Trump's Tariff Problems Are Entirely of His Own Making

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Earlier this month, to the consternation of economists, business leaders, lawmakers and just about anyone else who weighed in on the issue, President Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union. America's third, fourth and number-one trade partners, respectively, were incensed, and all three immediately announced retaliatory tariffs. Included in the $3.2 billion bundle of new tariffs the EU would place on the United States was a five-fold increase in the tariff on Harley-Davidson motorcycles imported from America.

Coming as a surprise to no one but the president, the Wisconsin-based auto manufacturer announced on Monday its plans to move some of its production overseas to cope with the added cost. Trump was none too pleased, tweeting his disappointment that the company was "the first to wave the White Flag."

Link to tweet

Trump wants Harley-Davidson to "be patient" because he anticipates the EU will cave and remove the tariff in some sort of show of economic fealty to the United States, similar to how Mexico will "in the end" pay for the president's proposed $25 billion border wall. Harley-Davidson has shareholders to worry about, though, so unfortunately it wasn't able to follow Trump blindly into a misguided trade war, the implications of which the president doesn't appear to understand. In its filling to the SEC announcing the plan to move some of its production out of the United States, Harley-Davidson wrote that the tariff on bikes going to Europe is now 31 percent (up from 6 percent), amounting to an additional cost of $2,200 per bike. The company has no choice but to shift production – and likely jobs – overseas.

On Tuesday morning, Trump revved up the Twitter machine once more, writing at length about how the company is using the tariff as an excuse, how he "chided" the company about tariffs in India being too high and how "it won't take very long" for everything to "even out." After taking a quick break to tweet an endorsement of South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Trump threatened to tax Harley-Davidson "like never before!"

Link to tweet

This is all Trump's fault, of course, and it's not only Harley-Davidson that has been hit by the numerous trade wars the president has instigated. The Missouri-based Mid Continent Nail Corporation was forced to lay off 60 out of 500 employees after Mexico's retaliatory tariff on steel threw its manufacturing costs out of whack. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company expects to lay off 200 additional workers while it waits for a tariff exemption. The Journal cites a recent report by the Trade Partnerships Worldwide that estimates that Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs will result in a net loss of over 400,000 American jobs over the next three years.

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/trump-tariff-problems-w521976?utm_source=rsnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=daily&utm_campaign=062618_16

[dameatball]

1. Anyone who thinks Trumps is "fighting hard for them" is an idiot.

This bullshit administration is based on daily bullshit lies and bullshit polls and bullshit policies.

No strategic direction other than to tear down everything. Which is what he promised his ignorant base wanted, who all think they are Daniel Boone and can live on squirrel meat until the rapture comes....which it won't.


Why the MSM will not uniformly do an expose on every single cabinet pick, all of their conflicts of interest and what they are doing to deconstruct and funnel funds to private companies is beyond belief. The evidence is there. What are they afraid of? Their only choice is to provide the truth or become irrelevant.


I guess it is up to us.

[Joe Turner]

2. Well there is that Huge trade deficit

we run with the world. It's not all bad. Maybe we can get some better trade deals. Just sayin

[dameatball]

5. Is that the same trade deal where we have an 8.2 billion surplus with Canada?

[dameatball]

6. So if you want to make better trade deals, why do you want to immediately pick on one that greatly

benefits you?

[Joe Turner]

7. I'm not for better trade deals because of it benefits me

I just think after decades of running ever larger trade deficits and losing many productive industries it is time to turn the tide on this. Anyway I'm just an old democrat that happens to remember when the Democratic Party actually looked out for the working people of this country. Can't say the same today.

[pampango]

10. We all know that Trump does not care about "the working people of this country". FDR did.

FDR lowered tariffs. Trump raises them.

Of course, FDR also raised taxes on the rich, promoted strong unions, enhanced the safety net and created/joined international agreements and organizations - all things that would cause Trump to have nightmares.

Tariffs do not equal caring. Old Democratic (FDR) policies do.

[Gothmog]

3. Kiss Nov. elections goodbye: Wall Street Journal rips into Trump for driving Harley jobs to Europe

Link to tweet

[smirkymonkey]

4. Anybody with half a brain can see that his trade war is going to be a disaster for our economy,

and for international relations. It may take a little while for the full impact to hit home, but it will eventually and people are going to suffer for it. He doesn't care though. As long as he looks like a "tough negotiator", that is all that matters to him. The fact that he has no fucking clue what he is doing and understands nothing does not factor in to these decisions.

[Mc Mike]

8. Like every other problem he's ever had, and inflicted on everyone tied to him.

Unfortunately, America is now tied to him.

[hexola]

9. So far - Trump is betting on American ignornace

The "problems" are just diversions - and attempts to inject himself into everything.

Everyone knew Harley was going to move - the big bike thing is over. Trump knew he would lose Harley. But he knew he had to make a play - to keep all those bikers on his side.

Everyone knew N/S Korea re-unification was coming...they been talking about it for 10 years.

Trump takes issues that have inevitable outcomes, makes a bunch of noise - and makes it looks like he was responsible for the outcome.

Trump didn't do anything to Harley - Harley had sold all the loud 50,000 dollar bikes that the market could bear - and the market is moving away from those bikes.

The US Harley "biker" market was a tiny niche market for expensive boutique bikes - compared to the world potential for 2 wheelers, which seems HUGE.

Solar? Guess what - Trump seems PRO-solar...thats the point of the tariff - invest and manufacture stateside - in something that we're about to buy a crapload of - rather than purchase them abroad.

But the funny part is watching Cons/Freepers rail against Solar with their usual BS -- when its so obvious Trump is trying to lead them toward MORE solar with the tariffs.

Dont mistake this for praise for Trump - but, I think he's the guy who can move the base toward positions they might not take - left to their own devices.

I'm telling you all - laugh if you want - and I've said it before - Trump will do gun control!!!

Why - because he'll tell his base it "ok"...and make a bunch of drama - that's all it will take!

The rights fascination with Chicago shootings is setting the table...