Trump finalizes tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, triggering likely trade war

For better deals, not that hard to figure out is it

 

Oh, so your argument is that he is negotiating lower tariffs, like the ones that we had with TPP, which he cancelled, or the ones we had with USMCA, which he suggested is not worthwhile, by charging tariffs to countries that don't charge tariffs at all, like Singapore (10% "reciprocal" tariffs despite the fact that they basically don't charge tariffs at all). In fact, there are numerous countries that charged lower tariffs than we did that he just tariffed based not on tariffs but based on trade deficits of goods but truncated at 10% (so even if we didn't have a trade deficit on goods, everybody got 10%).

 

What is a "better deal?"

 

And then add on the whiplash change of policy days/weeks later, further exacerbating the utter unpredictability created by his proclamation by pop-up thought.

 

I mean didnt Trump just yesterday say they werent actually 'negotiating' anything ... it was just up to the other country to do something? He was literally like "if you dont want to shop here, ok"

 

Whatever Trump tweets out is what he will think.

Again, I point to South Korea who we do business with. The tariff was virtually zero back in 2015. Trump came in and raised them.. now raised them again. So, if the goal is tariff free then none of those actions make sense. If it is to raise tariff income then what could we be possibly be negotiating?

Makes no sense.

 

Why would someone make deals with someone who routinely breaks their own deals?

 

Lol, it's called business. I renegotiate pricing every, I'd be dumb if I didn't

 

Well once it's negotiated will know won't we

 

So there is no prior belief about what "better" is? It is purely a post hoc determination (i.e., Trump said it is better, so it is better)?

 

I responded from a comment the Iboy asked "What is interesting is that if Trump is such a great deal maker why is he abandoning trade deals he made in his first term which he touted as such great deals?" So, anything that's better than the first deal would be considered better, why is it so hard for you and others to comprehend this?

 

You guys make no sense

 

Better in what way? Higher tariffs? Lower tariffs? More government regulation? Better is better doesn't seem to be all that useful of a criteria.

 

It's pretty naive to downplay tearing up old trade deals by assuming that we'll end up in a better position. There's a very real possibility of driving your trading partners to seek to limit reliance on you and make deals with other more reliable trade partners.

 

You cant explain Trumps actions or goals. You just know Trump must be right even though every single person in business without exception is calling this stupid.

 

He doesnt know. The outcome will be the desired outcome because there is no goal. If you have no destination in mind then you cant end up in the wrong place.

 

Looks like the penguins caved.