Tariffs are always bad, but with Mexico they are worse and this all could be a backdoor to something

[RB TexLa]

else.

There is no defense of tariffs ever, the integration of the global economy and trade has been the goal of the civilized world since WWII.

With Mexico it is far worse, the North American states have an integrated economy. We would be placing tariffs on ourselves. We would also be showing the rest of the world that we do not abide by our trade agreements.

The backdoor is tariffing or taxing ourselves. The tariffs in effect become a sales tax on consumers. trump has already bragged about how much revenue the tariffs on China has brought the treasury. How long before some in trumps ear say let's see if we can fund the government on tariffs instead of income tax collection? Who thinks trump would love to move us to a regressive national sales tax? After all a VAT is just a domestic tariff. Which is what we are talking about right now with tariffs on Mexico, a domestic tariff on ourselves.

[mobeau69]

1. He's gonna back down and declare victory soon.

He has very little party support on this idiotic idea. The market seems to have come to the same conclusion.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. Its been a nightmare for those companies trying to control inventory. Trump

threatens a tariff and the prices, of say, a piece of pipe that they need for their product shoots up. Then, weeks later, Trump says, never mind for now, and the price goes down. Now, their inventory is over-priced. Then, the next month, he does it again. I would certainly hate to be managing inventory in such instability.

[sprinkleeninow]

7. The stable jeenyus of instability.

He gives not a flying crap.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. Is Trump Co still building? Guess not - just selling their name? - probably upfront -

pre-construction, so they don't have to worry about builder supply chains. But, bet builders sure are complaining to Senators. I have heard complaints and that's just from small outfits - nothing like major companies who have HUGE $$ invested, and rely on any country for supplies he threatens then unthreatens then threatens with tariffs.

[sprinkleeninow]

23. Waiting for the day the name is eaten by irreversible rust. eom

[busterbrown]

17. Of Course.. Tues nite? By thursday...

No more Tariffs ... Trump will blame Cuba for all the problems.

[Hoyt]

2. +100000. trump's tariffs are Economic Racism, as far as I'm concerned.

[watoos]

9. You get it,

These tariffs aren't about trade they are about immigration. Trump is more concerned with keeping his promise to seal the border. Republicans will never vote against Trump, it would be political suicide.

[riverine]

3. Yes, tariffs are always bad.

When will someone tell Bernie Sanders and Liz Warren?

[torius]

16. Bernie is against the China tariffs

He has proposals other than tariffs to deal with the problems. He does not think the China tariffs are the right approach.

Schumer is for the China tariffs. Warren thinks tariffs should be part of an overall trade plan to protect workers, but I am sure if she did them she would do them with forethought and work with Congress, unlike Trump. I don’t know for sure but I don’t think anyone likes the Mexico tariffs, which are not even about trade. Bernie said they would not bring jobs back to the U.S.

[still_one]

5. worse then that, he just negotiated a new NAFTA deal, and from what I

understand, these tariffs are a violation of that just negotiated deal.

I don't understand why any country would trust what the U.S.

[sarabelle]

6. More money for his corporate buddies. That is all.

[RDANGELO]

8. Free trade has turned human labor into a bottomless rescource, which has facilitated income

inequality. Trade can be part of an economic strategy to bring about higher wages and a stronger middle class. Once you run a large trade deficit with another country, resolving it is like putting toothpaste back in the tube, but you don't want a trade war; you want negotiations. Trump is trying to use tariffs to punish Mexico which already has a fragile economy. This could send them into a recession and make the situation at the border worse.

[riverine]

10. So you are a protectionist like Trump?

Not me. I am an FDR, JFK, WJC, BHO free trade supporter.

[watoos]

12. Not me, I am for fair trade done selectively

and with co-operating partners.

[RDANGELO]

13. Trump doesn't know what he is doing.

He never talks about trade in terms of higher wages or a stronger middle class. We have an income inequality problem with low wages and a weak middle class; there are different ways to address it. Trump refuses to even acknowledge it.

[ArizonaLib]

19. I agree - Trump wants to fake winning on both fronts

NAFTA has helped decimate jobs here in the US because they have been going to Mexico where labor and environmental protections almost don't exist. Our country was built and has thrived on tariffs until Reaganomics got rid them. If you protect labor and environmental resources, tariffs protect that. The Germans still use VAT (value added taxes) which are in essence, tariffs. The way Trump wants to do it is to appease his racist base by appearing to erect tariffs and renegotiate NAFTA - both going after labor and environmental protections.

DON'T ALLOW TRUMPERS TO TROLL BY ASKING US TO PICK BETWEEN FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS AND TARIFFS.
......The Free Trade Agreements are the biggest problem.

[ArizonaLib]

20. Funny! Nice Try!

Trump is not a protectionist - he is a racist trying to appease his racist base. Don't try trolling users on this site by using a false dilemma to support your free trade agreement loving labor hating notions. All of the world leaders know Trump's word is worth nothing, and are only putting up with him until he is gone. Since Hamilton's tariffs through the 1970's protective, strategic, smart tariffs were supporting the growth and wealth of this country. Funny how wage trends flattened since we got rid of the tariffs in favor of free trade agreements.

If you are a Trumper, bless your heart, and get ready for more big disappointments at the polls!

[riverine]

22. Cut the accusations - I am a mainstream Democrat

Obama supporter. Supported the TPP too.

That doesn't make me a "troll" unless this is JPR.

[watoos]

11. I may be out in left field

but I thought these tariffs had to do with Mexico stopping migrants from getting to America? If Mexico can't stop migrants from reaching America the Tariffs go up. These tariffs are just Trump bullying Mexico.

[FiveGoodMen]

21. The whole idea of "free" trade is to leave the CEO bastards FREE to plunder the earth

and use and discard all the humans they want to.

[Midnightwalk]

14. Say the economy tanks

It has been 10 years without a resession. A downtown during 2020 would hurt republicans and trump.

If they can demonize Mexico, that deflects the anger from the tariffs to Hispanics. It is convenient to have a scapegoat.

Roll out some new punitively measures against immigrants and the racist base would be energized.

Are they laying it out like that? Maybe not precisey, but they may be seeing opportunities that we can’t because they are ugly.

[Texin]

18. People in the red states eat tomatoes too. People are going to notice a 5% hike in food bills.

Most of the tomatoes eaten in the United State are grown in Mexico year round. Mexico keeps most agricultural products on the shelves during the winter months. I know that a great deal of agricultural food production is in California, South Texas and Florida as well, but we import (especially in Texas) most of what is consumed at our tables when it comes to fresh produce.