The shelves will be empty by June

[Mycroft]

Well, this was quite a simplification. Here are the tariffs currently in place (not resting…)

10% General Import Tariff
Introduced on April 5, 2025.
Applies to all imported goods from all countries.
The aim is to address the large and persistent trade deficit.

Incorrect.

The 10% baseline tariff is aimed at the tactic of China's...shipping product to other countries, the other country does something minor to the product and puts their own label on the product and then ships it to the US...thereby avoiding the high tariff that China would have incurred if they had directly shipped the product to the US.

145% Tariff on Chinese Goods
Introduced on April 9, 2025.
An escalation of the trade conflict with China.
Trump has indicated that this rate may be reduced "significantly," but not to zero.

You ignore the REASON the tariff on China may be reduced. That is important.

25% Tariff on most goods from Canada and Mexico:
Introduced on March 4, 2025, after a brief pause in February.

Yes.

And again, you ignore the reason for the pause and reintroduction.

25% Tariff on Imported Vehicles and Auto Parts
Applies to passenger cars, light trucks, and key components such as engines and transmissions.
Came into effect in March 2025.

Yes.

25% Tariff on Steel and Aluminum
Reintroduced and expanded in March 2025.
Previous exemptions and exclusions have been revoked.
Now applies to all countries without exception.

Yes.

All of the above tariffs are important for different reasons. They are not part of an overall world trade picture. When the reasons for the various tariffs change...resolved or not resolved...that affects when/if the tariffs are reduced or increased.

I reserve the right that there may be additional tariffs on other countries right now (today at 10:49 Swedish time). The US administration is a complete mess at the moment. Proposals aren’t really proposals, they’re decisions one moment, but not the next. Decisions aren’t really decisions, until suddenly they are and then they aren’t again. It’s hard to keep track of what’s what with all these shifting threats, deals, and off-the-cuff ideas. And by the way, China will not blink. Of that, I am sure. It's quite obvious to a history buff like me and it should be to anyone calling themselves the president of any country from the get go. And if it's not, the experts within the departments should inform him. But wait a minute... weren't they laid off and replaced with nutcases?

I think the problem you are having is that you think Trump's tariff decisions should be set and permanent. They are not. They are fluid and they are determined by the actions of other countries regarding their attitudes and agreements toward the US. You don't have to "keep track of what's what'. The countries that are targeted...China, for example...know exactly what's what.

If China makes a good move, such as beginning trade negotiations, they will be rewarded. Their tariffs might be reduced a bit. If they make a bad move, such as retaliatory tariffs, they will be punished. Their tariffs might be increased. It's the same with other countries.

 

[Quag]

I don't follow your logic. People need food more than they need profits. The Chinese government is willing to subsidise the Chinese economy for longer than American are willing to go without food.

And the Chinese can sell to other markets but Trump has put tariffs on everyone

 

[BirdinHand]

Incorrect.

The 10% baseline tariff is aimed at the tactic of China's...shipping product to other countries, the other country does something minor to the product and puts their own label on the product and then ships it to the US...thereby avoiding the high tariff that China would have incurred if they had directly shipped the product to the US.


You ignore the REASON the tariff on China may be reduced. That is important.


Yes.

And again, you ignore the reason for the pause and reintroduction.


Yes.


Yes.

All of the above tariffs are important for different reasons. They are not part of an overall world trade picture. When the reasons for the various tariffs change...resolved or not resolved...that affects when/if the tariffs are reduced or increased.


I think the problem you are having is that you think Trump's tariff decisions should be set and permanent. They are not. They are fluid and they are determined by the actions of other countries regarding their attitudes and agreements toward the US. You don't have to "keep track of what's what'. The countries that are targeted...China, for example...know exactly what's what.

If China makes a good move, such as beginning trade negotiations, they will be rewarded. Their tariffs might be reduced a bit. If they make a bad move, such as retaliatory tariffs, they will be punished. Their tariffs might be increased. It's the same with other countries.

You still don’t seem to grasp that China doesn’t pay US tariffs. American importers do.

This impacts American importers, who don’t know from day to day what their costs of doing business are going to be.

 

[VySky]

btw, I don't see empty grocery shelves at my Walmart. Food is plentifully available. That's probably because we don't get our food from China.

I was about to make that same point. Maybe they were looking for their daily serving of dog.

'They're eating the dogs'.

 

[multivita-man]

Better stock up on toilet paper again

Well I don't know about y'all, but I can hold it in for at least a few extra days, and I can always drive to my nearest hiking trail and take a shit in the woods and wipe with some leaves, so if there's no TP...I don't care.

