Tariffs--Beneficial or not?

[just_abc]

21 hours ago, other one said:

Our economy is on the verge of collapsing and it is in part because since the end of WW I we have let countries take advantage of us on trading.   We can't afford that any longer for too much wealth has been drained out of the country over the years.   Fix it now or there will be nothing left to fix.

 

I am truly sorry that your country is facing economic difficulties.  That is tough.  :(    

I am thinking though that if the tariffs imposed by the Usa were actually actual 'reciprocal' tariffs.. and fair / proportionate etc.. .. perhaps more people around the world might be more understanding of the whole situation..

However the way the  'reciprocal tariffs' were calculated by the Usa appears based on just the trade deficit etc alone.... and not based on the amount of tariffs a country had actually placed on Usa goods... or even if the country had any tariffs on Usa goods at all....

i.e.  The proposed Usa tariffs appear to be a 'trade imbalance' tariff.. and not an actual 'reciprocal tariff'.... (and even countries which don't have a trade imbalance with the Usa are still being punished with the 10 percent minimum tariff.. )

 

A hypothetical example :

If there were two countries.. one a large /wealthy country.. the other a small poor country..

And if the rich country imposed a tariff on some.. (or even all?).. Usa made goods entering that country....   But because the population was wealthy they were able to afford to purchase american made goods etc.. and there was extremely little or even no trade deficit at all.. between the Usa and that country..

On the other hand if the poor country imposed no tariff at all on any Usa goods.. and embraced free trade..  and sold their agricultural products.. or mined products.. to the Usa....  But because a large portion of the population were still living in poverty.. most simply could not afford to buy expensive american products..  And there was therefore a trade imbalance between that poor country and the Usa..

 

In the hypothetical example above.. if the current method used by the Usa government to calculate 'reciprocal' tariffs was used on both those countries.... 

....The rich country which actually did charge tariffs on Usa goods.. would only have to pay the bare minimum 10 percent tariff (or close to that).. simply because it did not have a trade imbalance with the Usa..

On the other hand.. the poor country which charged no tariffs at all on any Usa goods.. would be punished with a high tariff by the Usa.. simply because it had a trade imbalance with the Usa  (i.e. they sold more to the Usa.. then they bought from the Usa..)

 

This is because the Usa administration is currently actually using 'trade imbalance' to calculate.... but pretending /calling it 'reciprocal' tariffs....

Truth matters.  But the chart /table displayed by the Usa administration.. is inaccurate....

This is one reason why some people outside the Usa .. are a bit frustrated /upset at the Usa....

Because truth matters....

 

Just my personal thoughts.  Truly truly no offence intended to anyone....

Thank you.  

 

Edited April 6 by just_abc

[other one]

3 hours ago, just_abc said:

 

I am truly sorry that your country is facing economic difficulties.  That is tough.  :(    

I am thinking though that if the tariffs imposed by the Usa were actually actual 'reciprocal' tariffs.. and fair / proportionate etc.. .. perhaps more people around the world might be more understanding of the whole situation..

However the way the  'reciprocal tariffs' were calculated by the Usa appears based on just the trade deficit etc alone.... and not based on the amount of tariffs a country had actually placed on Usa goods... or even if the country had any tariffs on Usa goods at all....

i.e.  The proposed Usa tariffs appear to be a 'trade imbalance' tariff.. and not an actual 'reciprocal tariff'.... (and even countries which don't have a trade imbalance with the Usa are still being punished with the 10 percent minimum tariff.. )

 

A hypothetical example :

If there were two countries.. one a large /wealthy country.. the other a small poor country..

And if the rich country imposed a tariff on some.. (or even all?).. Usa made goods entering that country....   But because the population was wealthy they were able to afford to purchase american made goods etc.. and there was extremely little or even no trade deficit at all.. between the Usa and that country..

On the other hand if the poor country imposed no tariff at all on any Usa goods.. and embraced free trade..  and sold their agricultural products.. or mined products.. to the Usa....  But because a large portion of the population were still living in poverty.. most simply could not afford to buy expensive american products..  And there was therefore a trade imbalance between that poor country and the Usa..

 

In the hypothetical example above.. if the current method used by the Usa government to calculate 'reciprocal' tariffs was used on both those countries.... 

....The rich country which actually did charge tariffs on Usa goods.. would only have to pay the bare minimum 10 percent tariff (or close to that).. simply because it did not have a trade imbalance with the Usa..

On the other hand.. the poor country which charged no tariffs at all on any Usa goods.. would be punished with a high tariff by the Usa.. simply because it had a trade imbalance with the Usa  (i.e. they sold more to the Usa.. then they bought from the Usa..)

 

This is because the Usa administration is currently actually using 'trade imbalance' to calculate.... but pretending /calling it 'reciprocal' tariffs....

Truth matters.  But the chart /table displayed by the Usa administration.. is inaccurate....

This is one reason why some people outside the Usa .. are a bit frustrated /upset at the Usa....

Because truth matters....

 

Just my personal thoughts.  Truly truly no offence intended to anyone....

Thank you.  

