers. Every single person lost their job. Why? Because they were competing for sales with companies overseas.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Canada and Mexico have already tightened their security regarding illegal drugs like fentanyl flowing into the U.S.. It might not mean much to the portfolios of WSJ investors but it might save the lives of American kids. Doesn't that count for something?

So how effective are their new measures? We don't really know, do we?

 

[jc456]

Most electronics.

What about them. They go in other products as piece parts and most likely to cheap to be tariffed

 

[ThisIsMe]

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 find another supplier. Or use another welder brand made in america

 

[AsherN]

Ultimately, the general cost of living will go down in most cases. We can expect lower energy and fuel prices.

25% on electricity imports from Canada, Plus Ontario will impose a 25% export tax on electricity. And 10% on Canadian oil, which is the only kind of oil most of your refineries are set to process. yeah, that will bring down energy costs.

 

[AsherN]

Then those companies that manufacture in Mexico or Canada will just have to pay the tariff if they can't. Sucks to be them. It's better to be somebody who uses domestic manufacturing.

You get that it's the importer that pays, right? Every time those components cross the border to move in the assembly process, a tariff is added. In some cases, 8-10 times before being put in a car.