To be clear - it isn't a matter of cultural superiority, one culture isn't superior to another one. It is more a matter of focus than anything else. Given time, any nation that has a good educational system and is relatively devoid of systemic corruption (Russia) can produce innovation. The reality is just that the USA has focused on innovation, and not manufacturing for the last 50 years and that is why the USA is good at it. The CCP has had a massive push for production since the late 1980's and it is very hard to suddenly change that from a cultural standpoint. As for Japan - there are some cultural issues to the extent that it takes forever to get approval to do things in a Japanese corporation or in business dealings. However - Japan has a vastly superior education system when compared to most of the world.
The European Commission has announced a new wave of counter-tariffs in retaliation to the United States' escalating protectionist measures under President Donald Trump. A document obtained by Reuters reveals that Europe will impose 25% tariffs on a broad range of American goods, with the first wave set to take effect on May 16, and a second round scheduled for December 1. The move is a direct response to the Trump administration's earlier decision to slap 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum—policies that have already begun to ripple across global markets and strain diplomatic ties. In a dramatic development, Donald Trump declared all talks with China "terminated" unless tariffs are fully repealed, signaling a hardening stance on trade and a potential derailment of already-stalled negotiations with Beijing. Meanwhile, American consumers could soon feel the pinch at the dealership. A fresh analysis from Cox Automotive warns that both imported and domestically manufactured vehicles will see steep price hikes, as the administration’s 25% tariffs on auto imports—and soon, auto parts—take hold. “We expect to see declining discounting and then accelerated price increases as the tariffs are passed through and supply tightens,” said Jonathan Smoke, Chief Economist at Cox Automotive. “This will lead to price increases on all types of most new vehicles.” According to the report, car prices may rise by several thousand dollars—an increase that could reverberate across the entire auto industry. The expected fallout includes: Reduced vehicle production Falling new vehicle sales Rising prices for used vehicles Elimination of certain car models As Europe retaliates and China signals resistance, fears are mounting of a prolonged and unpredictable global trade war. Economists warn that tit-for-tat tariff battles could undermine economic stability, disrupt supply chains, and burden consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. The European Commission has not yet released the full list of U.S. goods to be targeted, but sources say it includes agricultural products, industrial goods, and consumer electronics—sectors where American exporters stand to lose billions. With both diplomacy and economic cooperation hanging by a thread, the coming months could prove decisive in reshaping not just international trade policy, but the very structure of the global economy.
I don't think China really cares about what percentage of tariff Trump puts on them at this point. China's export to the US as a percentage of it's total export have decreased significantly from Trump's first term, the remaining exports are the ones that are hard to replace unless Trump decide to put on several hundred percent tariff, even then it might cause more harm to the US than China. There is a thing as optimal tariff, it is not something you can just pull arbitrary from thin air.
Probably because you just call folks warmongers instead of defending your (constantly) changing position in an adult manner.
The most frustrating thing is conservatives are just rewriting the past and pretending we literally didn't just have an administration that investing heavily into strategic supply chains Or the fact that Obama put tariffs on China or that Biden continued the Trump tariffs. It's so frustrating how dishonest conservative media is.
I’ll make you a deal. Don’t post stupid things that are patently false and I won’t call you a dumb ass. Also, it goes both ways because I believe in being consistent. If I post something that is utterly false, please feel free to call me a dumb ass. I would deserve it and I promise you I won’t whine about it. Why don’t you try that - just admit you posted something that is completely false?
Ehhh it's the liberals who have been saying tariffs are stupid and they don't work. Talking about rewriting history.
I'm not qualified to speak on tariffs So my personal opinion is, there is nothing I can do about it. In this vein I can walk around angry all day and get an ulcer or hope that somehow it works out. Do not confuse my acceptance of these tariffs as support. I'm just praying things are better 10 years from now. That's when I retire. I have never wanted a president to fail on such things. Why would anyone regardless of political affiliation. Most all of us live here and regardless of anyone's thoughts on Trump a better America is what I hope for. Is this the answer? From early indications, no. And I truly feel empathy for those that will be hit hardest. Retirees lower earning folks and those more dependent on government to make their lives a bit better. It's a most needed time to get out and help our brothers snd sisters. This should be our call to action. Not destroying personal property because they bought a Tesla 6 years ago when Elon was cool. Off soapbox now.
Improvement over being called a warmonger.... but we both know "the liberals" are against tariffs being used a sledgehammer. But of course..... understanding nuance can be tough when one's reality is shaped by twitter.
