We are at crunch time right now for Christmas goodies. All the Christmas goods need to already on the water or ready to go in just a few weeks to make Christmas happen. If I was locked in a trade war with Trump, I would put a hold on those shipments pending more favorable terms in the negotiations. I would then put the blame directly on Trump.
In observing Trump, he appears to be a chicken bully. He talks tough, and projects a hard bluff, but if his bluff is called, he collapses like a house of wet playing cards. So go ahead Mr. Trump, cancel Christmas goodies for your trade war, remember "trade wars are good and easy to win." As you do this remember that you are also canceling your reelection. You are making easy for even your supporters to vote against you. "You're a mean one Mr. Grinch."
8
“Obviously, toys are a sympathetic product"
This assumes that the President likes children. That's not so clear.
6
And why aren't all our toys made in the USA? It seems like a ridiculous waste of money to spend for shipping materials/designs overseas, then paying for shipping to bring finished projects back to where the concepts and materials originated.
Is it the shipping industry that developed and encouraged the system of wasted time and motion that are part and parcel of overseas manufacturing? Or is it that our America-based toy manufacturers prefer to waste money on sub-standard products than pay Americans decent wages to manufacture quality items?
Angry toy company stock-holder..........
3
It really would be nice to have a businessman running the country. (snark.)
Maybe when we DUMP TRUMP we can find such a businessman.
Clearly, Trump is just a huckster.
7
"Obviously, toys are a sympathetic product. Jesus Christ.
2
One day he’s The Grinch, just so on another day he pretend to be Santa Claus.
2
I did product development for years. Most retailers bring their holiday merchandise in by the end of September. With all the uncertainty about the tariffs, they could not wait for Mr. Trump’s “negotiations”. They had to either a) develop cheaper products in order to keep last year’s margins or b) raise the prices on similar quality product. I am now a retail manager and our new Fall collection reflects both strategies.
Someone needs to remind Mr. Trump that one in four US jobs is tied to retail.
3
More superfluous plastic garbage that will eventually end up in landfill or the sea. Can we start calling these toxic waste yet?
9
I continue to have no sympathy for these companies.
Am I a big fan of Trump? No. Do I think every company with production in China should face "crippling uncertainty." Yup.
9
We ship most of US industry overseas and then impose tariffs on imports. What could go wrong?
8
I feel bad for the toy makers. But at $10, a lot of people consider those toys disposable, and they wind up in landfills after a couple of weeks. If people buy only the ones their kids really want, that's a big win for the environment.
6
I hope the business people who voted for Trump in 2016 -- that is, a man who'd never held any elected office (or appointed office that he'd earned rather than inherited); a man who was a 'veteran' of five unearned (via faked bone spurs) deferments; a man whose business acumen had yielded six bankruptcies; a man whose Trump University was to higher education what cubic zirconia are to diamonds; a man about whom every contractor, from banks to law firms, knows to get paid up front or not at all; a man of thousands of lies; and a man of insistent racism -- didn't think he'd be competent enough to win a trade war for them.
A trade war with China.
"The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity." -- William Butler Yeats, "The Second Coming" (1921)
8
This is an insightful article and a valuable lesson on global economics. Manufactured products are not made in a country nor in a single factory. Instead, they are made in complex industrial eco-systems in districts that are in close geographic proximity. To make a single toy, you need large numbers of suppliers, artists, fabricators, assemblers, logistics specialists that are constantly in contact with each other. Just in time inventory and shifting product portfolio on a dime are key to competitiveness. You also need a critical mass of workers with multiple employers and business opportunities so they can maximize their economic opportunities and bargaining leverage. All of these complexities lead to integrated economic districts for goods and services as old as garment manufacturing and as new as fintech (financial technology services). The idea that economic activities, including manufacturing, is so frictionless you can move them across national borders by political ranting or by personal fiat simply shows rank ignorance.
27
A few years ago, while considering opening a toy store, I was shocked that the bulk of the goods in that vast hall came from China. There were a few quality toy makers from the U.S., however. Maybe more of these toy companies will now re- examine their decisions and bring some of the jobs back home.
5
Won’t happen.
As the end of the article states: “You can go to any consumer survey you want and they say, ‘Yes, I’d be willing to pay more for an American-made toy,’” Mr. Barber said. “It’s a complete lie. You talk to any retailer and they’ll tell you that’s not true.”
“Price is what sells toys,” he added.
9
@Ellen The problem with Electric Trains is that South Korea (MTH and now Lionel) makes them better, more detailed and cheaper..
