Trump did poorly in private business affairs, no pun intended. His casino business a shambles; closed for business. Trump is not a president other than in name. His decisions are horrible, like putting his son in law, Jared Kushner to come up with a Middle East Peace Plan which he is not qualified to do just as daddy and law is not qualified to be president.
Despite our political differences, there is one thing in common both the left and right have and that is money. Money to buy the essentials like food, to buy a car, clothes...and who cares about politics when prices have gone so high that life suddenly becomes stressful with monetary burdens. We are going to pay the "Trump" tariff, and strangely enough, it may polarize us all. We the People will not allow the US to go out of business.
6
Michigan voters put trump into office. Now they can live with the consequences. I don’t feel sorry for them at all !!!!
23
Looks like the "hardest hit" states are the ones with the most Mexican restaurants. I'll skip the taco if it helps stop illegal immigration and brings jobs back to USA.
3
@Barry
Open your eyes! Good paying jobs aren't coming back!! You've been conned!
22
Where is the map that shows the impact of following the lead of the Democratic Party?
Not enough red ink?
@Bryan
And yet it's a fact that we blue states have been subsidizing you red states for years. Try another argument or do us all a favor and secede.
33
Anything that makes Mitch and Ted suffer can’t be all bad. I think Florida farmers will be money ahead from the tariffs. All those dead citrus groves that were turned into sugar cane would be better used for veggies anyway.
6
Tough Tiajuanas!!!
These states, primarily red, voted for the mentally disturbed man.
Here are the consequences.
The Trump Taco Tax is the hoisting of their own petard.
Now we see the reiteration of "Insane" as folks vote for a clearly mentally ill man vote for him again.
No ONE CARES about your pain.
14
The Democrat Party and Obrador coalition is becoming a big danger in the 2020 elections, the russians' interference in 2016 being nothing compared to what's coming !
2
They look like the states that are most hurt by illegal immigration as well.
4
Hardest hit? Get ready for a kick in the pants—your pants pocket, that is. The one where you keep your wallet. It's not just a matter of imports. It's what happens to the truckloads of goods after they get here. They affect our whole economy.
6
Note to my fellow Michiganders:
We're the second-hardest hit after Texas.
Could you please remember this in 2020?
Please???
19
It must be a great time to be a farmer.
In Canada.
8
Nice map. I see lots of red. Maga baby.
5
Did Trump just lose Michigan?
9
Trump knows nothing. Most of his businesses tanked and he needed Vlad’s money to bail him out. He is absolutely clueless and if he did not fail Economics 101 he slept right through it. He is governing this country like a kindergarten bully. Curious to see what’s going to happen.
13
As Fred Trump said: " I keep giving this kid money and he keeps losing it."
Now he is into tariffs and will make all of us losers.
17
Any chance we could hit Kentucky — McConnell’s state — a lot harder with these? Like maybe 10 times harder, or 110 times?
15
Impact on voters in TX, FL, MI, IN, OH, PA, AZ, KY, TN, NC? Large.
Ability for those voters to translate $ coming out of their wallet into disdain for this President and his terrible foreign policy approach. Zero.
8
Still bitter, I see.
@MDB
Not hardly bitter, We're gloatng
6
The whole world is shifting because of heat, wars and simply - no food. Adding tariffs to Mexican imports is is incredibly short sighted, which is typical Trump. The question that should be addressed is WHY?
Global warming – Wars – Starvation – Freedom. So can you blame a parent for trying to save their children? The reality is Trump a blatant racist. Those fleeing are not blond and blue eye people, therefore he screams Build a Wall! Mexico will pay for it!!
The tariffs will hurt his supporters and our economy. But heck, they don't care. Just keep them brown skin people away from our pure America.
10
I hope the tariffs crush the wallets of the fools who helped elect him.
20
As others have pointed out in the past, the starve them out policy was/is a miserable failure. The visits by Americans to Cuba open the country to the very ideas and values we hope the Cuban government embraces. Also, in recent memory Venezuela was the bad guy propping up Cuba. Now a 180 turn of events. Who new? I did travel to Cuba (legally) years ago and beyond the impression that Havana needed a paint job, there were billboards everywhere with effigies decrying the villainous Uncle Sam, stovepipe hat and all. The most effective policy requires the long view of incremental changes. I think that the Communist Menace (shudder) is a bit overplayed. Hmm, could Florida votes be lurking behind the facade?
