Trump says he ‘couldn’t care less’ if auto prices rise because of tariffs

[Grand Mal]

Because the assertion of the question I was answering is that the US trying to onshore manufacturing for goods sold in the United states means other countries won't have manufacturing. There's the whole rest of the world to produce for.

Yeah, but you also say Canada can only export oil through the USA.
So there's that.

 

[Jetboogieman]

That's going to help American consumers in the long run.

Case studies show categorically it will not.

 

[BirdinHand]

And perhaps worse of all, we will be forced to buy unreliable American junk - rather than our preferred dependable vehicles.

Some people might - but frankly, I’ve only owned 2 American cars in my life and BOTH of them were trash in comparison to other vehicles I’ve owned. (One Chevy and the other a Chrysler and I’ll never buy either again…neither even made it to 100K miles and both had problems before a loan term would have expired. Fooled me twice…not going back)

My husband is a reliable Dodge Ram driver. But he’s an infrequent buyer - maybe every 10-ish years or so and then beats that thing up for a decade until he has no choice to go and get another truck. His current one is on a 2nd engine and that engine has close to 200K miles. He will drive it until he kills it. It’s a work truck. He doesn’t care about bells and whistles.

Me? I tend to buy a new vehicle more frequently because I want newer technology, safety features, ease of use…and warranties that cover anything that might break. I need my phone to synch up, the kid’s iPad to charge in the back seat, I want the comfy heated/cooled seats, I want the navigation system, I want the lights to show up and tell me when to get service, etc.

The Asian markets produce better bang for my buck . More technology, more safety features, strong warranties, etc.

 

[mike2810]

Interesting article on what vehicles Trump has owned. A lot of very expensive foreign vehicles
- Rolls Royce Phantom and Siver Cloud
- Cadillac Allante
- Mercedes Benz Mclarin
- Ferrari
- Lamborghini
and more

https://carbuzz.com/president-trump-car-collection/

Where was the buy American back then?

 

[Allan]

Lamborghini

I would pay big money to see Trump try to squeeze into a Lamborghini.

I'd pay even more to see him try to get out of one.

 

[Ho Ho Ho!]

With 50% of vehicles manufactured outside this country, there is no way we have the current physical plants to double current production, which is what it would take to wean ourselves from imported vehicles.

I assume parts sourcing may be even worse than 50% domestic content, which would require in excess of doubling physical capacity.

In addition, this is assuming a perfectly elastic fungible market. Some of us will simply not be forced into buying American junk for our required daily transportation needs. I, and many like me, refuse to throw our hard-earned money at unreliable vehicles. They are not worth it, at any price. I know, from experience.

No matter how you cut it, we are in for a long-haul in inflated vehicle prices - should these tariffs take place.

What is the 50% number are you referencing, specifically?

 

[Chomsky]

The thing is, we are going to need to talk about a UBI eventually any way this cake gets sliced.

Automation and technology means that even IF lots of manufacturing comes back to the US?

Most Americans aren’t going to have the skills necessary to fill those jobs.


And this administration is slashing funding for education, research, training, etc.

More Apprenticeship Cuts

While uncertainty reigns, the White House moves forward with substantial reductions to apprenticeship programs.

the-job.beehiiv.com

Looking to the past doesn’t solve 2025 and future problems.

I do agree with your prognosis.

The last numbers I saw had 55M working in retail (I was shocked), with 15M working in food service, and 1.7M working in auto manufacturing.

Amazing how MAGA cries when we want to insure a livable minimum wage for retail and restaurant employees, but they now run to defend a much smaller minority who's jobs are being replaced by technology.

 

[Rexedgar]

Hey, where can I get my hands on that red 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix for $2,250.00? Do I need to contact @Port & Starboard? LOL.

When it was available, that was a chunk of change!

 

[Chomsky]

He also isn't killing all the domestic chickens either.

You're welcome.

Irrelevant to your point.

Turn off your MSNBC and go outside.

Even more irrelevant, in light of your posting inaccurate data.

