How are Trump's tariffs going.

[ElmerMudd]

How are Trump's tariffs going? The purpose was to reduce the trade deficit and bring jobs back to the USA.
In 2025 the US lost 49,000 manufacturing jobs and our trade deficit was up.
The tariffs should reduce China's sales to the USA and reduce their trade surplus. Just the opposite happened. The Chinese trade surplus was up substantially in 2025. The growth came from China increasing their trade with countries other than the USA.

U.S. Trade Deficit Up, Manufacturing Jobs Down by 49,000, Other Manufacturing Growth Measures Mixed in First Nine Months of 2025 - U.S. Trade Deficit Up, Manufacturing Jobs Down by 49,000, Other Manufacturing Growth Measures Mixed in First Nine Month

Rethink Trade today published an infographic webpage compiling trade and manufacturing data that show in the first nine months of his second term, President Trump’s actions on trade have not accomplished his promises to quickly balance trade and revitalize U.S. manufacturing.

www.economicliberties.us

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-trade-ends-2025-with-record-trillion-dollar-surplus-despite-trump-tariffs-2026-01-14/

 

[80zephyr]

Don't care. Manufacturing is a matter of national security and we have to do what we can to bring it back.

 

[Meathead]

How are Trump's tariffs going? The purpose was to reduce the trade deficit and bring jobs back to the USA.
In 2025 the US lost 49,000 manufacturing jobs and our trade deficit was up.
The tariffs should reduce China's sales to the USA and reduce their trade surplus. Just the opposite happened. The Chinese trade surplus was up substantially in 2025. The growth came from China increasing their trade with countries other than the USA.

U.S. Trade Deficit Up, Manufacturing Jobs Down by 49,000, Other Manufacturing Growth Measures Mixed in First Nine Months of 2025 - U.S. Trade Deficit Up, Manufacturing Jobs Down by 49,000, Other Manufacturing Growth Measures Mixed in First Nine Month

Rethink Trade today published an infographic webpage compiling trade and manufacturing data that show in the first nine months of his second term, President Trump’s actions on trade have not accomplished his promises to quickly balance trade and revitalize U.S. manufacturing.

www.economicliberties.us

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-trade-ends-2025-with-record-trillion-dollar-surplus-despite-trump-tariffs-2026-01-14/

Fine. Imports down, exports up.

Winning!

 

[MarcATL]

Not well OP. Not. Well.

 

[ElmerMudd]

Fine. Imports down, exports up.

Winning!

NO!!! I documented the trade deficit grew in 2025. Document what you are saying.

 

[Meathead]

NO!!! I documented the trade deficit grew in 2025. Document what you are saying.

‘Buckle up!’: CNBC anchor shocked as US trade deficit plunges to lowest since 2009. How to take advantage in 2026​

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/buckle-cnbc-anchor-shocked-us-215900943.html

 

[ElmerMudd]

Don't care. Manufacturing is a matter of national security and we have to do what we can to bring it back.

I agree, but it is not happening.

 

[Hellokitty]

I agree, but it is not happening.

It's not even been a year. Washington has srewed up trade for decades, yet TRUMP is supposed to fix it overnight...

 

[kyzr]

How are Trump's tariffs going? The purpose was to reduce the trade deficit and bring jobs back to the USA.
In 2025 the US lost 49,000 manufacturing jobs and our trade deficit was up.
The tariffs should reduce China's sales to the USA and reduce their trade surplus. Just the opposite happened. The Chinese trade surplus was up substantially in 2025. The growth came from China increasing their trade with countries other than the USA.

Your links are only for the first 9-months of 2025, not for the full year.
The first 9-months of a presidency prove nothing, Trump's new policies weren't even in effect yet.
Trump has $18T in commitments from foreign companies to build new plants in the US, that takes years to build and get running.

So your OP proves nothing. Patience little Grasshopper...

 

[Meathead]

Your links are only for the first 9-months of 2025, not for the full year.
The first 9-months of a presidency prove nothing, Trump's new policies weren't even in effect yet.
Trump has $18T in commitments from foreign companies to build new plants in the US, that takes years to build and get running.

