How the Trump Stole Christmas (1 Viewer)

[Greenbeard]

Years of complaining about a made-up War on Christmas, only for Trump to serve up our first Year Without a Christmas through terrible economic policy. Bummer, kids.

Retailers Fear Toy Shortages at Christmas as Tariffs Freeze Supply Chain

President Trump’s China tariffs are threatening Christmas.

Toy makers, children’s shops and specialty retailers are pausing orders for the winter holidays as the import taxes cascade through supply chains. Factories in China produce nearly 80 percent of all toys and 90 percent of Christmas goods sold in America.

The production of toys, Christmas trees and decorations is usually in full swing by now. It takes four to five months to manufacture, package and ship products to the United States.

In a Toy Association survey of 410 toy manufacturers with annual sales of less than $100 million, more than 60 percent said they had canceled orders, and around 50 percent said they would go out of business within weeks or months if the tariffs remained.

 

[soylentgreen]

Now there is a revelation. Santa's little helpers do not live and work in the north pole. Instead they are in

Chenghai City is situated in Shantou City, Guangdong Province of China. It is commonly called the pioneer of this Chinese Toy making industry. Nevertheless, it is maintaining its reputation as a leading Toy producer, with over 10000 factories accounting for toy manufacturing in China.

 

[Mycroft]

Years of complaining about a made-up War on Christmas, only for Trump to serve up our first Year Without a Christmas through terrible economic policy. Bummer, kids.

Retailers Fear Toy Shortages at Christmas as Tariffs Freeze Supply Chain

Guess how many Chinese factories will be going out of business.

 

[Rumblefish]

Guess how many Chinese factories will be going out of business.

My guess? Zero.

They’ll simply shift exports to other countries and/or socialize operating losses.

Great year to be a toy importer, say, in Brazil.

But plenty of American importers will go belly up.

 

[verrip1]

Will somebody please tell the army of libs/socks on this board that Christmas isn't in April?

 

[Mycroft]

My guess? Zero.

They’ll simply shift exports to other countries and/or socialize operating losses.

Great year to be a toy importer, say, in Brazil.

But plenty of American importers will go belly up.

What makes you think Brazil want's any Chinese stuff? Heck, if they did, they'd already be buying the stuff.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

What makes you think Brazil want's any Chinese stuff? Heck, if they did, they'd already be buying the stuff.

Let me ask you a serious question (not that I expect a serious reply)

But do you ever tire of making a fool of yourself?

AI Overview


Yes, Brazil buys goods from China. In fact, China has been Brazil's largest trading partner for the past 15 years.

Brazil Imports from China was US$69.19 Billion during 2024]​

Brazil Imports from China - 2025 Data 2026 Forecast 1989-2024 Historical

Brazil Imports from China was US$69.19 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Brazil Imports from China - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on April of 2025.

tradingeconomics.com

I know you won't feel the least bit embarrassed by how easily I destroyed your inane comments, but anonymous user online or not, I would want to at least try and not sound like a complete Trump sycophant.

 

[Greenbeard]

Will somebody please tell the army of libs/socks on this board that Christmas isn't in April?

Tick tock.

“We have a frozen supply chain that is putting Christmas at risk,” said Greg Ahearn, chief executive of the Toy Association, a U.S. industry group representing 850 toy manufacturers. “If we don’t start production soon, there’s a high probability of a toy shortage this holiday season.”

Kara Dyer, founder of Storytime Toys, a maker of children’s books with playset puzzles, usually places a big holiday order with her Chinese factory in the first two weeks of April to have enough inventory by mid-July. The Christmas holidays account for about two-thirds of her annual revenue.

Larry Gold, the store’s owner, said he had worked with a Chinese factory for many years to design Christmas trees. He places the order in January for shipment in June or July. This year, he planned to send seven 40-foot containers from China loaded with $600,000 worth of trees. The current tariff would require him to pay nearly $1 million at once.