 

[jaeger19]

The uncertainty is being generated by the media, not the American people.

How unhinged has the left become that they think making "the rich" aka big multinational corporations to focus on something beside the bottom line and focus their employment, resources and supply chain locally are all now bad things.

Trump is going to have you all burning down factories in a couple months just to prove him wrong.

No the uncertainty is being generated by trump.
He’s the one holding the tariff cards.

Making “ corporations focus on employment resources and supply chain “ instead of the bottom line “??

Sweet baby Jesus. Corporations are always focused on supply chains , employment and resources because these are imprtant to the bottom line.

You think that for a tariff that may be in place for 4 weeks or 4 years they are going to make a major shift in operations with no clear demand as of yet?

Did it occur to you that Americans choose cars on other things other than price?
What if very few people switch to American and simply decide that the value, reliability or
Features of foreign cars outweigh any cost difference?

 

[BirdinHand]

I do agree with your prognosis.

The last numbers I saw had 55M working in retail (I was shocked), with 15M working in food service, and 1.7M working in auto manufacturing.

Amazing how MAGA cries when we want to insure a livable minimum wage for retail and restaurant employees, but they now run to defend a much smaller minority who's jobs are being replaced by technology.

And I worked in the auto manufacturing supply chain (auto was one line of business…healthcare, beauty, consumer products, construction…other lines)

They are SKILLED jobs. Were there some low skill? Yes. We tended to utilize temp to hire and temp agencies to fill those jobs…and they had (obviously) the lowest pay rates, highest turnover and were the first that we flexed up/down as necessary and as even slight market changes indicated. They were the most expendable

The majority of the FTEs were highly skilled and possessed bachelors/specific training - if not advanced degrees.

I also had a client in chip manufacturing - again - SKILLED manufacturing.

Manufacturing is no longer a field for your high school graduates (or high school drop outs). Those days are gone.

And MY personal experience in those industries is close to a decade old. Those companies are leaner and even MORE highly skilled now with fewer FTE headcount

 

[Chomsky]

How many years before the supply side for auto manufacturers catches up if all parts need to be made in the USA? post 286

If you don't want to answer the question, just say so.

If this keeps up, some of them may get to the breaking-point, as we may just have seen here. Their arguments in support of Trump have been so thoroughly & unequivocally refuted, we are seeing more & more debate responses like that above.

 

[Captain Adverse]

Case studies show categorically it will not.

Case studies my ...

The economic reality is that with factories in the USA comes decent paying work, and unionization opportunities to preserve worker rights. With decent paying work also comes not only the ability to make more purchases, but also afford homes, the ability to increase savings, and to fund marriage and family.

Why do you think any of the other nations who've had those tariffs and value added taxes did so? To prevent American competition in their home markets. To lead citizens to buying products and increase gainful employment thereby in those home nations.

Trump is simply showing he recognizes this economic reality, and he is willing and able to use those same techniques, in his case only in favor of the USA.

 

[Kelby]

Case studies my ...

The economic reality is that with factories in the USA comes decent paying work, and unionization opportunities to preserve worker rights. With decent paying work also comes not only the ability to make more purchases, but also afford homes, the ability to increase savings, and to fund marriage and family.

Why do you think any of the other nations who've had those tariffs and value added taxes did so? To prevent American competition in their home markets. To lead citizens to buying products and increase gainful employment thereby in those home nations.

Trump is simply showing he recognizes this economic reality, and he is willing and able to use those same techniques, in his case only in favor of the USA.

So, return the economy back to 1955?

If only we had a time machine.

 

[L88]

If anything, the companies will take a temporary hit to remain competitive. They may even look to their governments for subsidies in waiting out Trump's dumbest trade war in history, which will be defunct no later than January 2029, and likely much sooner. What they're not going to do is close up shop over there and bring manufacturing over here. Only a fool would think companies will divest only to invest, only to divest four years later. Insanity, these Trump supporters.