2
Trump's national emergency of the day will be ...
Remember Infrastructure Week?
So now Trump supporters in Texas, Michigan, Illinois and other states will join the farmers in the Midwest and do their patriotic duty to suffer economic catastrophe for Trump.
There seem to be no limits on Trump's idea of national emergencies. Fairly soon, it will be the lack of underpaid illegal immigrants to care for his hotels and resorts.
Perhaps Trump listened to Louie Gohmert too often about immigrant children actually being terrorists with Ebola.
6
How is a new VAT tax (that’s exactly what this is, Mexico won’t be paying a dime) on basic goods that Americans buy scramble anyone’s business models?
If you look at the facts, these huge business can’t want for an excuse to raise retail prices across the board that you will be paying, and once these companies add the cost of this fiasco to the everyday prices of most of the things you buy, it will never go away.
Long after Trump is gone, we American’s will be paying for years because of his ignorant, bigoted policies.
20
If you know anything about the auto industry most of those states have large auto manufacturing facilities. the first tip-off is Michigan, but Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama all have auto manufacturing. This guy is an economic D/A as is the hack he has running trade policy.
7
Where are the maps that show what state will be hit the hardest by illegal imagination?
You would think the local avocado growers would welcome less competition from Mexico. Not true. When the price of avocados go up, it encourages poachers who will strip the tree of its fruit--whether or not the avocados are ready to be picked. No benefit but plenty of losses.
3
Trump = All Republicans
All Republicans = Trump
Trump is raising taxes through tariffs on American Consumers.
Applying the truism above:
Republicans are raising taxes on All American Consumers.
Trump owns the biggest Federal and National Deficit EVER.
Applying the truism above:
Republicans are responsible for the largest Federal and National Deficit EVER.
That means Republicans are the largest Tax and Spend party of all time.
11
well then the companies can move back here. simple as it was when Clinton pushed them to Mexico with NAFTA. then onto China with his most favorable trade nation. Sorry the Democrats created this mess, using unions to force out the companies with strikes. they all were in it to sell out this country. Carter said and Obama repeated it, We Americans have to much free money compared to the south and we need to make it equal.
Perhaps this is a Divine intervention, because the sad reality is humans sometimes only wake up to economic hardship-- loss of decency, racism, corruption, restriction of others' rights, sheer denial of major catastrophic events like climate change-- none of this is enough.
But when someone is pinching my wallet, ah now...it is the, you-have-really-trespassed, mentality.
Texas is going to hurt, ouch. That is one republican stronghold Mr Trump can't really lose, can he?
But, a similar mapping of impact by China Tariffs would be helpful as well.
And it is going to hurt people of Mexico as well, imagine their hardship as well. They are our neighbours, or do we don't care about our neighbours any more?
I can't take Trump anymore, and this malicious feast of demagoguery, hateful insults, ill-conceived financial rulings, bigotry against minorities, and thinly veiled racism.
But do you know what bothers me the most and odd, that this is what sticks in my mind...
I find him lacking in insight, lacking in intelligence both actual IQ and emotional; it is his intellectual poverty that grates on me every single day. (you know what the verb "gråta" means in Svenska... it means "to cry").
Nov, 2020 can't come soon enough: I can't wait.
9
Well, if his tariffs on Mexico go through, the voters in Kentucky will vote for him again, despite their state economy being forth most dependent on imports from Mexico. After all, Obamacare helped people in Kentucky more than most states, and they elect people who vow to end it.
5
I want Red States to suffer most. I don't mind suffering so long as they do and see how their Hero operates. He thinks America should declare Bankruptcy and will reap the benefits as he has done all his life by doing the same.
5
Texas Senator John Cornyn woke up from his Trump-induce comatose, looked around, thought about the near victory of underdog Beto O'Rourke over Ted Cruz and realized that the Mexico tariffs might sink his reelection bid.
It could keep Cornyn from continuing to feed on the taxpayer-funded trough, which will mean giving up congressional perks, power, fat paychecks, and hefty vacations.
Texas imports $107 billion from Mexico.
Cornyn woke up the others in the middle of their All-Things-Donald hibernation who are also facing reelection.
More panic, as folks back home start lighting up the switchboard - suddenly, goods and commodities from south of the border took a new meaning on the American economy.