2
It's understandable that toymakers are worried-as an economist, I am worried too. We are headed toward the 10th out of 11 recessions under Republican presidents since World War II. Missing from this article is the question for these manufacturers: did you vote for Donald Trump, and will you vote for him again even though he is damaging your livelihood?
42
Maybe tariffs on goods from China are the best gift Trump has given to fight global warming. Do we really need all the things we buy from China which are manufactured using fossil fuels? Do our kids really need 10 Star Wars action figures or 20 Barbies for Christmas? Do we really need all the things we buy on Amazon. Stop complaining about your leaders and, instead, stop buying things if you want to do something for global warming.
10
@Cosmo Brown
I agree. Tariffs should have started with these cheap plastic toys. Many of them are found to have lead in them. There are playground near me just littered with this cheap, toxic, plastic junk...it's just become disposal single-use kit. Kid plays with it for 5 minutes, then it gets tossed.
7
By delaying tariffs, trump has tacitly admitted that we are paying the tariffs- NOT the Chinese as he so often dishonestly claims. The declining US and global economies can trace the weakness to the effect of the tariffs.
He can’t have it both ways.
Admit your lies and transgressions trump. Your supporters need to know the truth.
The failure of trump’s policies is finally being recognized by an increasing number of his Republican Party members, which may soon become sufficient to support the impeachment proceedings he deserves so much.
13
@Steve Ell
So Steve, do you agree with our current trade deal? Want to keep things the way they are with China having a huge advantage? I'm confused. You want to keep his 1% Republican Party members making money? Do you want the Republicans to impeach him for causing them to loose money?
1
Exactly! We are ultimately the ones paying the tariffs. The tariff monies do not go into the US Treasury, but the increased sales tax we pay sure does. Yes, he has tacitly acknowledged, finally, the truth. Who will listen?
1
It is hard for me to acknowledge that I am willing for America to have an economic downturn if that's what it takes extract DJT from the White House.
9
Manufacturers have long been working on their 2020 product line. TwoScoops doesn't understand that, he thinks Santa comes and that's it.
9
Trump is ruining Christmas!
Oh sure, he caved on the 10% tariffs on Chinese imports, TEMPORARILY.
However, Trump-the-personification-of-instability cannot do ANYTHING without destabilizing it, whatever IT may be.
Keep diggin' that hole, Trump.
It's already too deep for you to get out of.
I want to see a new world's record for the deepest hole ever dug by a floundering personification of instability.
8
"What we need is a businessman running the country!"
Yeah, right. Another day and another conservative talking point is exposed for the nonsense that it is.
Wake up already conservative voting America. Your party is destroying the country.
16
The headline should read: "Trump folded like a wet souffle left out in the rain" after some grownups told him it was a terrible idea. The Christmas excuse was thrown in to cover his retreat.
10
Don't mess with Santa Claus.
Sad.
5
Maybe we should provide our children with domestically made toys instead of the latest plastic Disney garbage.
7
Christmas shopping at stake? Oh boo-hoo. Are these guys serious?
7
You certainly wouldn't want the big chains to not be able to make their profits at Christmas. Where would all those poor kids be without the latest fad toys that break within weeks of being purchased, not to mention the electronic gadgets that substitute for parental attention and face to face interaction. I lost my zeal for Christmas when it turned into nothing but a money grab and consumer fest. Trump can turn himself into "Father Christmas" to put a spin on his ill thought out tariffs in order to make sure he gets re-elected, but we shall see what happens after Christmas. And what makes it all the more ridiculous is the fact that his daughter's clothing line is spared from the tariffs and that she brokered 13 new trademark deals with China! Nepotism and hypocrisy are alive and well with this administration.
7
@Ann - I love Christmas, especially since I stopped giving and receiving gifts. Now it's about food and wine and time spent with people I love.
7
@DR I agree. I do have to say I enjoy having dinner with my daughter and the granddaughters at Xmas (when the roads are good enough to get there! ) and I also enjoy the holiday lights. But don't do gifts at Xmas, rather do things for people or give gifts "just because" throughout the year.
1
Donald Trump has ...
No Majority.
No Mandate.
And he knows nothing.
7
Thank goodness we can say
Merry Christmas again
saying it doesn't make it so
last year we were treated to the Government shutdown
Vote Democratic 2020
4
All I want for Christmas is a bankruptcy.
3
This is all just proves that Trump has no clue what he is doing. He hems and haws about tariffs, does not listen to his "advisers", and then blames everyone but himself when things go bad...
