OK - Tariffs

[Loyal Coug1]

First off, this tariff "war" with Canada. OK, WTF? Let's pick a fight with our closest ally, you know, the one with the largest unmilitarized border in the world. Why? Now they are retaliating, and Trump has his nose out of joint. Great.

Second, the tariffs on Mexico? At least we have some footing vis a vis the immigration mess. But still. Cooperation works better than conflict. Let's fix immigration by trying to gut their economy and take away jobs and give migrants more reason to come to the US? Americans do realize that any produce you buy in the winter comes from Mexico, right?

Last, if we are going to tariff anybody, it should be China, China, China (I know, we already have them). I told about my observation at the grocery store. Here are these little cheap plastic toys near the checkout line. $10, made in China. We don't need that crap at any price. And no I don't need that 75-inch TV from China.

 

[SaveFerris]

Reagan on tariffs is more than enough for me. "Free trade means fair trade."

 

[Coug90]

First off, this tariff "war" with Canada. OK, WTF? Let's pick a fight with our closest ally, you know, the one with the largest unmilitarized border in the world. Why? Now they are retaliating, and Trump has his nose out of joint. Great.

Second, the tariffs on Mexico? At least we have some footing vis a vis the immigration mess. But still. Cooperation works better than conflict. Let's fix immigration by trying to gut their economy and take away jobs and give migrants more reason to come to the US? Americans do realize that any produce you buy in the winter comes from Mexico, right?

Last, if we are going to tariff anybody, it should be China, China, China (I know, we already have them). I told about my observation at the grocery store. Here are these little cheap plastic toys near the checkout line. $10, made in China. We don't need that crap at any price. And no I don't need that 75-inch TV from China.

Almost like there was a reason Trump went bankrupt 6 times. That’s best case scenario. Worst case this is part of Putin’s geopolitical plan to further isolate the U.S. using Trump as a willing pawn.

 

[Observer11]

Trump's using tariffs as bargaining chips.

But to that end, what is wrong with putting reciprocal tariffs on those countries who slap them on us? Canada has massive tariffs on things like US lumber. If you're for free trade, make the playing field even.

 

[SaveFerris]

Trump's using tariffs as bargaining chips.

The back-and-forth doesn't convince me this is part of the plan. Among other things the market reaction doesn't appear convinced either.

 

[BSpike76]

Trump's using tariffs as bargaining chips.

But to that end, what is wrong with putting reciprocal tariffs on those countries who slap them on us? Canada has massive tariffs on things like US lumber. If you're for free trade, make the playing field even.

So were those lumber tariffs allowed in the last trade agreement signed under Trump, or did Canada break the agreement and implement them. I think you’re full of shit, as usua.

We already had tariffs on lumber enacted last August. Canada didn’t/doesn’t have tariffs on U.S. lumber, but the U.S. charged Canada with subsidies on their lumber.

 

[ttowncoug]

Trump's using tariffs as bargaining chips.

But to that end, what is wrong with putting reciprocal tariffs on those countries who slap them on us? Canada has massive tariffs on things like US lumber. If you're for free trade, make the playing field even.

I agree, this does seem like the strategy. The problem with Trump is things aren't measured and his style can backfire.....which appears to be the case here.

 

[roses04]

Both US and Canada should remove all tariffs, and trade freely amongst each other, problem solved.

 

[KRUSTYtheCOUG]

Both US and Canada should remove all tariffs, and trade freely amongst each other, problem solved.

Yes, as per the "beautiful" recent nafta treaty negotiated and signed by shit-stain 45. That's all I have to say about that

 

[CougEd]

Trump's using tariffs as bargaining chips.

But to that end, what is wrong with putting reciprocal tariffs on those countries who slap them on us? Canada has massive tariffs on things like US lumber. If you're for free trade, make the playing field even.

You are a history major ... when was last time US "won" a trade war

 

[95coug]

The whole back and forth, retaliatory escalating tariffs is just stupid, and it’s not going to help anyone.

My general thought on use of tariffs: for friendly nations, if they produce the same product we do (like Canada and timber), put a modest tariff on theirs so that US timber is cheaper than Canadian. That encourages the consumer to buy American. They do the same to ours, and our domestic products get more sales domestically.
If they make a product that we don’t, and that our consumers want, leave it alone. Let the market set the market.

For unfriendly nations, or those that rip off our products and make cheap knock-off versions of ours, tariff the shit out of them. Kill the market for their pirated crap, and make the domestic original more affordable.

Outside of that…make your foreign trade a mirror. Reciprocal tariffs that cancel each other out. Except that they don’t, because the consumers are paying the bill anyway.

 

[UberCougars]

First off, this tariff "war" with Canada. OK, WTF? Let's pick a fight with our closest ally, you know, the one with the largest unmilitarized border in the world. Why? Now they are retaliating, and Trump has his nose out of joint. Great.

Second, the tariffs on Mexico? At least we have some footing vis a vis the immigration mess. But still. Cooperation works better than conflict. Let's fix immigration by trying to gut their economy and take away jobs and give migrants more reason to come to the US? Americans do realize that any produce you buy in the winter comes from Mexico, right?

Last, if we are going to tariff anybody, it should be China, China, China (I know, we already have them). I told about my observation at the grocery store. Here are these little cheap plastic toys near the checkout line. $10, made in China. We don't need that crap at any price. And no I don't need that 75-inch TV from China.

Do we agree there should be no tariffs between the US and Canada, 🇨🇦 by either side.