 

[Mycroft]

You still don’t seem to grasp that China doesn’t pay US tariffs. American importers do.

This impacts American importers, who don’t know from day to day what their costs of doing business are going to be.

???

It's not hard for importers to calculate what the costs of their business is. They pay the amount the Chinese manufacturers charge for products, pay the government the tariff on the product and the cost to ship the product to the US. It's pretty simple. What's not so simple for them is deciding what to buy from the Chinese.

They know that consumers will reduce, or stop, buying stuff that costs more so the importer's likely decision will be to not buy as much of the stuff China has to sell. Retailers and importers will look for other sources of products...and those sources will likely end up being American producers.

That affects the Chinese more than it affects the America consumers.

 

[NuffSaid]

Well, I don't know about y'all, but I can survive very well by not buying stuff, so if the shelves are empty...I don't care.

But...if the importers aren't placing any orders, what is that doing to the Chinese manufacturers? Nobody is buying their stuff and they aren't making any money.

Instead of crying because you can't get that cheap stuff from China...stuff you probably don't really need...be happy that China has it orders of magnitude worse.

I guarantee, they'll blink long before WE need to blink.

btw, I don't see empty grocery shelves at my Walmart. Food is plentifully available. That's probably because we don't get our food from China.

Typical MAGA - Me! Me! Me!

 

[Irredentist]

???

It's not hard for importers to calculate what the costs of their business is. They pay the amount the Chinese manufacturers charge for products, pay the government the tariff on the product and the cost to ship the product to the US. It's pretty simple. What's not so simple for them is deciding what to buy from the Chinese.

They know that consumers will reduce, or stop, buying stuff that costs more so the importer's likely decision will be to not buy as much of the stuff China has to sell. Retailers and importers will look for other sources of products...and those sources will likely end up being American producers.

That affects the Chinese more than it affects the America consumers.

Tariffs only make sense economically as a means to protect domestic industries. But we don't really have a domestic manufacturing sector to produce the consumer goods that we currently get from China. So what exactly are we protecting? Who are we going to start buying from instead?

 

[lynnwinslow]

Shipping to the United States is down by 30% already.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-import-bookings-down-64-154541951.html

Trump tariffs place trucking industry in the crosshairs

As the White House barrels ahead with its massive tariff project, American truckers are feeling the heat from a global trade war

theweek.com

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/24/unsustainable-china-trade-war-retail-shortage-warnings.html

This will not change quickly. Recession is here.

I recently purchased a computer and some New Balance sneakers that I have been eyeing. I think I’m set but I have no idea which things that we use up on a regular basis are imported. Drugstore items for instance. Is the neutrogena face wash made in the US? I have no idea.

 

[BirdinHand]

???

It's not hard for importers to calculate what the costs of their business is. They pay the amount the Chinese manufacturers charge for products, pay the government the tariff on the product and the cost to ship the product to the US. It's pretty simple.

When the amount of the tariffs and/or if there are tariffs keep changing - no it isn’t.

What's not so simple for them is deciding what to buy from the Chinese.

Buy what you’ve always purchased from China . Pretty simple.

In fact, if you want to keep costs down because of tariffs - but out as many middle men as possible.

They know that consumers will reduce, or stop, buying stuff that costs more so the importer's likely decision will be to not buy as much of the stuff China has to sell.

Unlikely.

Retailers and importers will look for other sources of products...and those sources will likely end up being American producers.

Unlikely.

That affects the Chinese more than it affects the America consumers.

No, it doesn’t. American consumers are only a fraction of global consumers.

 

[NuffSaid]

I was about to make that same point. Maybe they were looking for their daily serving of dog.

'They're eating the dogs'.

Pulling out that dementia riddled sexual abusers lies again?

 

[The AntiDonald]

Make sure you have a good understanding of the return policy first. Just in case.

Costco bans return of hoarded items, including toilet paper - The Golden Star

Shoppers stocked up in panic amid COVID-19 crisis

thegoldenstar.net

Why a 5-year-old article. This isn't 2020 !

 

[lynnwinslow]

Why a 5-year-old article. This isn't 2020 !

Trump fans would rather look foolish than concede a point.

 

[Mycroft]

Tariffs only make sense economically as a means to protect domestic industries. But we don't really have a domestic manufacturing sector to produce the consumer goods that we currently get from China. So what exactly are we protecting? Who are we going to start buying from instead?