The markets are in free fall, the global economy is headed towards recession, farmers are going bankrupt. Buckle up everyone, the ride is just beginning.
7
I don't understand. I thought the Chinese were paying for the tariffs. Why is he giving them a Christmas present?/s
7
America's children would be better off if they went back to playing with sticks and marbles. "Toys" today are just an integral part of a marketing scheme to brainwash kids into pestering their parents to spend more money for more toys.
4
I would understand the Trump tariffs/taxes if they would reward in any way the production of high quality products here in the USA - but they don’t. There is nothing “constructive” coming with these. The penalties are against products made in China: the production will move to other low wage countries which do not have a long history of manufacturing toys and the cycle of finding toxic ingredients in those products will start all over again and a new generation of “consumers” is exposed to the same risks again that took years to eliminate. The Trump tariffs - as many of his deregulations - are hitting average Americans not only financially but are generating additional health risks. But who cares about that as long as money is to be made for the “owner’s class” - certainly not the President.
5
So Trump finally admits that Americans are paying the tariffs. If they weren’t then he would have kept them
5
We’re going to have tariffs, beautiful tariffs. Tariffs work. Hannity and I love tariffs. Wait...now what? Oh, and we’re going to say Merry Christmas again and the tariffs will be postponed so we can all proudly say Merry Christmas...
8
Just look at where we are in America. Hand wringing over the fortunes of "toymakers." Is that what's important here?
God forbid that our holidays are disrupted by the supply chain woes of multinational toy manufacturers who have painstakingly arranged for the lowest cost possible for the inputs of final products sold into the developed world.
How dare we try to address trade imbalances all on the backs of hopeful children and cash-strapped parents trying to find the cheapest foreign-made toys. How dare we put the Walton family in the uncomfortable position of having to eat the cost of tarrifs, or pass the cost of Mystery Ryan Eggs on to parents struggling to pay for health insurance.
What a country. We really have our priorities lined up here.
5
The business people who want stability in policies, who want no part of self-made volatility need to stand together, pull together and work to replace this terrible man. We little people need to band together and we each have one vote and one voice, but these business people have more power to affect change before the 2020 election. We may not even make it to 2020 without something catastrophic happening. Those with some power need to band together and stand up to him.
3
China is paying for the tariffs.
Mexico is paying for the wall
No worries.
8
EVERY journalist who has a chance to question President Trump needs to ask him "If tariffs are paid by the Chinese, as you have repeatedly claimed, then why are you delaying the tariffs so that toy makers and US consumers won't face increased prices before Christmas? Which is it Mr. President - does China bear these tariff costs, or do US consumers?"
7
When the first reports start emerging of kids choking on small parts or getting lead poisoned from Christmas toys that were manufactured in a hastily built Bangladeshi factory, people are going to start looking for products labelled "Made in China".
3
Regarding toys...Thrift, Resale, Charity Shopping. Win win for the cool kids- Super Fun "thrill of the hunt", Cooler toys, Reuse Recycle.
Our family adores our 1960s Milton Bradley MEMORY Game-with the groovy Eames cards.
2
So the tariffs hurt importers and consumers? Winning??
2
Someone must have gotten to trump and told him the US consumer ultimately pays for his tariffs.
2
Just to be clear, the IMPORTER pays the Tariff. Then the importer passes the cost along to the wholesaler, who passes it along to the retailer who charges it to the ultimate purchaser- the American consumer.
That Trumpistas do not grasp this elemental process is very hard top believe.,
5
As Paul Krugman (among others) has noted, uncertainty is worse than tariffs for business investment. If there are tariffs, they need to invest in factories in India and Southeast Asia. If there aren't, they need to invest in China. If they don't know what tariffs will apply next year, they might just not invest at all.
7
Perhaps he'll remember not to cast his grim economic spell over Valentine's Day, then St. Patrick's, then Easter....
A comment noted he had taken the "happiness out of America".
Pretty much the whole world actually. His only impact seems to have created an entire planet of division and economic and environmental vulnerability.
55
I have a few points on this; Trump took the happiness out of the country with all his hate and anger being reinforced by a lowly administration and now he expects to cheer up the little people with toys? Like the Association man said; it took decades to move production out of our nation so why would we support them after they abandoned America? Finally, all you parents who subject your children to the infantile Television that hooks them for life, why don't you try treating your kids like adults so they grow up to become adults instead of watching Homer Simpson as older angry hateful viewers later? It would be helpful if you actually spent time talking to them instead of using the Television as a babysitter. Toys? if you do buy toys, make them educational and non-violent. Please!