Now that everyone is on the same page regarding America's largest trading partner, including Trump's supporters, there are economic facts that Mexico is much more than cartels, El Chapo, illegal immigration and poverty.
Pssst.
Keep an eye on the 401ks, folks - some retirements are going to be postponed when the stock market takes a dive once America's babbling economic expert Trump starts tacking on tariffs on Mexican, Chinese and other nations' imports.
The tariffs are nothing more than Trump taxes on consumers.
Ironically, many of these retirees will go south to retire because that's what they will be able to afford - There are already 1.3 million American retirees in Mexico, according to the U.S. State Department. It's a lot cheaper to live there.
Many, are there illegally.
15
Even Trump supporters like Governor McMaster and Lindsey Graham of SC are against these tariffs. They will harm major parts of the SC economy which are already being harmed by tariffs on China.
2
The produce California imports is largely distributed to the entire country by many good grower/ producer distributors.
Often imported to add to the US crops of distributors meeting the entire nations needs. The entire country would suffer without that produce.
14
Exactly. Trump doesn’t understand or care. It’s like a mobile- when one part moves - all the parts move.
10
The Republicans love to bring pain to the 99 percent. When Reagan was in he deregulated a lot of items and we got the highest medical costs in the world today.
With Trump in the new car prices are 35,000 only available for the 1 percent. Now who will be paying the most penalty for his Mexican tariff. The 99 percent. Had enough of the GOP. I have.
17
@D.j.j.k.
I decided to get my new car early due to the Chinese tariffs. I could see the big car carrier ships coming over faster than usual.
First they take away your healthcare, then they take away your abortion rights, and then they come for your cars, produce, and other imported items.
Under Trump just like Herbert Hoover, there will be a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage. Or no food and Hoovervilles.
10
So sad. These tariffs are horrible. Implemented, or not, I'm extremely skeptical of their having any tremendous minimization on stemming border crossings (in my opinion there will always be some means to cross). The higher the tariffs go the more the poor are affected and the more consumers will pay for goods. Farmers are already struggling. The maps shown in this article are great but I wish they had also mapped the impact by all of the states supporting 45.
11
They actually are working, Mexico finally coming to the table for talks, same with the other countries. His whole goal is no tariffs anywhere. Europe gonna be harder to crack cause their laws require them to protect their industries. Want to blame someone? Blame the Democrats including Clinton's and Biden, they all called for and passed the wall. They failed because the liberal groups bought them off.
Your graphs provide quite information especially graph 2. This unnecessary tariff or tax affects states fairly on average of their GDP. Donald's tantrum hits again.
5
Not sure how this ties into capitalism or democracy which I thought were mainstays in America.
- Centralize production and manufacturing in the USA
- Remove incentives for imports by taxation to make imports less attractive...but only certain countries
- Insist on bilateral trade agreements but then don't actually implement them
- brand any competitor an "enemy" and use military force wherever it gains advantage economically. Use specifically on neighbors and treat them as client states.
If you want a centrally planned economy which prioritizes exports over imports and simultaneously want everything produced in the USA, then you'd need a centrally planned economy which overrides market forces and everything else suppressed through military intervention. Is Trump using an '80's 5-year plan from the Soviet Union? Because that's what this is. Mexico is not the Balkans and the US Customs and Border Protection Agency is not the Soviet Union era NKVD, but it sure looks like imitations of those from the outside looking in under the rule of Trump.
23
@Daniel H Yep, he's one smart New Yorker.
1
What's up with Kentucky's high imports? Please I really would like to know.
8
@deborah wilson
Hey, Kentucky is a right to work state and has enjoyed the fruits of foreign companies settling in the south. When tariffs are imposed it hurts those states the worse. Many foreign companies have come into the US and found non-union states to settle into. Hence Kentucky.
7
@deborah Wilson
We hear in our local news media that (bragging) Kentucky is the 3rd largest auto/truck (complete vehicle or component) producing state in the USA. 4 major assembly plants, 2 Ford, 1 Toyota, 1 GM (Corvette), plus lots of the component factories for auto plants in the Midwest. It involves all the pieces and cross shipping to build a vehicle in an integrated 3 nation supply chain, 30 years in the making.
Building vehicles is just a lot more complicated than running a hotel or golf course.
6
@deborah wilson I believe there are automotive plants in Kentucky.
2
Yet another "crisis" of Trump's own making. Enough!!
