Trump's Tariff on China - what's the truth?

Poll - Total Votes: 22

Agree with Trump on the Tariff

Disagree with Trump on the Tariff

You can only vote on one answer.

I am confused about Trump's tariff on Chinese goods. Trump declares that the tariffs are absorbed by the Chinese and that it has no effect on the American consumer. American retail companies say that this is not the case. Prominent economists from major banks and universities also say that this is not the case.

Retailers and economists agree that prices on the Chinese goods sold here in America will increase and this means more cost to the American consumer.

Trump says that both the retail industry and economists do not know what they are talking about. He has more expertise than these groups because he is a billionaire businessman and he knows how to make a deal ... and that millions of his MAGA followers agree with him.

I don't think that because his millions of followers support him that this negates what the American retailers and economists are claiming. Nor does it follow that just because one can make deals means that one is an expert with such complex subjects such as trade economics, market supply and international currency exchange.

Has our country finally reached the point that we believe a demagogue over facts coming from the evidence provided by experts?

If this is so, I'm genuinely concerned. This is beginning to take on more and more the aura of 1938 Germany.

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Tracos · 51-55, M

I think the tradewar that the US started on China is really really bad for all economies in the world... And perhaps even the worst for the US itself....

The rest of the world will be more then happy to trade with China further developing the Chinese economy with the US isolating it's economy.

This combined with the deeply arrogant diplomacy towards longtime economic partners in Europe will further drive the economic center eastwards...

I believe the course the US is taking at this moment may look good to some frustrated people within the us, but long term it's likely to be devastating... But those effects will mostly be visible in 5 to 10 years or so.

Economies are like supertankers they move slow, they turn even slower, but they respond to very small nudges in a big way... Albeit with a lot of delay.

And now you got an inexperienced pilot making big erratic motions on a very sensitive steering wheel on a massive boat that responds in a couple of years or so

nedkelly · 61-69, M

@Tracos Do you support free trade?

Tracos · 51-55, M

@nedkelly I do indeed

nedkelly · 61-69, M

@Tracos Free Trade or Fair Trade, how can you compete when the Chinese are paid next to nothing

Tracos · 51-55, M

@nedkelly they get paid nothing because consumers are willing to pay nothing....

..if consumers are willing to pay premium for local products you get a thriving local economy

If companies maximise profits by buying cheap and selling expensive that is hypercapitalism generating shareholder value ....

But in the end in a free market the consumers decide