6
@PATRICK God. Can you imagine what life must have been like for his kids growing up, or for his grandchildren now, to have so little joy in it?
1
When someone tells me, "I'm doing this so that you can make it through Christmas spending," I lock down my wallet. Those are words of warning, not encouragement.
42
@S James: People should boycott buying Christmas junk (and even higher end 'stuff' that nobody really needs) and this year, if you want to celebrate the birth of your god, give hand-made thoughtful presents, buy at thrift shops and church bazaars. Do not spend your money on Christmas this year. You're going to need that money for next year's Recession. And everyone would be happier with less junk.
6
The American consumer will not pay for the tariffs. Sounds a bit like Mexico will pay for the wall.
20
@charles - that's exactly the point...these tariffs are in fact taxes borne by American companies with the cost passed to American consumers. trump can't have it both ways - he wants you to believe that these tariffs will be borne by China. If that's the case - why the delay? The fact is that Americans like/need cheap goods because the average American has seen major wage compression over the last 3- 4 decades. You can blame previous administrations for 'kicking this can down the road' but frankly we've hit a wall. We no longer have decent replacement jobs for those losing their manufacturing jobs. The jobs of the 21st century require different skills and competencies and we need to retrain our workforce for those jobs. The nonsense rhetoric from this administration about 'bringing manufacturing jobs and coal mines back' is idiocy. Instead of looking forward and helping create the vision of a robust 21st century America with a technically trained workforce, the divisive and frankly, hateful person in the WH is taking the confusion and anger that can be apparent in chaotic 'industrial revolutions' and creating fear/hate in those that want someone to blame.
2
Who can buy toys when you need to outfit your entire family in Kevlar vests? The family dog is going to need one, too, if he/she ventures out in public.
62
@Becca Helen - Best comment of the day.
4
Americans blame China but it’s the American companies that manufacture in China so that they can make higher profits - and not only toys - therapeutic drugs, clothing, cars, household appliances, cosmetics, and the list goes on. Do you think our opioid and rev drug users in the US have the fine motor skills to manufacture electronics? To see clothing? To assemble toys? Many have trouble walking. I hear people who spend over 8 hours a day on line complaining that someone needs to motivate them - time to get back to work America - get up and exercise, turn off the addictive social media sites, get a skill and get a job.
10
@Barbara - All good points but it's important to note that this country isn't doing much in the way of education and job training.
2
Well, when we have our next depression (coming soon), we can make dolls out of corn cobs, assuming the farmers haven't all gone bankrupt. Trump is certainly "winning"- against his own people!
19
Oh look, the tariffs are not being paid by China. They're being paid by consumers. Weren't we warned of this? But our president dismissed those claims and repeatedly stated, 'China will pay'. Are you tired of 'winning' yet?
37
Everyone is so worried!
Don’t worry kids, the stable genius is in charge and there will be plenty of coal for your stockings.
39
Good point! Now I understand trumps fixation on boosting coal output.
9
So 45 admits that consumers pay for his tariffs on China after all. Why admit it now?
10
Hmmm.... what if Christmas doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas means a little bit more?
29
@denise falcone: I'm so glad that many commenters said what I feel - boycott the stores and make presents, make happiness with your presence, not with junky presents from Wal-Mart and Family Dollar. Buy from church bazaars and thrift shops maybe (which is where I always Christmas shop. It's fun and much less expensive).
5
They should be worried as I and I hope others will donate to Charites this year and forego helping the economy by buying useless junk.
I cannot support this administration with my money so I'll give it away to those in need.
14
Gee whiz, if tariffs are paid by Chinese manufacturers rather than American consumers, than why is the White House delaying the implementation of tariffs on consumer goods until after most holiday shopping sales - such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday - will have passed? Couldn't be that even a dotard can comprehend the blowback from his base when they have to pay extra for their kids' Christmas gifts, could it? Nah.
14
What we Are witnessing here is just another in a long line of incompetent actions by an incompetent president with an equally incompetent staff. The few staffers who are capable won't advise him because they are scared they will not tell them what he wants to hear. In other words they are for all intent and purpose useless.
Bankruptcy has proven to be Trump's financial forte and this time he is taking us all with him.
24
Good they are reaping what they sow . When you vote the rich men in from the GOP you have disappointment every time. Since 1945 there has been a major recession in every Republican administration. Had enough use your heads this election and vote for the Dems . We had eight years of peace and a good economy. We work with foreign leaders you people anger them.