15
What part of imposing a 25% tax on *us* makes us Great?
(Asking for a friend.)
25
I see it hurts economies in Texas, Kentucky, Michigan and the South more than New York. Fine then. You want to keep shooting yourselves in the foot, who are we to stop you?
25
This could get interesting...I'll be looking for melt down in Texas, Indiana, Ohio & Michigan. Kentucky's gonna hurt too. MAGA...sure...
26
You get what you deserve America. My wish of America falling to its knees is coming fast and hard.
4
@V ... Question: Does the 'V' stand for 'Vladimir'? Just curious as 'America falling to its knees' is precisely what he, 'Uncle Vlad', had in mind when he managed to help push his tRump Trojan Horse into the Oval Office. ~ As you say; that 'wish', one beyond Putin's wildest dreams, and our worst fears, is manifesting itself everyday before our Very eyes.
3
@RWH
No. You don't need to assume what it stands for. You should ask where your country stands with morals when it's killing brown children. Brown children are the border, brown children in middle east, and brown children by cops.
1
Nice work folks- your boy Trump is really looking out for you!
Texas and these other “trump states” that will take the brunt of these new taxes on American citizens (yes that’s exactly what this, Mexicans won’t be paying a dime for this fiasco) are now finding out what we NYC have know for years, Trump is a lying, corrupt, conman.
Rivaled only by the shameless GOP.
37
"...tariffs on its products, will ripple through the United States, with consumers around the country paying more for cars, TVs, bluejeans, beer, fresh vegetables and other products."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How's that MAGA'ing, trumpeters?
20
We can always delay purchasing a vehicle, even buying latest greatest electronic toys and cell phones but we've all got to eat and put food on our tables to feed our families while grocery prices will go through the roof but wages are stagnant and aren't increasing. Companies are gong to be hurting more due to tariffs which means more layoffs and downsizing, increased unemployment and less hiring.
2
I’m sooooo tried of winning -/
1
@NativeSon, YOU LEFT OUT TEQUILA!
1
Trump is right. There is an emergency at the border. Why deny it?
3
@sebastian A crisis of Trumps making and Trumps intensifying.
5
@sebastian: I don't see it as an emergency. In recent years we've taken in about 20k asylum seekers per year. At that rate it would take an entire decade to fill one good-sized suburb of a large city. An average of 40k illegals are being caught monthly under Trump, but note: that's the number being caught and sent back; those are not getting in.
Living near the border I encounter immigrants every day. They're not monsters as Trump portrays it. They're good, normal people like you and me. But if you want to reduce the number of immigrants only two measures will work: fining employers who hire them, and major assistance to the 3 Central American countries from which they mainly come. Trump isn't even thinking about either one.
6
Of course there is a crisis and Trump has basically created it-
Stops funding in South America to fight gangs so theses people don’t have leave in the first place
Over 6000 boarder officer jobs still not filled
Several billions of tax dollars already available still not put to work
On and on ... and that’s before we get to “children in cages” part and using the US military as a midterm election prop.
Trump’s doesn’t have a clue, and as all of us who watched this guy in NYC know - it’s all about the con.
Anyone want to admit that?
3
Trump is threatening to put a gun to his own, and Republicans’, political heads and pull the trigger. Gee, can’t wait!
This is just more of the same for an administration who’s approach to governing is to make every situation worse in the hope that it will trigger surrender by others.
Well, why should I care? I don’t live in Michigan or Texas or Kentucky and I don’t work in the auto industry. If his base wants to decimate their economies over this they deserve the pain.
23
How does imposing a tax on American consumers and manufacturers help deal with that problem? Because that is all Trump's tariffs are, a tax on all of us, particularly those not in the upper income brackets.
4
Hey, Mr. Norquist!
Please continue your principled stand against the Trump Tantrum Tax.
9
Looks nicely correlated with the states who will benefit the most from reduced illegal immigration.
6
Bankrupt Donald, I say fast forward with the tariffs. Then double them, don't back down, show US you are the bravest ever, and destroy the GOP for the next decade.
20
Naive me: I thought you were going to name the Mexican states that are going to experience dire effects of this witless proposal. Mexico is our neighbor, our biggest trading partner, and the effects on its economy are likely to be as large proportionally, if not larger, than they are on the American mirror the US economy.
4
The article is about the effects on the U.S. economy, which will be considerable. Just what we all want: paying thousands more for autos and god knows what else. That’s what I care about.
