Tariff changes are not "bad" for the US economy. The free-trade globalist economy essentially wiped out America's middle class with the destruction of our manufacturing sector. The lure of cheap goods, both in terms of dollars and quality were the distraction that allowed this to occur. If we don't restore our manufacturing sector we will not be able to rebuild the middle class so we must choose - make it cost effective to manufacture goods at home so we can support people and restore the middle class, or ignore that reality because we want cheap things more than we want dignity and opportunity for others.
It will take years to build the plants necessary to manufacture goods of any sort. And, by the time they are built, much of what is manufactured will be done by robots.
What is time for the US to do is recognize our economy is global now and we must work with all countries to come together and work as neighbors, not think we can continue to be hegemonic. Those days are over.
And about the disappearing middle class, that has more to do with the capitalist system we have. It's time to look at successful economic examples around the world. There are many ways for people to work and live comfortably, just not in the US.
I now live in a country that has an economic system that works well, that is capitalist and yet is socially democratic in terms of medical care and housing. There are no homelss on the streets nor those on drugs. There is a more humane way to live.
Aah Utopia, the elusive and completely unrealistic agenda of so many “leaders”. The global economy has failed, with income disparity between those who have and those who do not greater than ever.
Who are the winners? Those implementing the idea and their wealth-creating partners. Who is losing? The rest of humanity.
Human beings are hierarchical creatures, hard-wired to form groups …. like wolves, horses, lions, and other species. Top down lock step control is the only way to create a globalist system, which will be brutal in its implementation, and unfair in its application, as history so clearly shows us. Everyone’s favorite villain, Adolf Hitler, wrote extensively about his plan for a global.
Globalism is as poor an idea now as it ever was. Why? You cannot control free will.
Thanks for that question, Dora! I agree. The term globalism is like the term "sustainable" or ".....justice". They should mean something. When I use the term globalism I think about the way it was described in the Rio Accordes, a plan to create a unified EU and unified America's, places without borders, especially for money. This has tremendous benefits for those controlling the pot of gold but this seldom trickles down into any meaningful improvement for the population at large. Top down, lock step control is now called governance but elimination of the voice of the people is going to be required for this to work. The planners use language to mask agenda's in order to gain compliance. Net Zero is a great example of that. This is peddled as an environmental imperative but it is about economics: zero waste to save corporations disposal fees, which are significant. Where does this waste go? Increasingly into our food supply. This has happened because of regulatory capture, which is what happens when corporations control regulators instead of the other way around. Globalism is not good for people but it is certainly good for business, as illustrated by the widening of the income gap and suppression of wealth in all but the upper echelons. These people, the ones meeting at Davos and in other secretive places, are globalists. They are not designing a world that considers what is best for us. They are designing a world that is best for them. We just get to live in it.
What was “hegemonic” was the world’s markets closed to U.S. goods whilst benefitting from exports to the consumer-rich U.S. i lived in Europe for six years and never once saw an American-made product anywhere.
Exactly what does the US manufacture that Europe needs? I live in the EU now, gratefully, and yes, I rarely see any American goods but that’s because everything one needs can be manufactured on this side of the Atlantic or brought in from China due to the low cost of their goods.
Agriculture? What does have to do with manufacturing?
And what can the US supply to Europe in that sense that is needed by the receiving country?
Are you referring to farm equipment such as tractors? Or products such as soybeans? Apparently Brazil is expecting a large crop of soybeans that the EU is considering buying but that's how it goes. That's call the free market.
I have a high school classmate who is rabidly pro-Trump. And he is apoplectic over the Trump-era tariff changes. Because he understands exactly how bad they are for the US economy.
"When in doubt, consider a U.S.-based retailer or distributor.
That might mean your beloved Australian gel ships from a warehouse in New Jersey instead of Sydney..."
This is interesting, but not outrageous. I hope the short-term inconveniences are tolerated while we restore our manufacturing capability and secure our supply chains.
Along with "fairer" tariffs, we were also promised that we would see America start investing in American manufacturing, so we didn't have to rely on foreign goods or foreign labor. Any of that happening?
I am asking a genuine question. Where is that happening? What kind of manufacturing? In addition, what assistance is being given to small businesses? I'd like to know because I don't hear of any. I hear of plenty of foreign investment, including funding the Ukraine war still.