10
@D.j.j.k.
And the GOP still has the temerity to call Dems "tax and spend liberals" As you rightly point out, it's pretty easy to see who has the runs on the board when it comes to managing the economy and it sure aint the GOP!
5
Maybe this is an opportunity to rethink holiday giving. This is just useless stuff that gets played with for a few hours and then forgotten about. Then it just clutters up your house. And plastic is bad for the environment.
22
@Hothouse Flower - Years ago a friend shared his family's holiday plans with me. The entire family got together and voted on a trip they wanted to take and they used their holiday money to travel at some point during the coming year.
They spent the Christmas holiday having a big lunch and they invited friends and neighbors who didn't have family nearby to join them.
His kids grew up with some amazing memories and some very good values.
15
Are there still any kids left who play with toys?
I thought they just play with computers.
8
Wally World (WalMart) is already raising prices on toys & other products that are popular at Christmas. Halloween stuff is already starting to be put out on the shelves soon to be followed by Christmas. Stores are not going to miss out on making the American shopper pay for trump's tariffs. Raise prices now & get people use to them then raise them again at Christmas & tell the people it is China's fault.
8
Perhaps this is a good time to find meaningful gifts to give children, like your "time", a trip to the zoo, park, go for a hike, visit the countryside, take them to the farms, donate old toys that they do not play with anymore. Families these days need a separate room to store toys. Why does a 5 year old need 5 tricycles of different colors?
16
Point 1 - how is it that a single individual can institute tariffs on just about anything? Sure, Trump claimed the early tariffs on steel, aluminum were connected to national security, and thus, he had that right. But toys? C'mon Republicans, grow some spines and take your/our power back!
Point 2 - I know I heard Trump say trade wars were easy to win. How's that winning going?
10
No more plastic toys? Christmas won’t be the same! This latest kerfuffle might be Ronald Trump’s best response to climate change.
13
So, Trump says the average person will not feel the effects of his tariffs. But let’s hold off a bit so that person has a few extra bucks to buy stuff for the holidays.
7
The bottom line is that tariffs hurt our consumers and business. And by delaying them Trump has admitted that this is true despite his words about only punishing China.
10
With all this flip flopping and instability, it may mean that profits for American companies and shareholders will increase. These prices that will be raised due to uncertainties will not be lowered if tariffs are lifted. This ultimately increases profit margin for companies and shareholders. Products will still be made in China, but not at the prices that they were. Of course the American consumer will lose out, many of them trump supporters. We may not see the full effect for a while----I would think that this charade will be milked as far into the election year as possible. Book prices will also be raised, many of them textbooks, so we can also be concerned about education. The China Manufacturing Syndrome is not something that can be fixed overnight. And I certainly don't trust other countries to magically adhere to safety and humane labor practices. American mass manufacturing of all these products? Oh, this pipe dream just sells votes. I can't wait until this man is a bad memory.
4
And wages will not increase. Everything trump does is for business, and as we all know, trickle down it does not. The supply chain has already been affected, so much of this cannot be undone.
6
Aren’t these the same companies that benefited from a huge tax cut last year? I didn’t hear any complaints from them about Trump at that time.
7
If we have been 'gamed' for so long, how was it that the economy recovered, jobs were being created and the global markets were functioning? Want to improve things? You don't need to burn the house to the ground first.
Seems to me this is Trump's version of 3 card Monty.
1
@Stephan
Oh, but then he couldn't say "this is mine!"
Trump took the happiness out of America. How about buying your kids constructively educational products instead of warmongering things.
27
@PATRICK How about training them for jobs after Trump’s recession?
5
Just a thought, isn't the fact that #45 is delaying the new tarriff increases until December, so it won't interfere with holdiay shopping, admitting that the costs of the tariifs are passed on to the consumer, other wise, why the change. He has for the most part tried to tell us that millions are pouring into our economy because of tariffs. Guess what #45 you can't have it both ways, and most Americans understand that the tariffs are costing us each time we buy a product made in China. That's just common sense!
38
@Ricky, most Americans do understand that. The question is, do those that form his base get it? I think the president fears that while his supporters don't get it yet, even the densest Trumplican will be able to connect the dots if they're paying more for their holiday shopping.
3
@Ricky Yes, someone was finally able to explain tariffs to Trump. Small victories...
3
@Ricky " Guess what #45 you can't have it both ways, "
Sadly, he can. In the same speech he can contradict himself and the supporters cheer both times, the cult continues its adoration blithely ignoring any cognitive dissonance - even if they heard it.