I welcome the tariffs there you go Texas keep voting republican
8
From the information taken from that map, one word comes to mind - Justice.
10
@Doug
Hey hey now. Texas, Arizon, Michigan, Kentucky, sure. But California and Illinois? I think that's part of 45's plan. Or perhaps I'm giving him too much credit.
That does it! We grow our own.....tomatoes.
10
@Rahn - and pick and pack them?
1
Absolutely reckless move from the most corrupt white house EVER. This alone demonstrates his lack of knowledge in or experience in trade matters. Hopefully the GOP will see this as the tipping point and side with Democrats on impeachment.
10
But remember 45 is the great negotiator...not!
2
Trump- a one man destruction force against anything "Latin". From Trump administration banned cruises, private yachts and fishing vessels from visiting Cuba this week to keeping Puerto Rico as a colony so America can "own" without granting statehood. Now treating Mexico--a country US stole half of its land with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo--as an constant enemy.- rounding up immigrants at the border. Please, Please Vote 2020--Humanity Never So Annihilated.
15
Another example of our illiterate, criminal autocrat wielding too much power over the country. One person can do all this - and irreparably damage the country. With "emergency" executive privilege there's little that can be done with regards to oversight by Congress. This has got to change. We've got one-man rule here, folks, and it will be the middle class and the poor that suffer the most. This president must be brought to task for his misdeeds and, yes, criminality.
Vote Democrat in 2020. Your livelihood just may well depend on it.
19
The master strategist of Trump's program of taxing Americans to support white supremacy is his Secretary of Xenophobia, Stephen Miller.
Miller, the son of a liberal Jewish family in Santa Monica, California, is still remember by his HS classmates for screaming at Hispanics in the school corridors that they should not speak Spanish in public areas. Many in his family have disowned him for his white supremacism and racial hatred.
Stephen Miller looks just like the vampire "Count Orlok", in "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror" (German: Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens), a 1922 German Expressionist horror film, directed by F. W. Murnau, starring Max Schreck as the vampire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3lizKN5aNc
We need to vote out Trump and Count Orlok in 2020. Or their horrorfest will continue.
20
Your avocado toast is only the surface. That's not a joke.
The list of items coming into the country from Mexico is huge, as Trump might say.
So, what won't really slow down?
Drugs, determined migrants. However, maybe the Mexican border patrol, which hates the gringos up north, will ratchet up a show of force on the Guatemalan border to make it look like Trump won.
Then, after a bit, back to the status quo.
6
So true and well said. Drugs and people will still come in. All while the American people will pay more for food and consumer products. US companies that can't compete will fold.
3
Tariffs are very successful at pushing Trump's legal problems off the front page.
13
I’m going to take a wild guess that “Anonymous” and people like him/her/them are no longer in The White House to stop this insanity.
1
Until the U.S. starts prosecuting those American employers, who illegally profit from undocumented workers, with the same fanfare and bluster, with the same calculated cruelty and administrative incompetence that this Administration brings to bear on said workers, then Trump regime's plan to "punish" Mexico with tariffs on certain goods imported into the U.S. is as empty as the heads from which it was hatched. If you're going to profit by employing people you KNOW are here illegally, then maybe you should spend some weeks or months in a "civil" detention lock-up, with all of the "perks" that come with it. The Mexico tariffs are simply more grandstanding by a regime (I refuse to call it an "administration") and it's Republican't enablers that has long ago run out of ideas, let alone workable solutions.
11
If any of trump's minions in the Senate look at these maps, there is no way they will allow the tariff (tax) to be imposed. If it is, look on the bright side. Michigan goes back into the D column and things get interesting in Texas.
10
The problems are only just beginning,,I can only imagine what he is going to do with the results if they aren’t favourable to him,will he recognize a loss? Will he be rebuked by “his” senate? It smells like a swamp to end all swamps!
4
If I have to hear one more Trump supporter say the tariffs are paid by China (or Mexico) I think I'm going to blow my top.
The very least the GOP could do is to make it known that Trump is lying when he says that.
Of course, keeping their voters in the dark about "facts" plays into their wheel house.
14
Let trump have his way and then let the voters decide in 2020 if he is worth keeping on for four more years.
I think he's already done enough damage and should have been gone yesterday, but somehow, his supporters need to learn that they can't have their cake and eat it too.
