4 ms·

Announce a controversial decision. See if it sticks. If not, claim it was a joke and you never meant that. Drama, manipulation, and a US government tactic, all

by thih9 2y ago

Announce a controversial decision. See if it sticks. If not, claim it was a joke and you never meant that. Drama, manipulation, and a US government tactic, all in one.

dcow 2y ago
Except they implemented the decision and are responding to countries’ willingness to negotiate fair trade terms, just like with Mexico. Nobody is saying “just joking”. If people weren’t 1000% dismissive of the leader’s stated intentions they might be able to follow along. It’s been crystal clear to me that the goal has always been to renegotiate trade terms not to live in a world with persistent reciprocal tariffs.
- JeremyNT 2y ago
  This is a hilarious assertion. Their stated objectives have been all over the map, so any outcome can fit at least some of their statements. Admin proxies have said tariffs are to pay for tax cuts, they've stated they're intended to bring back manufacturing jobs, they've stated we should prepare for a lengthy trade war and accept the higher prices like men, and while some proxies have said this is a negotiation tactic others have stated unequivocally that this is not a negotiation tactic. Bold assertions like yours are easy to make with the benefit of hindsight. What do you predict tariff rates to be in a week? A month? A year?
- davidguetta 2y ago
  Not sure why this is downvoted, this is absolutely the kind of power play Trump did his entire business career on.
  - thih9 2y ago
    It is also a dick move. You can get rich this way, but you can't get respect. The fact that half of a respected nation opted for this approach continues to baffle me. And maybe I should say "formerly respected nation", the global perception of the US goes rapidly down. I guess the question now is will the nation actually profit from that.
throw4847285 2y ago
I don't believe it's being done so strategically. He's not Franklin D Roosevelt. I forget all the details, but some constituency once came to FDR to ask him to do something. He likely leaked that he was planning on doing so to major Catholic organizations in America, and when there was outrage, turned to the first party and told them that he'd love to, but his hands were tied. He never intended to do anything in the first place, he just wanted a convenient scapegoat. This doesn't make any sense. Why not just go with 10% tariffs across the board? There wasn't going to be any pushback, it should be clear at this point. Or why not just leak the plan, and then say "I guess it has to be 10% because business leaders won't accept higher." This isn't masterful juggling, it's improv comedy.
magicalhippo 2y ago
Like chess[1], Trump had his finger on his head. Not official move until he removes his finger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cv9n0QbLUM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cv9n0QbLUM

by thih9 2y ago

Announce a controversial decision. See if it sticks. If not, claim it was a joke and you never meant that. Drama, manipulation, and a US government tactic, all in one.

dcow 2y ago

Except they implemented the decision and are responding to countries’ willingness to negotiate fair trade terms, just like with Mexico. Nobody is saying “just joking”. If people weren’t 1000% dismissive of the leader’s stated intentions they might be able to follow along. It’s been crystal clear to me that the goal has always been to renegotiate trade terms not to live in a world with persistent reciprocal tariffs.

JeremyNT 2y ago
This is a hilarious assertion. Their stated objectives have been all over the map, so any outcome can fit at least some of their statements. Admin proxies have said tariffs are to pay for tax cuts, they've stated they're intended to bring back manufacturing jobs, they've stated we should prepare for a lengthy trade war and accept the higher prices like men, and while some proxies have said this is a negotiation tactic others have stated unequivocally that this is not a negotiation tactic. Bold assertions like yours are easy to make with the benefit of hindsight. What do you predict tariff rates to be in a week? A month? A year?
davidguetta 2y ago
Not sure why this is downvoted, this is absolutely the kind of power play Trump did his entire business career on.
- thih9 2y ago
  It is also a dick move. You can get rich this way, but you can't get respect. The fact that half of a respected nation opted for this approach continues to baffle me. And maybe I should say "formerly respected nation", the global perception of the US goes rapidly down. I guess the question now is will the nation actually profit from that.

throw4847285 2y ago

I don't believe it's being done so strategically. He's not Franklin D Roosevelt. I forget all the details, but some constituency once came to FDR to ask him to do something. He likely leaked that he was planning on doing so to major Catholic organizations in America, and when there was outrage, turned to the first party and told them that he'd love to, but his hands were tied. He never intended to do anything in the first place, he just wanted a convenient scapegoat. This doesn't make any sense. Why not just go with 10% tariffs across the board? There wasn't going to be any pushback, it should be clear at this point. Or why not just leak the plan, and then say "I guess it has to be 10% because business leaders won't accept higher." This isn't masterful juggling, it's improv comedy.

magicalhippo 2y ago

Like chess[1], Trump had his finger on his head. Not official move until he removes his finger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cv9n0QbLUM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cv9n0QbLUM