6 ms·

> Unfortunately, it doesn't work quite the same way in international diplomacy. However, the "traditional" way doesn't work either. Case in point: EU puts tari

> Unfortunately, it doesn't work quite the same way in international diplomacy. However, the "traditional" way doesn't work either. Case in point: EU puts tariffs on a wide variety of US goods -- tariffs that have been in effect for decades. The EU, even before Trump, charged a 10% tariff on US cars, while the US only charged a 2.5% tariff on European cars. The EU taxed US apples at 17%, grapes at 20%. Clothing, and all sort of other products are and were heavily taxed. California and other American wines are taxed at double the rate of EU wines entering the United States. "Trump invented tariffs" is the the current media narrative, but it's not even close to being true. The EU taxes the hell of US goods. Try to ship a spare part of a child's stroller from the US. I paid a $40 tax for a part that cost me $25. Duties, tariffs and other taxes are oppressive and the US should fight back. If the EU doesn't want tariffs -- they can eliminate the taxes they've historically put on US products. But they only complain now because Trump is trying to play their own protectionist game. So Trumps's "real estate" approach is a pretty novel one -- and one that has actually forced the EU to negotiate in good faith, unlike the decades were US products were taxed unfairly. The EU has tariffs on almost everything -- I'm not sure why Trump is the bad guy in a trade war here. Trump is just the first president to actually stand up to the EU when it comes to trade. Why the hell the EU can get away with decades of tariffs and doing things like subsidizing Airbus illegally[1] is beyond me. Trump is the "bad guy" because he actually cares about American interests before those of the EU? How crazy. The EU member leaders are welcome to look after the best interests of their countries as well. There's nothing radical about that. [1] https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44120525 https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44120525

pravda 7y ago
>Try to ship a spare part of a child's stroller from the US. I paid a $40 tax for a part that cost me $25. Duties, tariffs and other taxes are oppressive and the US should fight back The US should fight back? Shouldn't EU consumers fight back against the actions of their government? If a European country has a 10% tariff on American-made autos, who is the victim? The European auto buyer. Who is the beneficiary? The stockholder of the European auto manufacturer.
- prepend 7y ago
  The victim is also the US manufacturer. So the EU is punishing EU buyers and US manufacturers to help EU manufacturers.
darkarmani 7y ago
> "Trump invented tariffs" is the the current media narrative, but it's not even close to being true. That's not the narrative. The narrative is the Trump idiotically thinks he can win a trade war through escalating high tariffs if his demands aren't met immediately. He is looking for short-term benefits instead of long-term benefits.

pravda 7y ago

>Try to ship a spare part of a child's stroller from the US. I paid a $40 tax for a part that cost me $25. Duties, tariffs and other taxes are oppressive and the US should fight back The US should fight back? Shouldn't EU consumers fight back against the actions of their government? If a European country has a 10% tariff on American-made autos, who is the victim? The European auto buyer. Who is the beneficiary? The stockholder of the European auto manufacturer.

prepend 7y ago
The victim is also the US manufacturer. So the EU is punishing EU buyers and US manufacturers to help EU manufacturers.

darkarmani 7y ago

> "Trump invented tariffs" is the the current media narrative, but it's not even close to being true. That's not the narrative. The narrative is the Trump idiotically thinks he can win a trade war through escalating high tariffs if his demands aren't met immediately. He is looking for short-term benefits instead of long-term benefits.