 

[kougkurt]

Do we agree there should be no tariffs between the US and Canada, 🇨🇦 by either side.

Yes, or equal

 

[Observer11]

You are a history major ... when was last time US "won" a trade war

Why is having the same tariff coming in vs. the same tariff going out a trade war?

That's free trade.

 

[dgibbons]

Almost like there was a reason Trump went bankrupt 6 times. That’s best case scenario. Worst case this is part of Putin’s geopolitical plan to further isolate the U.S. using Trump as a willing pawn.

Russian asset or Putin’s pawn?

 

[dgibbons]

Yes, as per the "beautiful" recent nafta treaty negotiated and signed by shit-stain 45. That's all I have to say about that

USMCA is currently in a phase where the parties can propose amendments. Juky 1, 2026 is a deadline for all parties to consent in writing to an extension.

Do you expect the President to roll over, or try to improve our country’s position?

 

[dgibbons]

Reagan on tariffs is more than enough for me. "Free trade means fair trade."

View embedded media

Reagan didn’t have to deal with China stealing IP and somehow still being classified as a developing economy. Just saying.

 

[WillieThePimp]

I agree, this does seem like the strategy. The problem with Trump is things aren't measured and his style can backfire.....which appears to be the case here.

Except there is no “strategy” which is irrefutably demonstrated by the reactionary tariff reprieves. This has led to market instability and left businesses in the lurch with no ability to plan. He is causing real damage to our economy. Rather than any actual “strategy”, what you really have is a crotch-grabbing chest-puffing buffoon, who failed history class, flipping everyone the middle finger with no rhyme or reason.

 

[SaveFerris]

Reagan didn’t have to deal with China stealing IP and somehow still being classified as a developing economy. Just saying.

China is one thing although 25% makes zero sense. Targetting Canada and Mexico is ridiculous. The long-term and even short-term impact of these types of “strategies” results in hurting our economy and a lot of people.

 

[UberCougars]

So, you agree too? No tariffs between 🇺🇸and 🇨🇦 ?

 

[Stretch 74]

Except there is no “strategy” which is irrefutably demonstrated by the reactionary tariff reprieves. This has led to market instability and left businesses in the lurch with no ability to plan. He is causing real damage to our economy. Rather than any actual “strategy”, what you really have is a crotch-grabbing chest-puffing buffoon, who failed history class, flipping everyone the middle finger with no rhyme or reason.

Jesus! Some of you remind me of the guy in the stands that says we have no chance to win a game after only 15 seconds in because the opposition ran the opening kickoff back for a TD. How about letting things play out a bit? I have heard some smart business folks talking about waiting to see how all this plays out, not just the temporary tariffs but the full tax cuts that are planned, the new investments in tech and manufacturing, cost savings from DOGE, etc.

Tunnel vision is almost always the wrong way to evaluate things. Have some patience, evaluate everything a ways down the road. The US DOES have a fair amount of power, ya know what I mean, Vern?

 

[dgibbons]

China is one thing although 25% makes zero sense. Targetting Canada and Mexico is ridiculous. The long-term and even short-term impact of these types of “strategies” results in hurting our economy and a lot of people.

So, the United States should not try to improve its position in trade with Canada and Mexico?

 

[Cougar_Guy]

"Trump thinks that he will put the economy through temporary pain for long-term gain; that there will be temporary pains of adjustment but eventually all these manufacturing industries will move back to the United States and provide lots of high-paying, high-benefit blue collar factory jobs for the American public. He thinks he's going to eventually get us back to some "golden age." The problem is there's no evidence that's going to happen and all he's doing is making the US economy inefficient and in doing so in such an arbitrary and confusing way he's depressing business investment and he's scaring consumers so the US economy is slowing and now half the big models show it going into recession. "
-Marcus Noland, Executive VP of the Peterson Institute for International Economics

I don't think there's much hope to be had with this ridiculous tariff strategy.

 

[Coug90]

Russian asset or Putin’s pawn?

That’s a good question for Grok Gibbons. Why don’t you ask?

 

[Coug90]

"Trump thinks that he will put the economy through temporary pain for long-term gain; that there will be temporary pains of adjustment but eventually all these manufacturing industries will move back to the United States and provide lots of high-paying, high-benefit blue collar factory jobs for the American public. He thinks he's going to eventually get us back to some "golden age." The problem is there's no evidence that's going to happen and all he's doing is making the US economy inefficient and in doing so in such an arbitrary and confusing way he's depressing business investment and he's scaring consumers so the US economy is slowing and now half the big models show it going into recession. "
-Marcus Noland, Executive VP of the Peterson Institute for International Economics

I don't think there's much hope to be had with this ridiculous tariff strategy.

It’s not a strategy. It’s a 300 pound 80 year old toddler who wears a diaper throwing a tantrum to try and show how tough he is. And the world calls bullshit on him once again.

 

[SaveFerris]

So, the United States should not try to improve its position in trade with Canada and Mexico?

Pretty sure that's a straw man and no I did not say we shouldn't look to strategically improve our position against trade partners. Reagan literally is (or was) the modern day Godfather of the Republican party and was obviously against a trade war. I was too young, but there's multiple radio addresses where he discusses the danger in misusing tariffs. That doesn't mean we shouldn't employ a tariff. It simply means there's a way of doing without dragging the markets and ultimately the overall economy. It's a tool we currently seem to want to use as bludgeoning object.