Tariffs on Chinese goods?

[Clay]

So you want to impose extra taxes on Chinese imports on a product we aren't importing from China?

Key word: YET. at least not currently in large volumes. We do import some chinese aluminum sheet, but not in quantity. YET.

 

[Garb]

Key word: YET. at least not currently in large volumes. We do import some chinese aluminum sheet, but not in quantity. YET.

It sounds like you're saying "We should impose a tariff on Chinese aluminum sheet, just in case they try to import it," as well as "but it won't inhibit consumers from having more choices with lower prices, because the Chinese aren't currently importing aluminum sheet." If that's what you're saying, then my original argument still stands.

 

[Clay]

ah, ok, so you drive your car looking in the rear view mirror. Way to be.

 

[Garb]

ah, ok, so you drive your car looking in the rear view mirror. Way to be.

No, I was simply pointing out the flaws in your argument.

 

[dross]

Tariffs harm all the people who will benefit from a product they want at a price they want in favor of a few people who will benefit from selling their product without that competition.

It's the classic political trick of harming the larger diffused interests in favor of the concentrated interests who will vote in a block to line their own pockets.

 

[rambone]

This is sort of like a overpriced unionized company trying to get their competition to unionize so that their prices don't seem so outrageous.

 

[Arm America]

Tariffs should be implemented on ALL imported items not just Chinese and implemented at the same rate. What ever it takes stop the trade deficit. It should be raised or lowered in increments of the same percentage we had a trade deficit the previous year. Eliminate all other federal taxes.

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Once again, I agree with Jack.

We as Americans can not compete against foreign labor cost.
We have the EPA, they do not,
We have Social Security, they do not, etc. etc. etc.

When South Korea has loaded 42 of their autos on the float boat,
they allow ONE-Ford product off.

What politician agreed to this trade agreement?

 

[hornadylnl]

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Once again, I agree with Jack.

We as Americans can not compete against foreign labor cost.
We have the EPA, they do not,
We have Social Security, they do not, etc. etc. etc.

When South Korea has loaded 42 of their autos on the float boat,
they allow ONE-Ford product off.

What politician agreed to this trade agreement?

Instead of treating the symptoms, why don't we cure the disease?

 

[ATOMonkey]

If you think things suck now, just imagine a 20% (or likely much more) hike in the price of consumer goods in an attempt to limit Chinese imports.

Yeah, that'll be AWESOME! But hey, a small segment of the population will be able to punch a clock on an assembly line for big money again. And isn't that the American Dream???

 

[Garb]

If you think things suck now, just imagine a 20% (or likely much more) hike in the price of consumer goods in an attempt to limit Chinese imports.

Yeah, that'll be AWESOME! But hey, a small segment of the population will be able to punch a clock on an assembly line for big money again. And isn't that the American Dream???

Exactly. It would bring jobs here, but nobody would be able to afford anything.

 

[Truckerman79]

We had huge trade surpluses during the Great Depression so I don't see how lowering our trade deficit is going to matter much.

 

[steveh_131]

I am conflicted about this.

On the one hand, you have all made excellent points about the application of liberty and free market principles to this topic.

On the other hand, a free market requires a level playing-field for the players. In a Utopian world, tariffs would be just another blight against liberty.

But in this world, our government hampers U.S. industry with absurd regulations and taxes that make up a large part of the cost of an American-made item. Then our corporations are trying to compete with countries that may have no epa regulations, no labor regulations, no government-sponsored unions, etc. This isn't a "free" market.

So, to me, it isn't as simple as liberty vs. government intervention. The government is already intervening.

 

[Fletch]

But in this world, our government hampers U.S. industry with absurd regulations and taxes that make up a large part of the cost of an American-made item. Then our corporations are trying to compete with countries that may have no epa regulations, no labor regulations, no government-sponsored unions, etc. This isn't a "free" market.

The proper response is to roll back regulations, not introduce new ones.

 

[steveh_131]

The proper response is to roll back regulations, not introduce new ones.

I couldn't agree more.

But in the real world, these regulations aren't going anywhere. We may cut and snip here and there, but the nanny state is here to stay.

That doesn't necessarily mean that more government intervention would help. I can't even think of a situation where it has.

 

[Eric J]

America doesn't need nor should it raise/institute tariffs. We need to understand that we are competing with these other countries for these companies. Because that is exactly how these other countries are looking at things. Raising tariffs chase more companies off in the long term due to hiring costs and counter tariffs. We need to take a look at what America has that companies would find attractive and improve. Likewise we need to find and reduce disadvantages. It cost more to create jobs in America than anywhere else in the world.

Obviously we can't remove all regulations but we can review them and see where they can be cleaned up.
We can revamp the tax structure so that it is easier to work with. We can review energy policies so that America is not influence by the ebb and flow of energy costs from over seas.

We can streamline the approval processes for permits and benchmark our country to see where we can improve.

 

[ATOMonkey]

Just making taxes predictable would do wonders as far as improving the business environment in America.

My family alone lost tens of thousands in lost opportunity waiting to see if the Bush Tax code would be extended.

 

[caserace]

Walmart would go out of business

 

[Fletch]

America doesn't need nor should it raise/institute tariffs. We need to understand that we are competing with these other countries for these companies. Because that is exactly how these other countries are looking at things. Raising tariffs chase more companies off in the long term due to hiring costs and counter tariffs. We need to take a look at what America has that companies would find attractive and improve. Likewise we need to find and reduce disadvantages. It cost more to create jobs in America than anywhere else in the world.

Generally speaking, I agree with you. The one quibble I have is that there are other countries with far more onerous restrictions on business and job creation. India has had heavy commerce regulation for over 4000 years -- the original code of Hammurabi (the progenitor of written law) contained a list of price controls and other market interference along with basic criminal codes.

This is not to say that America is the best; just that there are still some places that are worse.

 

[T.Lex]

Donald Trump things that we should impose 25% tariffs on Chinese goods.

Is that what a free-market supporter would suggest? Will that help or hurt the economy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPSYOzr63L8

Honestly, it is kinda crazy that this question was asked back in 2011.

But, looks like we'll find an answer in real life.

'America First' tariffs on imports spark Asia outcry - BBC News

 

[Thor]

Holy necrothread Batman! But yeah, still a topic. We should not reward our enemies as they build a world that is hostile to us. They continue to build military outposts and claim the South China Sea as their sovereign territory. They plan on getting to the moon...any guesses what they'll claim when they do?