 

Tariffs are only one of the things looked at. Import limits and outright import bans are also figured in. BTW, I'm not offended. I think when it all settles out there will not bu many Tariffs between most countries. I don't think we will allow USA companies manufacture across the border and bring their products back free.

[LaMonte]

15 hours ago, just_abc said:

Our economy is on the verge of collapsing

I am concerned about what’s going on around me, but on the other hand I have realized that I am not a citizen of this world anymore. My citizenship is in His kingdom of God and I’m ambassador of that kingdom who Jesus Christ is the head of. I have been delivered from the power of darkness, and have been translated into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Col 1:13)

When I receive Christ as savior and Lord, I became part of the family of God “a chosen people, a holy nation, I am a now citizen and ambassador of the Kingdom of God. I want to do what Jesus said Luke 9:60 “Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” He also said in Matt 8:22 “Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead”. The dead is the unbelieving world and its system. 

Our Hope comes from the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ Rom 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”.

I choose by faith not to look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor 4:18

[just_abc]

19 minutes ago, LaMonte said:

 

@LaMonte

The sentence that you quoted in your post.. was said by another poster.. not me.... (I was just quoting them to reply).  

I would appreciate it very much if you could please correct /edit your post.

Thank you very much.

[Vine Abider]

14 hours ago, LaMonte said:

 

I am concerned about what’s going on around me, but on the other hand I have realized that I am not a citizen of this world anymore. My citizenship is in His kingdom of God and I’m ambassador of that kingdom who Jesus Christ is the head of. I have been delivered from the power of darkness, and have been translated into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Col 1:13)

When I receive Christ as savior and Lord, I became part of the family of God “a chosen people, a holy nation, I am a now citizen and ambassador of the Kingdom of God. I want to do what Jesus said Luke 9:60 “Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” He also said in Matt 8:22 “Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead”. The dead is the unbelieving world and its system. 

Our Hope comes from the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ Rom 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”.

I choose by faith not to look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor 4:18

And there will be many calamities and tribulations . . . and then the end of this world/system will come.  Our kingdom is not of this world. We do need to have the correct focus on what is eternal - the Lord and His purpose on the earth with us.  Pray for our leaders and that the Lord's plan will prevail (it will, but we still need to pray).

[missmuffet]

I live in the State of Washington and several things have gotten very expensive. One is gas. We are in the very end times and I am anxiously awaiting the rapture of the Church. It will not be long.

[LaMonte]

16 hours ago, just_abc said:

I would appreciate it very much if you could please correct /edit your post.

I'm sorry I don't know how to edit it. I was just commenting on what you said, no matter who said it. What you say might be right from a human viewpoint and I respect your comment. 

I just choose by faith not to look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor 4:18

I believe God is in charge Rom 13:1

[WilliamL]

On 4/6/2025 at 4:12 AM, just_abc said:

I am thinking though that if the tariffs imposed by the Usa were actually actual 'reciprocal' tariffs.. and fair / proportionate etc.. .. perhaps more people around the world might be more understanding of the whole situation..

However the way the  'reciprocal tariffs' were calculated by the Usa appears based on just the trade deficit etc alone.... and not based on the amount of tariffs a country had actually placed on Usa goods... or even if the country had any tariffs on Usa goods at all....

i.e.  The proposed Usa tariffs appear to be a 'trade imbalance' tariff.. and not an actual 'reciprocal tariff'.... (and even countries which don't have a trade imbalance with the Usa are still being punished with the 10 percent minimum tariff.. )

With all due respect, your understanding of fairness, and other countries' understanding of fairness, is entirely self-centered.

No one, other than the United States government, has any right to set trade policy for the United States. That kind of thinking is at the heart of globalist one-world government ideology, which the people of this country have rejected.

[missmuffet]

It looks to me like Trump is trying to bring in a New World Order with the Tariffs.

[warrior12]

If my recollection is correct, then in around 2000 the US had a healthy economy. Greenpeace and the the enviroment was of great concern to the US citizens and population. Coal was seen as a major polluter and at that same time China boom was taking off.   The US companies fled to China to use the cheap labour to make huge profits, while their factories pollution was in other lands.   

The USA made use of the benefits of the cheap household goods and as China improved their quality then other goods were also allowed.  So now the "Chicken has come home to roost".   For three decade the USA have lived with the privildge that no other nation could have done because of the backing of the US dollar, and she did use it to live till the state that accumulated all this credit.  It is not the fault of other nations taking advantage of her trading practice, it is her enjoying the status of the world only super power status and the security that she had offered in return for the goods that she traded in exchange for.  

If the USA did not have the dollar as the reserve currency, which use to be gold, then the trading system would probably be in different configuration. 

May be prophecy is at work, as in Rev 18, it mentions all the nations of the world traded with that nation who made them wealthy and she gave them somethng in return.  What did she gave them, that compelled them to trade with her ?.  I see no other nation in the world today , if indeed we are in the last days that fit the narrative of this chapter, even though as the scholars say the USA cannot be that nation.   Just a thought from me , but not admant on it, as I really don't have a full picture, but just conjecture for now.