Do you believe in price controls and tariffs?

Tariffs have been in the news a lot lately, a very fundamental part of President Trump of USA 🇺🇸 general economic strategy, but are they a good implement for the good of the people he is trying to represent?

Many are convinced that tariffs are a shot in your own foot, and using them as he is will never make America great again. Prices will go up and the federal coffers will be full and the people’s pockets emptier.

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OldBrit · 61-69, M

I find them a confusing weapon. Because ultimately it is you that pays it.

If I am in charge of country A and I decide to put a tariff of 100% on all goods coming from country B because I'm angry at them, want to boost home businesses, drive international companies to invest here not there etc whatever the reason - Who pays the new tariff? Not country B. But their customers in country A.

So suddenly everyone is unhappy that prices go up. And can I ensure my policy will stop B doing X or Y or create new home grown jobs?

It's a gamble. It's not a game small economies can use and retaliate with due to trade imbalances.

So I wait to see in 5 or 10 years time the outcome of this kind of policy. I thought economic geniuses considered it old school and ineffective if not counter productive.

Because if country B Can go to country C and just export there without tarrifs then they ain't been hurt.

NoahB · 31-35, M

I think they can be very good for the economy but they way President trump is deploying them is self defeating.

-They were framed as a threat.

-There was no plan in place to incentivize American manufacturing prior to the tariffs rollout.

-these two things combined are a recipe for disastrous inflation in a time when Americans are hurting already

1490wayb · 56-60, M

american debt is far too high and that is bad for entire world...tariffs protect smaller countries, but they have taken advantage of america too long. we need help and MUST tighten our belt

Elessar · 31-35, M

@1490wayb That ship has long sailed with the BBB. More debt, but for the sake of giving tax breaks to the upper class lol

At least Biden/Harris were going to spend it for stuff that benefitted the 99.9% (e.g. infrastructure) and not just the 0.1%

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

Used intelligently to protect critical domestic industries, they can form part of a rational trade policy. Used recklessly by a man who has no coherent industrial strategy, they will damage markets and ultimately be paid for by the American consumer.

BrandNewMan · M

@SunshineGirl Just like decades of unbalanced tariffs have affected us in seeing so many better paying jobs leave the country.

Rather pay to try to fix things than continue to pay for what we know is only working for other countries.

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

Tariffs might be useful, particularly when dealing with countries that subsidize industries in order to give them an advantage in trade, but the way Trump is using them is insane.He's trying to use them for blackmail, even for political pressure.

Khenpal1 · M

@ChipmunkErnie actually US farmers had been subsidized as well.

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@Khenpal1 Yes, for decades and decades, in particular regarding some crops.

Khenpal1 · M

@ChipmunkErnie Trumps US made smartphones from China , Bananas from Florida along with coffee☃Tariffs will hit USA within 1 year , it does not show first 6 months.

BrandNewMan · M

If that is true of tariffs .. why did nearly every country in the world apply them to U.S. goods at a higher rate than the U.S. applied to theirs for the last several decades??

Kypro · 51-55, M

They have no idea what they are doing.

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BrandNewMan · M

@Crazywaterspring Oh .. but you know?

Riiiight. 🙄

Khenpal1 · M

@Crazywaterspring Done intelligently, with trump 😂

JimBeam · M

I know that Canada believes in them but nobody admits it

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