Trumps threat to put tariffs on car imports is GREAT (For the environment)

The latest kneejerk from the jerk with the knees threatens a 20% tariff on all imported vehicles. Including Mercedes who import un-assembled cars and put them together in the US.. Presumably this legislation will mean that all manufacturers will be paying tariffs on imported components, notably GM and Ford. with more than 20% imported content on average.
The good news for the environment? The only car manufacturer who sources 100% of their content inside the US is... (wait for it) TESLA!!

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Xuan12 · 31-35, M

I think everyone forgets who ends up paying for tariffs. The consumer. It's a tax on us. Every tax I can think of that gets applied to a transaction, is a tax on the consumer. Trump can say, "I'm putting a tariff on Chinese goods!" But what that really means is, "I'm going to tax you for buying Chinese goods".

HerKing · 61-69, M

[quote]that all manufacturers will be paying tariffs on imported components, notably GM and Ford. with more than 20% imported content on average.[/quote]

Which will be passed on to the buyer of the vehicle. Who did you imagine would pay it?

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@HerKing Exactly.. I'm glad you point this out. Tariffs are in fact "tax by stealth" Collected from imports and the charge passed to the consumer. And on the other side they remove competitive pressures from local manufacturers and allow them to raise prices as well. Win-win. For everyone except the consumer.

Graylight · 51-55, F

Well, now you've done it. Trump will take credit for fixing the environment.

Northwest · M

I hope Tesla survives. There's a significant number of tech parts, in Tesla, that come from China.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Northwest Yeah.. I picked that up wrongly.. Tesla ASSEMBLED 100% of its US delivery cars.. The only maker to do so..

Northwest · M

If I were to predict, I would say that Tesla is going to fail as a car company, and succeed as the provider of the auto operating system

@whowasthatmaskedman

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Northwest I see a similar fate for them.. But they are clever in innovating to lead the market and force it to follow. Musk is quirky; but no fool.

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