Robin B;337315 wrote:They are levying tariffs on countries that have tariffs levied on them, and have done for years.
Does the EU impose costs on US imports? Yes, it does. Does Canada impose costs on US imports? Yes it does, nearing 400% in some cases. But that was all fine and nobody objected. It is a problem now that the US is seeking a fairer and more level playing field. It is a problem because the US tax payer doesn't want to subsidise waste and idiocy in other countries any more.
Err.... USA, Canada and Mexico have a free trade agreement. The USMCA
It was negotiated, and signed by Trump. Duh!
These tariffs break the very agreement that he signed.
He hasn't tried to negotiate or amend, he just went slam dunk and broke the agreement. It's not that hard to understand.
And that's because he doesn't want to change the agreement. He
wants a tariff wall. Because he's under the ludicrous notion that manufacturing will return to the USA. He does not want a level playing field, he wants a walled garden. He has no intention of negotiating on this.
A frying pan made in a place where wages are $1 an hour is always going to outsell a frying pan made where wages are $20 an hour to the rest of the world. So where there may be some local manufacture for the US only market, this stuff is never going to sell to the world.
Apple is setting up manufacture in the US, but it will only serve the US market. To the rest of the world, Asian manufacture will continue.
Adam Smith figured this out in the 18th century.
As you point out the EU has a tariff wall. Yes... And how is EU manufacturing doing? Has it worked as a strategy?
You didn't say if you agreed with the spokeswoman that US Tariffs being a "tax cut" for Americans... ?