International What is the real reason for Trump's tariffs?

[Hellowhosthat]

No more Euro booze for you guys.

Trump threatens 200% tariff on alcohol from EU

Wine and spirits will be taxed, Trump says, if the EU does not remove tariffs on US whiskey.

www.bbc.co.uk

200 % tariff cuts you off.

Belgian beers are the best in the world, but Donny says no, sorry.

Has anyone told Donald that there's no such thing as American champagne?

 

[Wrath of Foamy]

Because Americans see everyone else, even their own allies, as beneath them.

It's why Anne Sacoolas was able to get away with killing Harry Dunn.

 

[BluntForceTrama]

Mr Trump likes a game of chicken

And he’s quite good at it. They WILL flinch mark the words

 

[lsa]

Exactly … people need to stop to look short term and see long term …

So already broken your promise of leaving sherdog?

 

[Hdfi]

Its not a lot of money. Tariffs are a terrible way to fund the government.

The US companies would be destroyed under Free Market conditions. They don't have the technical know-how nor cheap labor to compete with Chinese prices. So they are doing the right thing and it's the same thing they did in 1812 with massive 20%-25% tariffs against foreigners. It's not just to fund the government, it's to protect their domestic industry.

 

[WklySportsMemes]

A 4chan user shitting on reddit is peak comedy. But yeah, this is massive copium. Where was the patience with inflation under Biden? It is like yall have excuses ready for Trump when the data doesn't support your narrative. Biden left Trump with a very low unemployment rate too so these tariffs are reactionary based on his declaration.

The idealogical arguement is even more moronic. He got Mexico to do what they generally do with diplomatic requests in regards to border security so those tariffs were pointless. I know some Canadian MAGAts have a Trumpistan torture kink but tariffs and threatening annexation is unjustified in every dimension when we could have ushered more bilateral border security with simple negotiations on that front. Additionally, villanizing NATO and Europe when they literally sent their own troops for the War on Terror for us based on complete lies is total bullshit too.

"When I look at my bank balance, it's not so much about the numbers or math. It's about the ideological awakening of what if there was no negative sign & if I had a positive balance. Because that would make me feel better."
-Poverty Cult Fox

His post was the most unintentionally hilarious thing I have seen in a long time.
Thank God he's not American and can't harm us with a vote or meaningful opinion. Dangerously dumb.

 

[Intermission]

Well for one thing, you wouldn't put tariffs on the raw materials needed for the manufacturing.

I think he wants to use as many executive orders as he can, since so many decisions are voted through congress.

It's like a kid pressing as many buttons as possible in a fantasy store.

You are overestimating his world view and cognitive processes.

 

[pinger]

Has anyone told Donald that there's no such thing as American champagne?

He wouldn't even understand the derivation of the name "champagne" let alone where it is

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

These are the main tariff theories I've seen, but none of them fully make sense and even the reasons that Trump himself gave are incompatible with each other:


1) To combat Security Risks. It's what he said regarding Fentanyl. Might make sense for Mexico or possibly China, but makes no sense that he's also tariffing countries like Australia or Canada, and he hasn't even stated what specific demands he wants fulfilled to remove the tariffs.

2) To bring back manufacturing to the US. He also gave this as a reason, and if true it would mean what he said about #1 above is not true. But if this is his goal, it makes no sense to use blanket tariffs instead of targeting specific industries, and it doesn't explain why he keeps going back and forth pausing/unpausing the tariffs instead of just laying out his plan.

3) To negotiate better trade deals. This would maybe explain why he keeps going back and forth pausing/unpausing tariffs. It would mean that what he said in #1 #2 & #4 are false but would sort of explain why he stated them (misdirection). This is the one I'd want to be true, but it assumes the most guile out of Trump, and also doesn't make sense because NAFTA is up for review in 2026 anyway, so it would make more sense to just renegotiate during that window. By doing it this way, he seems to be damaging relationships with trading partners and causing mistrust, which is not conductive to free trade.

4) To raise revenue to fund tax cuts. He specifically said tariffs will make the US rich again. This would mean #1, & #3 are false because he's not using the tariffs to negotiate. Also #2 would be false because if manufacturing were truly brought back to the US, then the tariffs wouldn't be generating much revenue as there would be little importing. Tax cuts are the standard Republican MO, but this still doesn't explain why he keeps going back and forth pausing/unpausing etc.

5) To disrupt the US's standing with the rest of the world, strengthen ties with Russia, or cause a stock market crash so that the wealthy can buy up the stocks at discount. Basically Krasnov theory... I don't believe its his true goal, but some of it may end up being unintended consequences. It would explain the erratic back and forth on/off with the tariffs fwiw.