Yes Now imagine this with: Tractors and other mid 6 figure farm equipment from Cat or John Deere that costs a mid trim luxury vehicle from Chinese manufacturer. Cellphone manufacturing -- assembled in America... 90% made where? Electric cars Solar panels and batteries Dual use drones -- is DJI American? All forms of missiles Ships Aerospace soon? Boeing FAFO like intel with chips dominance People think manufacturing is either sweaty labor jerbs or fat lazy teamster jerbs. With robotics and automation, you're only getting a tenth of the workforce, and the shifts aren't only at the high end like TSMC fabs with AI and robots handling clean rooms or 2000 style robots working Lean in Toyota factories. That high end has been happening in Apple factories for a good decade and has been copied into Xiaomi and Huawei. Their mid level distributors are getting robots to do the same damn thing. That's where you're seeing the cutthroat prices. The CCP will eat the failures, excess, and cover it up, so it's not real capitalism, but otoh it's also insanely competitive at the lower and middle rungs. Those bots we praised the Japanese for are giving way to gen purpose robots Tesla and Jensen Huang is boosting. Who is taking notes? Who has the materials and capacity to pump them out them like cars in the 1950s? Not us right now. Everyone else will get cheap prices until they win dominance. Even if the West ringfences their economies, we still have to convince LATM, Africa, and the rest of Asia to buy our stuff. But as we've seen with critical resources, if you piss of the CCP, then you're cut off...no soup for you.
I hear this argument, but it does not make much sense. Even if a country drops all tariffs, like Israel did, it still is not enough. His actual conditions remain unclear, but what they have shown publicly, which is not even about the trade deficit, sets up an impossible standard. Israel’s actions and the fact that the US still imposed a 17 percent tariff on them prove that.
I was HERE months ago, before the election. Unfortunately, I am still here now because it remains the only explanation that makes logical sense. The year 1880 marks the Gilded Age, which he often cites as a time when the United States was very rich. That was both honest and BS-ing. Yes, some people were extremely wealthy, but the vast majority were left behind. It was a period of rampant corruption. The spoils system handed out government jobs based on loyalty and bribery. Monopoly power ran unchecked. The stock market was manipulated. Major industrialists colluded to fix prices and crush competition. This is why the current strategy makes sense if you assume the goal is not prosperity but control. The president has one direct taxation power, and that is the power to impose tariffs. This is extremely dangerous when abused. The founders understood this risk clearly, which is why they gave the power of taxation to Congress, not the executive branch. But Congress delegated tariff authority to the president over the years. Once tariffs are raised across the board, every industry that suffers has no choice but to plead for exemptions directly from the WH.. They cannot go to Congress. They cannot go to the courts. All power flows to one person. That is the only coherent endgame I've seen so far. What is the chance that this is not about balanced trade or bringing back jobs, and that we are being maneuvered into a system where economic dependence becomes political obedience.
I am at a loss for words. I am in shock knowing that the manager of the world's largest bureaucracy doesn't understand what a trade deficit is. We are led by people who do not grasp the basic concept of American hegemony and its global dominance in trade and suppressing wages globally to make America into a treats economy. Americans can afford a new smart tv ever 3 years because of our capital owning class used the CIA, state department, trade negations and the military to suppress labor wages across the globe to make American capital more profitable and allowing Americans to afford 4k 120hz HDR10 55 inch TVs at 800 bucks instead of 5000 bucks. Americans will turn to violence when they can't afford their treats anymore. When they have to cancel plans to replace their flat screen because costs are too high is when you will see social unrest. American culture is so tied to consumption, that a halt of said consumption is what will cause a violent revolution. How we have humans in charge of the federal government not understanding these basics and claiming countries are ripping us off because of a trade deficit is frightening... like world ending frightening. I'm sorry does Donald Trump want Cambodian peasants to buy Ford F150s? WTF is going on? How has this dude not been assassinated by the CIA or something because I know very well there are professional educated above 100 iq humans within orgs like the CIA seeing the same **** as we are and are like "we need to end this mother ****er before he ends the planet". There has to be some emergency contingency to stop this collapse?
The claim of fighting countries "ripping America off" because a trade deficit exists with tariffs is stupid. I'm sorry do expect Bangladeshi villagers to afford Ford F150s? Do you expect the median human from third world economies being able to afford American manufactured goods? Also if Trump is suppressing the means of labor unionization and also explicitly stating all these new factories will be automated, this tariff thing no longer becomes an endeavor to bring back quality jobs. Quality manufacturing jobs require unionization. It requires manufacturing plants that aren't fully automated. Is Trump trying to turn American labor to what we saw in China in the 90s and Aughts with suppressed labor rights, suppressed wages with these manufacturing jobs?
We've seen multiple states relax their child labor laws (iirc in Florida kids as young as 13 can work overnight shifts during the school year). There's also this from Lutnick yesterday: "The army of millions and millions of human beings screwing in little screws to make iPhones -- that kind of thing is going to come to America." https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lm5p4tdc6a2c No word on if these iPhone factories will have suicide nets.
I guess if you suppress American wages enough you can make Ford F150s affordable to the average peasant in Cambodia.