The thing is, trade channels that took decades and even a century to build are being destroyed. When that happens, others move in to fill the gaps. Just as countries in SA have filled in China's grain demands, pretty much replacing the US. EVs from China just got a lot cheaper with Trump's trade wars.

 

[Michael Cole]

Beautiful well-maintained car.......Viva Trump!!....Cuba Libres for everyone!!

Fast & Furious Cars Roll Into National Auto Museum In Reno

Beautiful car!!! Well maintained by Dominic Toretto. Cuba libres indeed!!!

Tickets only $15. $13 if you're old. Great bargain.

The cuba libres will be a bit more.

​

 

[L88]

Why do you think any of the other nations who've had those tariffs and value added taxes did so?
To generate tax revenue accross all income levels and all economic activity.

 

[Jredbaron96]

Case studies my ...

The economic reality is that with factories in the USA comes decent paying work, and unionization opportunities to preserve worker rights. With decent paying work also comes not only the ability to make more purchases, but also afford homes, the ability to increase savings, and to fund marriage and family.

These gains with higher wages are going to be offset by increased costs of consumer goods if broad-stroke tariffs are implemented.

 

[BirdinHand]

Case studies my ...

The economic reality is that with factories in the USA comes decent paying work, and unionization opportunities to preserve worker rights. With decent paying work also comes not only the ability to make more purchases, but also afford homes, the ability to increase savings, and to fund marriage and family.

Why do you think any of the other nations who've had those tariffs and value added taxes did so? To prevent American competition in their home markets. To lead citizens to buying products and increase gainful employment thereby in those home nations.

Trump is simply showing he recognizes this economic reality, and he is willing and able to use those same techniques, in his case only in favor of the USA.

Only about 7-8% of Americans work in manufacturing.

Automation and technology has advanced to the point where even GLOBALLY, the percentage is only like 10% total with higher percentages in pockets. It is NOT the job market it once was and the people having manufacturing jobs are changing.

Blue collar manufacturing is dying.

Why are we chasing a dying industry? The future of employment for our population is NOT in having people making widgets. It’s never going to produce the volume of jobs necessary. That’s OVER. Done. Hang onto what we can for those who still rely on it - but let’s face the music.

Our problem isn’t a lack of onshore manufacturing for the sake of economic opportunity for workers.

That mindset is outdated. Robots and automation do the bulk of the jobs. And that’s not going to change….its going to get worse.

Do we need certain capabilities for the sake of national security? Yes.

But you don’t punitively tax (via tariffs) your entire population chasing a magical unicorn that doesn’t exist. The days of John Average American working a manufacturing job with a high school diploma and living a middle class lifestyle are gone.

 

[upsideguy]

Exactly.

Tariffs only apply to vehicles made outside the USA. They do not apply to those made IN the USA. Trump's stated goal for tariffs like those on automobiles is to do exactly what European nations do to cars made in the USA and sent for sale in their markets. Price them out of their citizens ability or desire to pay.

So, he is doing that to their foreign made products, including cars. All they have to do is build the factories in the USA and any cars made here by U.S. labor won't have tariffs on them.

That's going to help American consumers in the long run. Meanwhile, there are still cars made in the USA that citizens can buy that are not hindered by tariffs.

Even if the bolded statement were true, and their is zero evidence of such and lots of reasons why it is not true, this is not the way you go about it.

If you are trying to protect domestic industry, you implement tariffs as a part of a plan, but not the first step. What Trump is trying to do is the ready, fire, aim approach. Tariffs are never the first step in the plan because they are disruptive (and inflation). The appropriate domestic industries are not in a position to respond. It will take years to bring new auto plants online.

As a rule, tariffs are generally a dumb idea to be used very sparingly in certain circumstances (protecting a fledgling key domestic industry from foreign product dumping). To use them indiscriminately, as Trump is generally doing, is to shoot your own economy in the foot.

https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/5213175-trump-tariffs-economic-effects/

What tariffs do and why economists don't like them

Trump keeps expanding his tariff plans, but most trade analysts across the political spectrum warn they’d inflate consumer prices.

www.nbcnews.com

Why Are Tariffs Bad for Businesses and the Economy?

