6 ms·

Trump Tariffs would increase laptop prices by 45%

16 points by geekinchief 2y ago

geekinchief 2y ago
If Trump implements his proposed tariffs of 10 / 20 % on all countries and 60% extra on China, consumers would lose $90 billion in purchasing power.
- AnimalMuppet 2y ago
  What about second-order effects? If Trump does these tariffs, then other countries are likely to do the same to US exports. If that happens, how much do Americans lose in earning power? Has anyone done that analysis?
- rsynnott 2y ago
  That’s just the start of it. There is approximately no significant manufacturing enterprise anywhere in the developed world which does not use at least some foreign imports or equipment. Prices for domestically produced goods would also rise, significantly. The US would also face retaliatory tariffs.
cloudfudge 2y ago
What I don't understand is the attitude that tariffs will not increase prices to end consumers by approximately the amount of the tariff. Trump is pretending he thinks "tariffs" equals "other countries giving us money", but obviously the money is actually going to be coming out of the pockets of American consumers. I don't have a high opinion of Trump but I also can't believe he's that stupid. What's the "pro" argument here? Edit: I also note that the tariff levels he's talking about are absolutely beyond sanity. I saw an interview where he said "100%, 200%, even 2000%" when throwing out numbers for EV tariffs on China. I have to assume this is hyperbolic but he's talking about it as if he's serious. The only ways I can see supporting these wild numbers are either 1) assuming he's joking, or 2) being truly financially illiterate.
- sksxihve 2y ago
  There is no end game other than trump knows the people who support him don't understand how tariffs work, so they believe that he is supporting an America first policy.
  - erik_seaberg 2y ago
    Isn't a tariff bad for consumers of foreign products but good for domestic manufacturers and workers?
    - sksxihve 2y ago
      I'm not an economist but I think that's true if there is enough domestic competition for foreign products. If a majority of things the average consumer in the US buys are foreign made then the tariffs would hurt more than help, at least that's what makes sense to me.
    - jqpabc123 2y ago
      Yes --- the obvious problem is that virtually everyone in the USA is a consumer of foreign products --- including domestic manufacturers and workers. In other words, virtually everyone will pay more. The only real winner is government which gets a new income stream. Simple minded solutions for simple minded folks.
      - erik_seaberg 2y ago
        The baby boomers lived well, before so many industries and jobs were offshored.
        jqpabc123 2y ago
        And before labor unions were suppressed ... and before executives started consuming almost all the increases in productivity ... and before the education system produced a mindless generation that can't think for themselves.
deleted 2y ago
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16 points by geekinchief 2y ago

If Trump implements his proposed tariffs of 10 / 20 % on all countries and 60% extra on China, consumers would lose $90 billion in purchasing power.

AnimalMuppet 2y ago
What about second-order effects? If Trump does these tariffs, then other countries are likely to do the same to US exports. If that happens, how much do Americans lose in earning power? Has anyone done that analysis?
rsynnott 2y ago
That’s just the start of it. There is approximately no significant manufacturing enterprise anywhere in the developed world which does not use at least some foreign imports or equipment. Prices for domestically produced goods would also rise, significantly. The US would also face retaliatory tariffs.

cloudfudge 2y ago

What I don't understand is the attitude that tariffs will not increase prices to end consumers by approximately the amount of the tariff. Trump is pretending he thinks "tariffs" equals "other countries giving us money", but obviously the money is actually going to be coming out of the pockets of American consumers. I don't have a high opinion of Trump but I also can't believe he's that stupid. What's the "pro" argument here? Edit: I also note that the tariff levels he's talking about are absolutely beyond sanity. I saw an interview where he said "100%, 200%, even 2000%" when throwing out numbers for EV tariffs on China. I have to assume this is hyperbolic but he's talking about it as if he's serious. The only ways I can see supporting these wild numbers are either 1) assuming he's joking, or 2) being truly financially illiterate.

sksxihve 2y ago
There is no end game other than trump knows the people who support him don't understand how tariffs work, so they believe that he is supporting an America first policy.
- erik_seaberg 2y ago
  Isn't a tariff bad for consumers of foreign products but good for domestic manufacturers and workers?
  - sksxihve 2y ago
    I'm not an economist but I think that's true if there is enough domestic competition for foreign products. If a majority of things the average consumer in the US buys are foreign made then the tariffs would hurt more than help, at least that's what makes sense to me.
  - jqpabc123 2y ago
    Yes --- the obvious problem is that virtually everyone in the USA is a consumer of foreign products --- including domestic manufacturers and workers. In other words, virtually everyone will pay more. The only real winner is government which gets a new income stream. Simple minded solutions for simple minded folks.
    - erik_seaberg 2y ago
      The baby boomers lived well, before so many industries and jobs were offshored.
      - jqpabc123 2y ago
        And before labor unions were suppressed ... and before executives started consuming almost all the increases in productivity ... and before the education system produced a mindless generation that can't think for themselves.

deleted 2y ago

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