Notice that pretty much all of these theories (except for maybe #5) must be mutually exclusive for them to truly fulfill their stated purpose.

So which one do you think is the true motive behind the tariffs?

As much as I approve of Trump on his security, immigration and identity politics, and to a certain extent on his stance with Russia, I think the man is fully unqualified on the rest.

The part I don t get about tarriffs is his aliminium and steel part. These are inputs in American products. How is he helping his economy by doing that? That has to be inflationnary and USA is not really a producer of these commodities on a global scale.

 

[Deaths Head]

Sigh. You shouldn't need me to tell you. When Trump/Musk/Vance does something, just ask yourself, does this help The People, or does it help Putin?

Attack America's allies? Check.
Speak positively of America's enemies? Check.
I'm sure you can think of other examples without my help.

 

[Cid]

@Rational Poster

The US has two things that just about everyone needs: Food and Energy.

That's called leverage.

In my country there is neither food nor energy.

How do you guys do it?

 

[ShadowRun]

 

[SandisLL]

The main reason in my opinion is for Trump to set the table as a "tough negotiator" who's willing to do this kind of stuff on a whim if he doesn't get his way.

He needed to set some examples in order for the rest of the world to get the point. I guess he figured he'd get away with it if he did it to Canada and Mexico.

What stuff pump was able to do with Canada?
They are very interesting for China, Japan, SK, Europe as commodities supplier.
U.S might make isolationism and piss off...already isn't world hegemony anymore.

Ofc crying about fent.
Drug lords easily will create labs in U.S.
History most likely isn't americans favorite.

U.S had history with puritans banning alco ruling U.S and this was stuff that made mafia really strong and impactful tool in U.S cos dreamers ruled U.S lawmaking institutions.

Literally U.S is turning into some kind of Russia today....congratulations.
Even worse.

 

[Versez]

So already broken your promise of leaving sherdog?

A break of couple days was good for the brain.

 

[Versez]

As much as I approve of Trump on his security, immigration and identity politics, and to a certain extent on his stance with Russia, I think the man is fully unqualified on the rest.

The part I don t get about tarriffs is his aliminium and steel part. These are inputs in American products. How is he helping his economy by doing that? That has to be inflationnary and USA is not really a producer of these commodities on a global scale.

I don’t know his end game on this … very curious ….

 

[MMA IAN]

We are not in the business of digging rocks out of the ground. We're in the business of paying someone to do it for us and doubling our investment.

The more worldwide reserves are used, the more valuable yours becomes too.

If Elon has one policy goal above all, it'll be keeping BYD out of the US market so that Tesla doesn't get its shit pushed in.

I think alot of people pause before buying a Chinese car that links to their electronics. I know my old man has been thinking about upgrading from his Tesla for a few years, BYD is the best option but as an old tech head he's not a fan of that Chinese connection.

In my country there is neither food nor energy.

How do you guys do it?

We're massive exporters of coal and gas for energy and sheep and beef for food. Sheep, beef and coal we're #1

 

[Cartiac]

The US companies would be destroyed under Free Market conditions. They don't have the technical know-how nor cheap labor to compete with Chinese prices. So they are doing the right thing and it's the same thing they did in 1812 with massive 20%-25% tariffs against foreigners. It's not just to fund the government, it's to protect their domestic industry.

Haha, what!? China is about as opposite from free market conditions as you can get. It is also difficult to name a major technology advancement in the last 100 years that did not originate in the United States. No nation in the world comes anywhere close to competing with the US technical know-how.

Also a major reason Chinese labor is so cheap is due to the nonexistent concern for things like human rights, environment, health, safety, or quality. If you consider the total cost there is nothing cheap about Chinese goods, but the politicians and celebrities making boatloads of money off shoring all ethics and morality don't want anyone talking about that.

 

[WuDi]

Has anyone told Donald that there's no such thing as American champagne?

It's sparkling wine, $2 Russian variety can sometimes outshine the premium brands. USA is one of the biggest importers, it will seriously affect the businesses in France.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

It's sparkling wine, $2 Russian variety can sometimes outshine the premium brands. USA is one of the biggest importers, it will seriously affect the businesses in France.

We'll see if Donald really wants to serve that at Mar a Lago.

 

[WuDi]

We'll see if Donald really wants to serve that at Mar a Lago.

It doesnt matter, he will obviously and with ease be able to afford whatever price is thrown. It's mass consumers that will change their habits. USA can be self reliant and at the same time is the biggest consumer in the world. Literally holding all the cards, cause any limited foreign trade is going to end up in production of jobs and manufacturing in USA.