Second ('Third') Trump Presidency Thread

Why would anyone engage with you on this when you’re intellectually dishonest in these conversations?

Example 1: Trump 1st term tariffs - “a 2020 pandemic invalidates 2019 conclusions from a 2017 policy!”

Example 2: Any other time tariffs were tried before - “all of this data is invalidated because the CCP exists in 2025!”

Example 3: The 2020 election - “Trump didn’t lose, the election was stolen!”

If sturg or whoever else wants to have a go, so be it…I think it’s a waste of time

Real wages skyrocketing for non supervisory workers - Median income raising at highest levels in decades.

I'm sure you actually believe the CCP didn't release the virus on purpose.

Tariffs don't work....

HAHA - OK
 
Exhibit A

Agreed - real actual benefits to the non-laptop class during Trumps term stymied by the super natural virus that you believe wasn't released intentionally.

Trumps strategy wasn't hurting China at all!

If Trumps economic ideas were so bad why were so many Americans benefitting? I know this is difficult for you to comprehend.
 
Another day, another shift of the goalposts

I listened to that Douglas Murray-Dave Smith debate on Rogan and Murray said something to the effect of “I feel like I’m punching jello.” I know what he means.

Show me where I moved the goalposts.

You can't of course.

Second time you've pulled this crap on me.

Talk about intellectually dishonest.
 
Show me where I moved the goalposts.

You can't of course.

Second time you've pulled this crap on me.

Talk about intellectually dishonest.
The MAGA case for tariffs changes hourly…sorry I can’t tell you all apart. Like I said the last time you got bent out of shape, you’re welcome to make a positive case for what you want other than an appeal to sit around and wait for the promise of some vague “better trade deals.” What the hell does that mean? Not sure how anyone is supposed to engage with that because no one is able to get in your head.
 
The MAGA case for tariffs changes hourly…sorry I can’t tell you all apart. Like I said the last time you got bent out of shape, you’re welcome to make a positive case for what you want other than an appeal to sit around and wait for the promise of some vague “better trade deals.” What the hell does that mean? Not sure how anyone is supposed to engage with that because no one is able to get in your head.

Whatever

What do you want? Exact percentages? That I can't give you.

Europeans and many other countries have higher tariffs than we do. How about a level playing field where we can more easily get our products into their markets?

Regardless of what many people say their VATs are also barrier to trade.
 
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What do you want?
Your preferred outcome for this trade war that Trump initiated that you’re supporting. If you’re for it, surely there’s an endgame you have in mind.

Sounds like from the rest of your response that maybe you want all countries to bring their tariff rates down to 0%? That’s how I interpret “a level playing field where we can more easily get our products into their markets.” If that’s the case, I’d agree that’d be a good off-ramp (even though it’s not something I would’ve started this war over).

And that outcome would come at the expense of others (for example, raising tariff revenue as a potential substitute to other tax revenues, among others).
 
Your preferred outcome for this trade war that Trump initiated that you’re supporting. If you’re for it, surely there’s an endgame you have in mind.

Sounds like from the rest of your response that maybe you want all countries to bring their tariff rates down to 0%? That’s how I interpret “a level playing field where we can more easily get our products into their markets.” If that’s the case, I’d agree that’d be a good off-ramp (even though it’s not something I would’ve started this war over).

And that outcome would come at the expense of others (for example, raising tariff revenue as a potential substitute to other tax revenues, among others).

A level playing field doesn't necessarily mean 0%.

If everyone is at 5% that is good as well. I don't have anything written in stone.

I don't mind a trade war over this. Other countries have taken advantage of us with our low tariffs while boxing us out of their markets.

It's bullshit and it cuts our economic growth.
 
I disagree with the premise that we’ve been taken advantage of by other countries. Also, most countries, especially developed economies, had very low tariffs on us before Trump ignited this war (EU 2-3%, China 3%, Canada & Mexico 0-3%). And tariffs suppress economic growth.
 
I disagree with the premise that we’ve been taken advantage of by other countries. Also, most countries, especially developed economies, had very low tariffs on us before Trump ignited this war (EU 2-3%, China 3%, Canada & Mexico 0-3%). And tariffs suppress economic growth

That's true to a certain extent. Now add VAT along with it.
 
That's true to a certain extent. Now add VAT along with it.
Me: Is VAT a non-tariff trade barrier?

Grok
No, VAT (Value Added Tax) is not considered a non-tariff trade barrier. VAT is a consumption tax applied to goods and services at each stage of production or distribution, typically borne by the end consumer. It is not specifically designed to restrict trade but to generate revenue for governments.

Non-tariff trade barriers, on the other hand, are measures like quotas, subsidies, regulations, or standards that indirectly restrict imports or exports without involving direct taxes or duties. While VAT applies to both domestic and imported goods, its uniform application means it doesn't inherently discriminate against imports, unlike non-tariff barriers which often aim to protect local industries. However, if VAT is applied unevenly (e.g., higher rates on imports), it could potentially act as a trade barrier, but this is not its primary function.
 
I was wondering when this was coming up.

Countries that use VATs heavily subsidize their own industries where the businesses don't pay as much therefore little gets to the consumer.

Countries that export to their countries pay the full amount.

It's a shell game.

Yes, VATs are tariffs in disguise.
 
I was wondering when this was coming up.

Countries that use VATs heavily subsidize their own industries where the businesses don't pay as much therefore little gets to the consumer.

Countries that export to their countries pay the full amount.

It's a shell game.

Yes, VATs are tariffs in disguise.
Yes, that’s why we don’t want to do the tariffs. Because we will pay the tariffs through higher prices, and we will use the revenue from tariffs to subsidize the farming industry. This is why we don’t want to do it.
 
Yes, that’s why we don’t want to do the tariffs. Because we will pay the tariffs through higher prices, and we will use the revenue from tariffs to subsidize the farming industry.

I've explained above why we're doing this.

If we can get our products into foreign markets at a reasonable price it's worth a trade war.

Europe looks to be ready to talk.
 
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