So your OP proves nothing. Patience little Grasshopper...

Trump already has:

U.S. Trade Deficit Fell to Lowest Level Since 2009 as Tariffs Reshape Trade​

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/business/economy/us-trade-deficit-tariffs.html

Put a damper on yet another TDS thread.

 

[Cellblock2429]

Not well OP. Not. Well.

/---/ Set your TDS aside for a moment and tell us why you say that.

 

[Meathead]

/---/ Set your TDS aside for a moment and tell us why you say that.

Just following his master's instruction.

 

[ElmerMudd]

‘Buckle up!’: CNBC anchor shocked as US trade deficit plunges to lowest since 2009. How to take advantage in 2026​

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/buckle-cnbc-anchor-shocked-us-215900943.html

Take all the metrics together and the average American is not happy with the Trump economy. He over promised and under delivered.
He sounds like Biden.The most positive metrics are helping the rich and the average guy on the street is not seeing it.

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/16/cnn-poll-americans-trump-economy-affordability-00733331

 

[Meathead]

Take all the metrics together and the average American is not happy with the Trump economy. He over promised and under delivered.
He sounds like Biden.The most positive metrics are helping the rich and the average guy on the street is not seeing it.

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/16/cnn-poll-americans-trump-economy-affordability-00733331

Look, you asked me to prove what I claimed, I did. Now you're disingenuously moving the goal posts. That smacks of sleaze.

 

[ElmerMudd]

Look, you asked me to prove what I claimed, I did. Now you're disingenuously moving the goal posts. That smacks of sleaze.

I referred to several metrics. Metric aggregation provides a more complete picture than looking at one or two mewtrics.
You are looking at a tree, I am looking at the forest.

 

[80zephyr]

I agree, but it is not happening.

Then you have to keep trying.

 

[Meathead]

I referred to several metrics. Metric aggregation provides a more complete picture than looking at one or two mewtrics.
You are looking at a tree, I am looking at the forest.

You should look for ways to lose with a little more grace.

FAFO

 

[Mac1958]

The companies have done what I predicted at the beginning of this: They have a finite number of ways to deal with the increased costs of the tariffs. One of the quickest and easiest ways is to lay people off and freeze hiring. Check, that's what they're doing.

Another thing they can do is engage in "tariff engineering" and "shrinkflation", reducing sizes and portions and quality but charging the same amount: Companies strip features, shrink products and swap materials as ‘tariff engineering’ costs hit consumers

Even though Trump is still somehow claiming that other countries are paying the tariffs, the fact is that American companies are paying them and keeping prices down (somewhat) only by reducing jobs and value to consumers.

Trump is lying and the Trumpsters remain arrogantly ignorant. It's exasperating, but it's all just par for the course. America, 2026 -- The Dunning-Kruger Effect writ large.

 

[80zephyr]

The companies have done what I predicted at the beginning of this: They have a finite number of ways to deal with the increased costs of the tariffs. One of the quickest and easiest ways is to lay people off and freeze hiring. Check, that's what they're doing.

Another thing they can do is engage in "tariff engineering" and "shrinkflation", reducing sizes and portions and quality but charging the same amount: Companies strip features, shrink products and swap materials as ‘tariff engineering’ costs hit consumers

Even though Trump is still somehow claiming that other countries are paying the tariffs, the fact is that American companies are paying them and keeping prices down (somewhat) only by reducing jobs and value to consumers.

Trump is lying and the Trumpsters remain arrogantly ignorant. It's exasperating, but it's all just par for the course. America, 2026 -- The Dunning-Kruger Effect writ large.

Do you believe that manufacturing is a matter of national security?

 

[Mac1958]

Do you believe that manufacturing is a matter of national security?

Virtually anything could be labeled "a matter of national security" if the logic is stretched far enough.

But by itself, no.

In those instances where national security becomes an issue, those issues can be addressed leveraging collaboration and innovation, without resorting to simplistic, punitive caveman approaches that create global chaos, resentment and broken relationships with our friends and allies. Intelligent, professional, mature, respectful relationships matter.

This entire insane tariff fiasco could have been completed professionally and behind closed doors, and not as splashy reality teevee.