5
China will not have to pay Mr. Trumps's tariffs over Christmas?
What name is Santa checking twice, to see if they're naughty or nice
9
China does not pay any tariff. A tariff is a tax on imported goods paid by Americans. I, personally, have stopped all discretionary spending until trump is out of office.
9
@Bill
Are you being facetious, or do people again have to explain that China doesn't pay the tariffs?
3
I have a few points on this; Trump took the happiness out of the country with all his hate and anger being reinforced by a lowly administration. Like the Association man said; it took decades to move production out of China so why would we support them after they abandoned America? Finally, all you parents who subject your children to the infantile Television that hooks them for life, why don't you try treating your kids like adults so they grow up to become adults instead of watching Homer Simpson as older angry hateful viewers later? It would be helpful if you actually spent time talking to them instead of using the Television as a babysitter. Toys? if you do buy toys, make them educational and non-violent. Please!
11
With a recession eminent--accelerated by Trump's punitive tariffs and other disastrous measures--why do retailers think people will rush to shell out money for their goods this holiday season?Toymakers and others by now should recognize Trump can't be trusted and consumers may turn cautious with economic uncertainty on the horizon. Take measures to protect your business. He and his enablers won't.
23
As a nation we have him one timberland but ourselves. We loved it when Wal-Mart introduced cheap made in America products, then the push for cheaper and cheaper prices (we love a bargain) sent manufacturing overseas. As long as we.for cheap stuff we didn't care, especially since we assumed that every displaced employee could be retrained for a technology or service job, not taking into account our cash strapped school systems. And while we are at it, let's not forget the headlong rush into destroying labor unions which previously were able to protect many American jobs.
18
@Scott
"As a nation we have him one timberland but ourselves."
Say what?
3
It's a broken record, but it needs to be repeated: "Globalization" is driven by competitiveness, meaning producing same quality goods cheaper in one location vs. another. Tariff walls can be built to try to artificially skew price differentials, but are not a permanent fix. In fact, world economic growth, including U.S. economic growth, is driven by trade. "Trade wars" are a throwback to nationalism impulses that led to the two world wars in the first half of the 20th century. We are now 75 years into the future since those times. "Nation vs. nation" thinking, and notions of "winners" vs. "losers," are mindsets of the past, but regrettably are fixed in our current president's head.
25
@C.L.S.
All nice in theory. Doesn’t work when we are competing against countries that practice mercantilist policies (Japan, China, Russia, India, pretty much every developing country).
“Our economy has changed from manufacturing to service and technology”, says Alan below. Then ask why China limits foreign films to 35 a year (entertainment is our second biggest export), why they ban our tech companies until they have built a domestic equivalent. Doesn’t work when China won’t buy our services and tech. Facebooking each other and selling burgers doesn’t pay off our foreign debt.
We won’t be able to move to the next generation of value-added industry if we don’t have one currently. That is what Lighthizer’s biggest fear is.
Let’s continue importing consumer goods financed with debt. But then let’s not complain about low wages, inequality (the rich make money shipping our industry abroad) and bequeathing a country that looks like Argentina to our children.
But why is everyone worried about prices. As Trump says China is paying for the tariffs. I guess that is why he delayed the Tariffs or is it just another lie to add to the list :)
14
@bshapiro
YES!!!! Why is nobody shouting this from the mid-west USA roof tops! Why are Trumps lies about tariffs not being pointed out by presidential candidates and news pundits! Why is everyone so quiet about this action?
1
So how long must Americans pay tarriff taxes waiting for Trump's historic trade deal? As long as he is in office? Daily I am still astonished at the total corruption of power and money reflected by the do nothing GOP members of the Senate and Congress.
63
I won't believe Trump and the Congressional Republicans really want to repatriate manufacturing until I see them penalize the manufacturers for leaving and for being outside the country instead of taxing us.
9
Trumps chicken are coming home to roost. If we have to suffer for this, to deny him "his" great economy boast in the coming election maybe that is a good thing. He was riding on the previous president's achievements while at the same time destroying all that was underpinning the confidence. The cherry on top is this bully's trade war.
20
Every product Trump sells ( including the red hats) are made in China. His buy American, hire American sounds good but he doesn’t do it.
Companies moving their manufacturing out of China are moving to Vietnam or India- none are moving here
So all of this drives campaign contributions to Trump as companies try to convince him to hold off (like a mobster) and higher prices for Americans- he doesn’t care about any of us.