Explore how tariffs impact business costs, consumer demand, and economic stability, affecting global trade dynamics and resource allocation.

accountinginsights.org

What Trump is doing with tariffs is certifiably dumb. It is just his ignorance and arrogance at play. Arrogance and ignorance is a lethal combination. Let's see how the Dow and S&P500 do this week.

 

[slavablueberryjam]

I do agree with your prognosis.

The last numbers I saw had 55M working in retail (I was shocked), with 15M working in food service, and 1.7M working in auto manufacturing.

Amazing how MAGA cries when we want to insure a livable minimum wage for retail and restaurant employees, but they now run to defend a much smaller minority who's jobs are being replaced by technology.

The thing is not everyone can become a STEM employee. Those 68,700,000 individuals are going to need more than just a ubi. That said, we all need a reformed welfare that gives everyone the same amount regardless of their resource(s) or work credits. America should be the first to implement ubi.

 

[Captain Adverse]

The thing is, trade channels that took decades and even a century to build are being destroyed. When that happens, others move in to fill the gaps. Just as countries in SA have filled in China's grain demands, pretty much replacing the US. EVs from China just got a lot cheaper with Trump's trade wars.

Don't compare us to China. They are our No. 1 competitor. Primarily because unlike the USA, China is a controlled economy. It also doesn't have to adhere to all those pollution and safety regulations other "Developed" nations like the USA has to.

China can dictate wages and prices inside their lands at will. They can pollute at will. They can overwork and underpay at will. Point being, comparing the USA to China ignores those factors that China happily takes advantage of as a socialist "controlled economy."

I don't care about EV's. Unlike you (it seems) I am not interested in "Climate" issues. I've pointed out in other threads that there are several major nations (including China) that pollute more than the USA does in all sorts of ways. I am not invested in "Environmental" issues.

I am invested in the USA, my country. I support Trump's desire to exploit every resource we have to make the USA number one in every way we can.

 

[CaughtInThe]

 

[L88]

Don't compare us to China. They are our No. 1 competitor. Primarily because unlike the USA, China is a controlled economy. It also doesn't have to adhere to all those pollution and safety regulations other "Developed" nations like the USA has to.

China can dictate wages and prices inside their lands at will. They can pollute at will. They can overwork and underpay at will. Point being, comparing the USA to China ignores those factors that China happily takes advantage of as a socialist "controlled economy."

I don't care about EV's. Unlike you (it seems) I am not interested in "Climate" issues. I've pointed out in other threads that there are several major nations (including China) that pollute more than the USA does in all sorts of ways. I am not invested in "Environmental" issues.

I am invested in the USA, my country. I support Trump's desire to exploit every resource we have to make the USA number one in every way we can.

China will quickly fill the US supply channels to the rest of the world very quickly. Climate cares or not. Trump's tariffs will allow most of the US exports to be filled by suppliers from India and China.


China's BYD has become one of the world's largest manufacturers of electric vehicles, including buses, trains, and automobiles. In China and other markets, BYD sells electric cars that cost as little as the U.S. equivalent of $10,000, helping to build the brand's popularity.

With a mix of 1.6 million battery-electric cars (BEVs) and 1.4 million gasoline-electric cars (HEVs), BYD outsold Tesla by selling more than 3 million vehicles, earning the crown as the world's top producer of new-energy vehicles in 2023. Tesla sold 1.8 million EVs, narrowly retaining its lead in that category. BYD's 43% sales decline in the first quarter of 2024 allowed Tesla to regain its new energy sales leadership for now.

Can I Buy a BYD Car in the United States? | Capital One Auto Navigator

China's major electric vehicle producer doesn't sell cars here yet.

www.capitalone.com

 

[George50]

This is what you get when one takes a snippet of a conversation out of context...and then engages in spin, speculation, innuendo and hyperbole.

This is what you get when one denies reality.