You appear to not understand WHY Trump is using tariffs. He's not using them to "protect domestic industries". As you say...those industries don't really exist. He is using tariffs with multiple goals in mind and one of them is to RE-CREATE domestic industries that were lost decades ago.

Those newly created domestic industries are who we will start buying from.

But don't make the mistake of just looking at this one tree in the forest. As I said, there are multiple goals and tariffs are a tool...a tactic...to achieve those goals.

 

[Greenbeard]

Why a 5-year-old article. This isn't 2020 !

It's about to be.

 

[Irredentist]

You appear to not understand WHY Trump is using tariffs. He's not using them to "protect domestic industries". As you say...those industries don't really exist. He is using tariffs with multiple goals in mind and one of them is to RE-CREATE domestic industries that were lost decades ago.

Those newly created domestic industries are who we will start buying from.

But don't make the mistake of just looking at this one tree in the forest. As I said, there are multiple goals and tariffs are a tool...a tactic...to achieve those goals.

Is there any plan to invest federal money to recreate these domestic industries? Or are we just imposing tariffs and then hoping that it happens on its own?

 

[Mycroft]

Is there any plan to invest federal money to recreate these domestic industries? Or are we just imposing tariffs and then hoping that it happens on its own?

You are thinking like a globalist, i.e., "Pay off politicians and get the government to give me the money to build a plant in the US."

That's not how Trump thinks. He is, "It will be more profitable for you if you spend your own money and build a plant in the US."

 

[Quag]

You appear to not understand WHY Trump is using tariffs. He's not using them to "protect domestic industries". As you say...those industries don't really exist. He is using tariffs with multiple goals in mind and one of them is to RE-CREATE domestic industries that were lost decades ago.

How will that happen, as he has said they are negociable. Who would start a busines that required the tariffs to be competetive if the one imposing them says he will remove them if he gets something (undefined by him) from other ocutnries? That is before even considering the probability the tariffs will disappear when Trump goes making the business unsustainable

Those newly created domestic industries are who we will start buying from.

Only there wont be any or at least too few to make up for the losses his stupidity is causing

But don't make the mistake of just looking at this one tree in the forest. As I said, there are multiple goals and tariffs are a tool...a tactic...to achieve those goals.

Yes multiple conflicting goals that are mutually exclusive. Trump is just hoping that somehow if he makes enough claims about tariffs one of them may work then he can say that was the goal all along. Unfortuantely while the world is playing chess Trump is in the corner playing marbles and he's lost half of them

 

[Irredentist]

You are thinking like a globalist, i.e., "Pay off politicians and get the government to give me the money to build a plant in the US."

That's not how Trump thinks. He is, "It will be more profitable for you to spend your own money and build a plant in the US."

But will it actually be more profitable to build a plant in the US without federal subsidies? I'm not so sure, especially considering that we are also applying tariffs on imported raw materials. So not only will companies have to pay higher prices to construct these domestic factories, and higher prices to pay their workers, they will also have to pay higher prices on imported materials, or else buy domestic raw materials, which we currently don't produce enough of. Are you starting to understand why this doesn't make economic sense?

 

[ScrambledEggs]

Well I don't know about y'all, but I can hold it in for at least a few extra days, and I can always drive to my nearest hiking trail and take a shit in the woods and wipe with some leaves, so if there's no TP...I don't care.

Just go in your britches!

 

[BirdinHand]

Those newly created domestic industries are who we will start buying from

Who is this magical “we” and who are these magical “domestic industries”?

 

[ScrambledEggs]

Who is this magical “we” and who are these magical “domestic industries”?

The magic hand duuude

 

[Callen]

Come shop in Canada! We have lots of stuff and , for now anyway, your dollar gets you almost 30% more!

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

I'm not seeing empty shelves here in Walmart or the grocery stores here in Idaho, but the prices are outrageous! 1 pound of sea scallops are 22.00. Ground beef is 8.00 per pound. Eggs are still 5.00+ a dozen. The only way to shop now is for affordable sale items! Thanks so much horrible republicans....

$8 a pound for ground beef? Is that some special ground beef.

That would be about $12 a pound in Canada, and it is usually $7 a pound for medium

Only special types would be at 12 per pound

 

[Callen]

$8 a pound for ground beef? Is that some special ground beef.

That would be about $12 a pound in Canada, and it is usually $7 a pound for medium

Only special types would be at 12 per pound

When I was in Florida this winter I found the prices to be very high, many things were higher than here even with the exchange.