116
If the greedy money grubbing CEOs would just stop their miser ways the US could and should be producing these items. Quality made by union workers here in the USA just like it used to be. I support Trump on trade. And the American people need to support the American worker and buy strictly Made in the USA label. Bring back our jobs.
2
@J Clark
I would happily buy such products if they were available. One thing you should note is that it's quite common to find union-made men's clothing, made in Canada. Apparently they can have a decent wage, worker protection, health care, and still make their own goods. The current administration knows nothing about this at all, and is in fact as anti-union as it's possible to be. Support a Democrat, who will (a) support unions, and (b) reform Wall Street. These things are much more likely to achieve your goal than anything the current administration (or the Republican party) would do.
10
Read the article all the way to the end: no one wants to pay for American-made toys, which would undoubtedly cost a lot more than the versions made in China.
2
@J Clark
You support Trump on trade? So explain why he delayed "punishing China" with tariffs to keep prices for US consumers low this Christmas season. This guy has an MBA from Wharton but thinks the Chinese consumer will pay for his tariffs-apparently not so!
2
Big Picture? " the administration is trying to secure a historic trade deal with China".
How many stupendous wondefullest fantasies has Trump tried to sell. He and his team could not even hammer out a substantially different NAFTA (and still hasn't convinced Congress to pass that "historic" trade deal.)
Their chance with China is nil. NK will stop shooting rockets before this deal is struck.
9
Toys, for the most part, are a bunch of plastic, that kids play with a few times, then toss aside, and later fill up garbage dumps. Mindless consumerism.
There are alternatives that many kids will enjoy and appreciate... won’t choke the planet with plastic garbage... and can become years-long traditions. Symbolically adopting an animal/species is one alternative. There are several organizations that provide “adoption” services, including the WWF, NWF, Sierra Club, etc. Even the Smithsonian’s National Zoo has an adopt-a-species program.
Not into saving animals? Try trees and forests, or wetlands, or coral reefs, etc. And, if parents still think they have to buy a toy, make it something the kids/family can share or enjoy together (board games, a basketball, binoculars for nature viewing, or a telescope for stargazing, etc.).
It’s never too late to learn (and teach) good habits.
85
@Donna M Nieckula
This sounds great, but I gotta be honest: I remember being a kid, and seeing kids whose parents did stuff like this, and we all despised it. Kids want toys. It's not "mindless consumerism" to make sure your children grow up with cherished memories of being young. Just buy good toys that will last, or digital "toys" that won't end up in a landfill.
15
Thank you for this wonderful post. I agree wholeheartedly.
5
@Donna M Nieckula
Our kids always get as part of their Christmas presents, animal sponsorships through Heifer International. Please consider this group. They do good work.
11
As a former general merchandise/fashion importer (1976-2006) I'm a little baffled by people thinking Trump saved Christmas for consumers.
Christmas goods were shipped from Asia starting back in April, are already on the warehouse shelves of wholesalers and retailers and in most cases already en route to the stores.
Worry about next year where holiday merchandise is 7 months away from being put on boats. Worry about the stock market tanking and looming worldwide recession because no one knows what gibberish is going to come out of Trump's mouth next.
84
@Alan -
And as an American and company manager, I personally signed the checks for the tariffs for product components that my American company imported from China. Not the Chinese producers, nor the Chinese exporters. Me. And then my American customers paid these import taxes when they purchased the goods from me.
Americans pay for tariffs, not foreigners. China may eventually see decreased demand for their products, substituted by Viet Nam or India, etc., but when Trump says that China is paying those tens or hundreds of dollars in tariffs, he is baldly lying to our American faces.
Americans pay these GOP import TAXES.
47
@SRP -
Ooops. I meant "tens or hundreds of Billions of dollars"..."
Sorry.
4
Our great liberal beacon has never figured out that work is important. Sympathy for the free riders who used our distorted trade laws to circumvent locations with fair wages and humane working conditions. Those days are gone. Get on the wagon or four more years of you-know-who.
According to David Stockman, Budget Director under Ronald Reagan, the average wage of a factory worker in China is $5 per hour. In the U.S. it's $30 per hour, including benefits.
The cost of labor is usually the greatest expense of making just about anything. Certainly we don't want to cut the wages of U.S. workers to meet wages in China. So, how much more would Americans be willing to pay for goods, including toys, made totally in the U.S.? Two times as much? Three or four?
9
Or how much would companies be willing to trim their profit margins to offset the greater expense of manufacturing products here?