There are manufacturing businesses growing or new builds in many pockets of the country. I have a small business that desperately needs to build a manufacturing facility. Prior to this Administration there was no money or support for anything other than tech - which is tied to China or tied to Private Equity. I have received my first grant and am beginning to have doors open so I can get the support I need to take the next steps forward. I'm in the ag sector, which has been under-funded since the 60's. For the longest time there was only money for companies that could be scaled and flipped for the billion dollar profit. I'm seeing more investment in businesses that require patient capital for long term growth/sustainability.
Awesome. I wholly support small farmers and the mission of regenerative agriculture. I buy locally from farms here in California. The CHD TV and Meryl Nass often host interesting Agriculture guests.
Let's just pretend. Pretend your Trisha discovers that the favorite hair gel is no longer available, anywhere. What would she do then? I would hope she would try other brands and maybe even buy from a small company in the U.S. This was the way we all did things in the past. No longer made? Choose something else.
Then, maybe you could pick up a few new sponsors as well? Launch it as "Trisha's Favorites".
The problem with the de minimis rule was that it was never meant to be exploited in the way it had been. Technology enabled companies like Temu to ship vast quantities to US (and other consumers -- the UK still has not dealt with this) consumers, undercutting local producers and import/export companies who had to pay the tariffs which was never the intent of the rule. The direct to consumer model for foreign producers which the de minimis rule accidentally enabled was seriously harming American businesses and continues to harm British ones as it creates an unequal playing field. Foreign Affairs did an interesting series of articles on the remaking of the rules after the tariffs for is Sept/Oct edition. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/after-trade-war-michael-froman
I now live in the EU and cannot send gifts to my family in the US this Christmas because if I send one item, anything, my family will have to pay an $80 tariff fee.
When I mail a letter to anyone in the US, the post office always asks if it is all paper or if anything else is included in the envelop.
It’s so hard to muster up concern for Tricia’s hair or some rich chic’s $400 coat or someone’s hobby when the Trump administration is attempting to correct an unbalanced tariff system and our economy. I voted for this! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!
Tariff changes are not "bad" for the US economy. The free-trade globalist economy essentially wiped out America's middle class with the destruction of our manufacturing sector. The lure of cheap goods, both in terms of dollars and quality were the distraction that allowed this to occur. If we don't restore our manufacturing sector we will not be able to rebuild the middle class so we must choose - make it cost effective to manufacture goods at home so we can support people and restore the middle class, or ignore that reality because we want cheap things more than we want dignity and opportunity for others.
It will take years to build the plants necessary to manufacture goods of any sort. And, by the time they are built, much of what is manufactured will be done by robots.
What is time for the US to do is recognize our economy is global now and we must work with all countries to come together and work as neighbors, not think we can continue to be hegemonic. Those days are over.
And about the disappearing middle class, that has more to do with the capitalist system we have. It's time to look at successful economic examples around the world. There are many ways for people to work and live comfortably, just not in the US.
I now live in a country that has an economic system that works well, that is capitalist and yet is socially democratic in terms of medical care and housing. There are no homelss on the streets nor those on drugs. There is a more humane way to live.
Aah Utopia, the elusive and completely unrealistic agenda of so many “leaders”. The global economy has failed, with income disparity between those who have and those who do not greater than ever.
Who are the winners? Those implementing the idea and their wealth-creating partners. Who is losing? The rest of humanity.
Human beings are hierarchical creatures, hard-wired to form groups …. like wolves, horses, lions, and other species. Top down lock step control is the only way to create a globalist system, which will be brutal in its implementation, and unfair in its application, as history so clearly shows us. Everyone’s favorite villain, Adolf Hitler, wrote extensively about his plan for a global.
Globalism is as poor an idea now as it ever was. Why? You cannot control free will.
When you use the term “globalism”, what do you mean? I hear the term bandied about with no understanding of the significance of the word.
Thanks for that question, Dora! I agree. The term globalism is like the term "sustainable" or ".....justice". They should mean something. When I use the term globalism I think about the way it was described in the Rio Accordes, a plan to create a unified EU and unified America's, places without borders, especially for money. This has tremendous benefits for those controlling the pot of gold but this seldom trickles down into any meaningful improvement for the population at large. Top down, lock step control is now called governance but elimination of the voice of the people is going to be required for this to work. The planners use language to mask agenda's in order to gain compliance. Net Zero is a great example of that. This is peddled as an environmental imperative but it is about economics: zero waste to save corporations disposal fees, which are significant. Where does this waste go? Increasingly into our food supply. This has happened because of regulatory capture, which is what happens when corporations control regulators instead of the other way around. Globalism is not good for people but it is certainly good for business, as illustrated by the widening of the income gap and suppression of wealth in all but the upper echelons. These people, the ones meeting at Davos and in other secretive places, are globalists. They are not designing a world that considers what is best for us. They are designing a world that is best for them. We just get to live in it.
