If Trump actually follows through on his plans, it will crash the US economy

20% tariffs would cause massive inflation and shortages of goods.

Deporting ten million people would create a labour shortage.

People who voted for him will need to hope that he was lying about his two signature policies.

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

Yes, and if any of his supporters had applied even a modicum of critical thinking they would have realised that these policies are unaffordable and practically impossible to implement.

Apparently the 20% tariff is meant to be the opening gambit to rather one-sided trade negotiations. I imagine explaining that subtlety pre-election would not have seized the headlines in the same way.

Mass deportations . . I guess he can curate a few dramatic TV spectacles to keep the pack happy.

sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M

@SunshineGirl Trump implemented sweeping tariffs on about $300 billion of Chinese-made products when he was in office. President Joe Biden has kept those tariffs in place and, after the USTR finished a multiyear review earlier this year, decided to increase some of the rates on about $15 billion of Chinese imports.

Also on Friday, the Biden administration announced a new effort to limit the amount of foreign goods that can come into the US tariff-free because they are valued at $800 or less.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@sunsporter1649 Yes, and nearly all the countries which he imposed tariffs on reacted with retaliatory tariffs against America. Which were largely paid for by Americans in higher costs and job cuts - 245,000 lost jobs at a conservative edtimate. Trump also had to allocate $12bn of federal funds to compensate farmers for their loss of trade.

sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M

@SunshineGirl So why did kindly old dictator biden keep the tariffs in place, and even raised them and added more?

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@sunsporter1649 He settled trade disputes with the EU and Britain that had started over steel and aluminium tariffs. He has not used the threat of tariffs to further political, non-economic aims.