7
@BruceM Not a complete picture. The American worker is paying taxes on that $30. ( I pay 35.6%) Those tax dollars go to supporting this country in many ways. Without taxes, who would pay for all those Senators to sit in DC and do nothing all day?
3
Bring the supply chains home to North America.
Employ North Americans in all their diversity. North American workers need paychecks to buy toys for their kids.
9
There is little high tech in most toys. The toy manufacturers can easily be moved to Central America where the jobs will promote stability and allow people to remain in their home countries.
8
@Frank - did you read the article? Price is what matters to consumers, and the cost of bringing this to North America is not economically feasible. Not to mention the time it would take. Capitalism 101.
4
@Frank Americans love low price goods, until they wear out or until the price goes up.
It is the US mfrs that sold their souls to the "sharehold profit" game years ago. Now, it's too late.
If you think Trump's Import Tax is expensive, try applying US labor costs to these same products. Better off to just take the Import Tax as a price increase and will still be cheaper than moving relocation costs and US labor costs.
Since we consumers are apparently so important, hear this from this consumer - I am tired of cheap, shoddy junk made in China. I don't want clothes from the Gap that make me look like a Chinese peasant. I don't want toys for my kids that fall apart almost immediately. I don't want garden implements that bend on first use (true story). I refuse to buy Chinese goods, but often there is no alternative, at any price.
Our companies have shipped production overseas and steadily eroded the quality of the products over the years. They obviously take the cheapest bids from manufacturers in China, yet prices to us for these products have kept going up. And then we are told there is no inflation.
I am no supporter of Trump, but I have to hand it to him for recognising we have a problem. Debt-fuelled importation of consumer goods is not going to bring back our economy.
A little pain for consumers? Some price rises? As the cost for bringing our industry back here where we can produce quality and provide jobs to our workers? About time!
24
@RAD61 The American slave labor $7.25 minimum wage will not support higher prices for American made consumer goods.
The factories to make all these products were shuttered years ago, machinery sold for scrap and the workers left for other jobs.
Manufacturers/importers are driven by profit, not charity. The ones that are publicly owned are beholden to stock analysts and stockholders.
Our economy has changed from manufacturing to service and technology, not consumer goods manufacturing.
51
@RAD61 - Do you actually think he recognized a problem and is attempting to fix it? This will not bring back industry. This will not provide quality product. Manufacturing will just find another wage force to exploit.
18
@RAD61 Take note of fact they are moving production out of China to other cheaper countries. Manufacturing will never return to the US, unless of course tarriffs and all countries imports to the US. Back to 1970's economics!
13
The toy business has a long developed and healthy relationship with many vendors in China that has resulted in many happy children around the world. The tariffs are going to be devastating, putting especially smaller and vulnerable companies out of business.
6
@Rose - Well yes, many happy children except the ones in sweatshops who are actually making the toys.
5
@Rose it’s plastic junk. Maybe it’s time to teach children they can be happy without it.
3
So what happened to the line that China was paying the tariffs and not the US consumer ?
122
@Miroc
You are not answering the question.
Trump stated that tariffs on Chinese goods would be paid for by the Chinese, that Americans WOULD NOT be paying higher prices and thus paying the tariffs. Now he delays implementation of tariffs to keep prices low for the American consumer. So who is ACTUALLY paying for these tariffs (not Donald or Ivanka Trump I bet!)?
11
@Deepankar
Nothing has changed. Trump is still lying about it, Faux is still selling the lie, and Trump supporters are still buying it.
9
@NYCSandi I mean, maybe he meant that the China would lower the wholesale price of the goods in order to offset the tariff. That's the only thing I can think of.
1
Since Trump branded products were/are made in China and other countries he has zero credibility when it comes to lecturing others to make their products in the U.S.
And as we've seen he has zero credibility when it comes to economic decisions that all too often led to failure and/or bankruptcy.
Trump seeks to bankrupt and ruin the the country just as he did his businesses as long as he make a buck along the way no disaster in his wake will deter him.
115
@Marie
What bothers me is if China is such a national threat, which it is, then we can't and shouldn't be budging just for Christmas toy to be cheaper by 10%.
And that would be the message a President should be sending, not flip-flopping every time Dow Jones craters.
4
@Marie Remember all those who said it would be good to have a businessman running the country for a change.How's that working out?
16
@MS
So China must not be such a threat?
No, your premise is wrong - it's not whether or not China is a threat. The question should be do Trump's tariffs have anything to do with the threat that China poses.
2