So what is your solution?
What was “hegemonic” was the world’s markets closed to U.S. goods whilst benefitting from exports to the consumer-rich U.S. i lived in Europe for six years and never once saw an American-made product anywhere.
Actually, I just thought of a product that EU countries buy from the US, weapons of all sorts, weapons that cause death and destruction.
Exactly what does the US manufacture that Europe needs? I live in the EU now, gratefully, and yes, I rarely see any American goods but that’s because everything one needs can be manufactured on this side of the Atlantic or brought in from China due to the low cost of their goods.
What products does the US make that the EU needs?
You need to look at the ag sector.
Agriculture? What does have to do with manufacturing?
And what can the US supply to Europe in that sense that is needed by the receiving country?
Are you referring to farm equipment such as tractors? Or products such as soybeans? Apparently Brazil is expecting a large crop of soybeans that the EU is considering buying but that's how it goes. That's call the free market.
I have a high school classmate who is rabidly pro-Trump. And he is apoplectic over the Trump-era tariff changes. Because he understands exactly how bad they are for the US economy.
Yikes! Good to know
"When in doubt, consider a U.S.-based retailer or distributor.
That might mean your beloved Australian gel ships from a warehouse in New Jersey instead of Sydney..."
This is interesting, but not outrageous. I hope the short-term inconveniences are tolerated while we restore our manufacturing capability and secure our supply chains.
Along with "fairer" tariffs, we were also promised that we would see America start investing in American manufacturing, so we didn't have to rely on foreign goods or foreign labor. Any of that happening?
Yes, it's happening, but it is not a process that occurs over night. It takes a great deal of time to plan and construct a manufacturing facility.
I am asking a genuine question. Where is that happening? What kind of manufacturing? In addition, what assistance is being given to small businesses? I'd like to know because I don't hear of any. I hear of plenty of foreign investment, including funding the Ukraine war still.
There are manufacturing businesses growing or new builds in many pockets of the country. I have a small business that desperately needs to build a manufacturing facility. Prior to this Administration there was no money or support for anything other than tech - which is tied to China or tied to Private Equity. I have received my first grant and am beginning to have doors open so I can get the support I need to take the next steps forward. I'm in the ag sector, which has been under-funded since the 60's. For the longest time there was only money for companies that could be scaled and flipped for the billion dollar profit. I'm seeing more investment in businesses that require patient capital for long term growth/sustainability.
Awesome. I wholly support small farmers and the mission of regenerative agriculture. I buy locally from farms here in California. The CHD TV and Meryl Nass often host interesting Agriculture guests.
Thank you!! That's so important for the health of the land and the health of our economy.
Let's just pretend. Pretend your Trisha discovers that the favorite hair gel is no longer available, anywhere. What would she do then? I would hope she would try other brands and maybe even buy from a small company in the U.S. This was the way we all did things in the past. No longer made? Choose something else.
Then, maybe you could pick up a few new sponsors as well? Launch it as "Trisha's Favorites".
The problem with the de minimis rule was that it was never meant to be exploited in the way it had been. Technology enabled companies like Temu to ship vast quantities to US (and other consumers -- the UK still has not dealt with this) consumers, undercutting local producers and import/export companies who had to pay the tariffs which was never the intent of the rule. The direct to consumer model for foreign producers which the de minimis rule accidentally enabled was seriously harming American businesses and continues to harm British ones as it creates an unequal playing field. Foreign Affairs did an interesting series of articles on the remaking of the rules after the tariffs for is Sept/Oct edition. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/after-trade-war-michael-froman
I now live in the EU and cannot send gifts to my family in the US this Christmas because if I send one item, anything, my family will have to pay an $80 tariff fee.
When I mail a letter to anyone in the US, the post office always asks if it is all paper or if anything else is included in the envelop.
It’s so hard to muster up concern for Tricia’s hair or some rich chic’s $400 coat or someone’s hobby when the Trump administration is attempting to correct an unbalanced tariff system and our economy. I voted for this! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!
I’m not writing an article about policy / just providing a personal footnote to the tariff story.
You’re not writing an article about policy? Well, sir, your so-called footnote certainly is chock full of policy related words. Hilarious!