 

[Mycroft]

Let me ask you a serious question (not that I expect a serious reply)

But do you ever tire of making a fool of yourself?

AI Overview


Yes, Brazil buys goods from China. In fact, China has been Brazil's largest trading partner for the past 15 years.

Brazil Imports from China was US$69.19 Billion during 2024]​

Brazil Imports from China - 2025 Data 2026 Forecast 1989-2024 Historical

Brazil Imports from China was US$69.19 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Brazil Imports from China - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on April of 2025.

tradingeconomics.com

I know you won't feel the least bit embarrassed by how easily I destroyed your inane comments, but anonymous user online or not, I would want to at least try and not sound like a complete Trump sycophant.

LOL!!

China's largest trading partner? Not by a long shot.

United States Imports from China was US$462.62 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United States Imports from China - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on April of 2025.​

$69 billion vs $462 billion.

Tell me...who's the fool?

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

LOL!!

China's largest trading partner? Not by a long shot.

United States Imports from China was US$462.62 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United States Imports from China - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on April of 2025.​

$69 billion vs $462 billion.

Tell me...who's the fool?

See how it goes, you original comment was.............

What makes you think Brazil want's any Chinese stuff?

I showed you what Brazil buys from China. I am sorry your debate tactics are so piss poor but it is what it is..............

$69 billion vs $462 billion.

Pay attention. China is building relationships instead of destroying them. The silk road is one example. Reaching out to the EU is another. I know Trump is your Idol (or otherwise I would suspect you are a paid sycophant of Trump's) but try for ONCE not to sound completely bonkers.

 

[Hamish Howl]

LOL!!

China's largest trading partner? Not by a long shot.

No, it said China is Brazil's largest trading partner.

Try reading the posts before knee-jerking.

 

[BirdinHand]

Will somebody please tell the army of libs/socks on this board that Christmas isn't in April?

And supply chains don’t magically fill Christmas stockings in December. It takes time to move products around the globe and businesses always run at minimum one season of ordering ahead.

Orders are being made and shipped now in anticipation (or, conversely, not being ordered)

Not to mention, many people shop early and spread the cost of the holiday season throughout the entire year.

I’ve already finished my back to school clothing shopping for the 2025-2026 school year and have shoes for next winter stashed away…because kids grow like weeds and prices are only going to increase

And have ordered some Christmas gifts and have THOSE stashed away.

I tend to start this shopping in June, but anticipating supply chain disruptions and higher prices from tariffs, I got an early head start.

 

[Hamish Howl]

And supply chains don’t magically fill Christmas stockings in December. It takes time to move products around the globe and businesses always run at minimum one season of ordering ahead.

Orders are being made and shipped now in anticipation (or, conversely, not being ordered)

Not to mention, many people shop early and spread the cost of the holiday season throughout the entire year.

I’ve already finished my back to school clothing shopping for the 2025-2026 school year and have shoes for next winter stashed away.

And have ordered some Christmas gifts and have THOSE stashed away.

I tend to start this shopping in June, but anticipating supply chain disruptions and higher prices from tariffs, I got an early head start.

No, no, no. Shit just appears like a week after you place the order.

 

[BirdinHand]

No, no, no. Shit just appears like a week after you place the order.

As long as you leave cookies out it just magically arrives

 

[Rumblefish]

What makes you think Brazil want's any Chinese stuff? Heck, if they did, they'd already be buying the stuff.

Um....trade stats like this show that Brazil does want "Chinese stuff" and that, yes indeed, they ARE "already be buying" it:

Brazil imports $17.75 Billion in electrical and electronics equipment from China....
Brazil imports $11.9 Billion in machinery, nuclear reactors and broilers from China...
Brazil imports $6.22 Billion in vehicles (other than railway, tram) from China...

Etc.

Now, in trade war with the US where Trump's tariffs effectively amount to an embargo (in the US) of Chinese made goods, China simply keeps its factories churning out products and simply drops prices on its exports to Brazil (and other places) even BELOW the cost of production in order to keep its factories humming right along....which CHINA can do.

What happens to Brazilian demand for Chinese made goods when China lowers prices on its exported goods....does China's exports to Brazil go up or down?

Multiply that by....the other 75, 80. 100+ countries that China currently exports finished products to.

Indeed, this is the gravamen of the US's complaint against "unfair" Chinese export policies -- that Chinese produced products DO NOT REFLECT the "full cost of production" because of Chinese Government subsidies its domestic factories and, therefore, Chinese exporters under price domestic US producers to the point that domestic producers cannot compete and stop making products in the US.

So, in fact, China's already been running this playbook and won't be shy about continuing to run it in the next year or two either to prop up the Chinese economy.

That's a fair criticism by the US of Chinese trade policies.

It's Trump's solution - global tariffs everywhere, against everyone, all at once (well, maybe, tariffs depend upon which side of the bed Trump woke up on) - and staggering tariffs on Chinese goods - that's the problem.

And worse, once other countries get more "electrical and electronics equipment" (and other items of exports) from China it's pretty hard for exporters located in other countries (US, for example) to recapture the market share of exports to Brazil (and other countries).

 

[Rumblefish]

As long as you leave cookies out it just magically arrives

The problem is all those cookies left out on the docks in ports like Los Angeles, etc. results in a surplus of rats and other vermin too.
Plus you need a LOT of milk to wash them all down.

 

[Mycroft]

Um....trade stats like this show that Brazil does want "Chinese stuff" and that, yes indeed, they ARE "already be buying" it:

Brazil imports $17.75 Billion in electrical and electronics equipment from China....
Brazil imports $11.9 Billion in machinery, nuclear reactors and broilers from China...
Brazil imports $6.22 Billion in vehicles (other than railway, tram) from China...

Etc.

Now, in trade war with the US where Trump's tariffs effectively amount to an embargo (in the US) of Chinese made goods, China simply keeps its factories churning out products and simply drops prices on its exports to Brazil (and other places) even BELOW the cost of production in order to keep its factories humming right along....which CHINA can do.

What happens to Brazilian demand for Chinese made goods when China lowers prices on its exported goods....does China's exports to Brazil go up or down?

Multiply that by....the other 75, 80. 100+ countries that China currently exports finished products to.

Indeed, this is the gravamen of the US's complaint against "unfair" Chinese export policies -- that Chinese produced products DO NOT REFLECT the "full cost of production" because of Chinese Government subsidies its domestic factories and, therefore, Chinese exporters under price domestic US producers to the point that domestic producers cannot compete and stop making products in the US.

So, in fact, China's already been running this playbook and won't be shy about continuing to run it in the next year or two either to prop up the Chinese economy.

That's a fair criticism by the US of Chinese trade policies.

It's Trump's solution - global tariffs everywhere, against everyone, all at once (well, maybe, tariffs depend upon which side of the bed Trump woke up on) - and staggering tariffs on Chinese goods - that's the problem.

And worse, once other countries get more "electrical and electronics equipment" (and other items of exports) from China it's pretty hard for exporters located in other countries (US, for example) to recapture the market share of exports to Brazil (and other countries).

Ah...I see. You think China's solution to the loss of the US consumer market is to subsidize and dump their product on other country's markets.

Most countries...and especially the EU...don't like that.

Commission acts against unfairly subsidised imports of mobile access equipment from China

On Friday, the European Commission imposed definitive countervailing duties on imports of mobile access equipment (MAE) from China. The measures aim to shield the EU MAE industry, which employs over 3,000 people across several Member States, from unfair trading practices.

policy.trade.ec.europa.eu

EU Concerns About Chinese Subsidies: What the Evidence Suggests

China uses subsidies extensively to take a leading role in the global markets of green-tech products such as battery electric vehicles and wind turbines. Against the background of the current EU investigations into Chinese subsidies in these sectors, this article takes a careful look at the...

www.intereconomics.eu

 

[Rumblefish]

Ah...I see. You think China's solution to the loss of the US consumer market is to subsidize and dump their product on other country's markets.

It will, in fact, be the solution.

Most countries...and especially the EU...don't like that.

Commission acts against unfairly subsidised imports of mobile access equipment from China

On Friday, the European Commission imposed definitive countervailing duties on imports of mobile access equipment (MAE) from China. The measures aim to shield the EU MAE industry, which employs over 3,000 people across several Member States, from unfair trading practices.

policy.trade.ec.europa.eu

EU Concerns About Chinese Subsidies: What the Evidence Suggests

China uses subsidies extensively to take a leading role in the global markets of green-tech products such as battery electric vehicles and wind turbines. Against the background of the current EU investigations into Chinese subsidies in these sectors, this article takes a careful look at the...

www.intereconomics.eu

No they don't.

And, yet, they didn't - and won't - cut off their noses (with 145% tariffs) to spite their faces.

 

[braindrain]

My guess? Zero.

They’ll simply shift exports to other countries and/or socialize operating losses.

Great year to be a toy importer, say, in Brazil.

But plenty of American importers will go belly up.

I am curious where you think this massive market is that is just sitting there wanting to buy toys but doesn’t have anyone to sell them toys.

 

[Rumblefish]

I am curious where you think this massive market is that is just sitting there wanting to buy toys but doesn’t have anyone to sell them toys.

Post #15.

 

[Mycroft]

It will, in fact, be the solution.

It won't.

China will find it hard to increase their sales to compensate for their losses in the US.

No they don't.

Correct.

The EU doesn't like dumping and neither will a lot of other countries.

They don't want to end up like the US and lose all of their manufacturing.

And, yet, they didn't - and won't - cut off their noses (with 145% tariffs) to spite their faces.

???

I don't even know what this means.

 

[Rumblefish]

It won't.

China will find it hard to increase their sales to compensate for their losses in the US.

Sure, sure...someone who once ordered Chinese food knows what China will find hard to do.

???

I don't even know what this means.

You don't understand that the EU has NOT imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese products as a means of dealing with Chinese products?

Of course you don't because, again, having once ordered Chinese food doesn't make you an expert on China.

 

[braindrain]

Post #15.

That is not an answer to the question I asked.
Brazil is already buying from China. Which means that they are not going to suddenly buy a bunch more just because the US stops buying from China.
If you think Brazil has a bunch of money they just want to spend on toys but up till now no one to sell them to them you don’t understand how markets work.
And if you think China can just sell products all over the world at below cost long term then I don’t know what to tell you.

 

[BirdinHand]

That is not an answer to the question I asked.
Brazil is already buying from China. Which means that they are not going to suddenly buy a bunch more just because the US stops buying from China.
If you think Brazil has a bunch of money they just want to spend on toys but up till now no one to sell them to them you don’t understand how markets work.
And if you think China can just sell products all over the world at below cost long term then I don’t know what to tell you.

The larger question is what Brazil will no longer import from the US and rather source from other countries.

 

[Rumblefish]

That is not an answer to the question I asked.
Brazil is already buying from China. Which means that they are not going to suddenly buy a bunch more just because the US stops buying from China.
If you think Brazil has a bunch of money they just want to spend on toys but up till now no one to sell them to them you don’t understand how markets work.
And if you think China can just sell products all over the world at below cost long term then I don’t know what to tell you.

Well, economics says that Brazil will buy more Chinese goods when China's prices for those goods drops.

Will Brazil make up ALL the slack from the lost US market? If that's your question, no - of course not. But, it doesn't have to. Multiply the incremental additional sales to Brazil by other nations across the globe.

Or do you deny the fundamentals of economics and supply/demand?

In any case, we're talking about China....a country that built "ghost cities."

Put more plainly, China will keep its factories open even if it has to take the goods and bury them in the Gobi desert. It has the means and the will to do so.