15
Michigan, Duplicitous-Donald does not have your interests at heart. Please don't make the same mistake in 2020.
Vote for sanity, diplomacy and rational policy.
14
With the exception of California, the majority of the states affected is red. This is will allow us to learn how Trumpian Politics squares with Trumpian Economics, in a concrete situation. This is where the Huarache Hits The Road.
13
@Marco Avellaneda
Since when is Illinois red??
Trump appears to be making an all out effort to turn Texas blue. If he imposed these tariffs in 2017, Beto would be a Senator now.
9
A couple days after the tariff is set in motion. trump will get a small meaningless concession from Mexico, that when dissected will prove worthless in terms of slowing immigration. Trump will of course claim he beat Mexico into submission with his tariff threat, and declare victory. We’ve seen this plY many times before.
12
Knowing Trump, this will somehow result in millions, of not billions of dollars somehow winding up in Trump family coffers.
5
Some of those states hit hardest, were the critical flip states in the electoral college that put Trump into office.
If you read the Mueller report, it says that some of these state had the VR tech in their electronic voting systems, which the Russian military infected with malware in strongly Democratic district, delaying and ultimately blocking dispositive votes, throwing the election to Trump.
And for some reason, the media is hardly reporting on this Russian attack on the US electoral system here at home.
It's a new kind of war, heavily dependent on electronics and internet systems we built.
And we've already been beat.
8
@jan This is incorrect. The intelligence community has NOT concluded that ANY votes-not even one-were incorrectly flipped to Trump. They have found evidence of Russian assets infiltrating certain election systems, but no outright tampering.
2
Trump creates problems by his shortsighted tactics, and then the problems he created get fixed using billions of dollars of other people's money. This is literally how he ran all his businesses into bankruptcy and then waited for banks to bail him out.
8
I've always felt there isn't anyone more economically self destructive than a middle or lower class person who votes for Republicans. These maps can certainly be used as "Exhibit A."
15
NYT’s I’m depending on you , tariffs are TAXES, knock it off already,
Where , who, are the tax (tariffs) monies going?
2
Have the “real” Americans grown tired of senselessly torching their hard-earned money, yet?
It is interesting how there seems to have been a calculated attempt to avoid too much perceived negative impact on the “whiter” portions of the map. It’s like a metaphor for Donald Trump’s presidency.
1
Thankfully, when the original thirteen colonies began their struggle against England, the newspapers didn’t harp about which colonies would suffer the most from the tea boycott.
During the Continental Congress there was much infighting and the U.S. almost didn’t happen. After the Revolution there was more contention in the Congress to the point where Connecticut wanted to secede.
People of Michigan and Texas, this is your guy working for you!
15
Yup, trade wars really are easy aren't they.. Not even close and worse this one won't even begin to help with his objectives. The more we destabilize these economies to the south, the more we make it impossible to govern by stripping governing leader of their dignity, the more the economies of these countries will fail. We lit this fuse with a variety of actions of the last 100 years or so. We've invaded, installed dictators, created the cartels with OUT drug prohibitions and effectively spread chaos throughout the region. Now, that countries are incredibly dangerous to live in, some teetering on becoming failed states, we're surprised there's a refugee crisis? We're surprised people need a safe haven from this? Trump's aggressive actions won't make this better, it will make it 10 times worse and tank OUR economy on the way by. Canada better start building their wall, they're gonna need it.
5
Dear People living in Kentucky, Michigan, and Texas.....Whom did you vote for? Think about it when your taxes go up.
...And dear speaker of the senate (notice the lower case here), the residents of your state will be paying the price your terrible racist agendas.
10
Given that we know that local resiliency and reducing the dominance of corporations are key to long term economic and environmental sustainability, and forgetting who proposed them and why, why are these tariffs a bad thing if they scramble the business model of companies like Walmart, Exxon, and GM, and raise prices a little on goods so we reduce the dominance of a consumerist disposable culture? When was the last time a foreign government got an emergency meeting with the VP and the whole of the Senate warned of dire consequences for a real emergency like climate change and social justice? If this forces action and rethinking then great.
3
It’s all overblown anti-Trump propaganda. No one has been markedly impacted by the tariffs on China, and the same will apply to tariffs on Mexico.
Any very minor pain is necessary to correct long standing problems.
4
People have been markedly impacted by the China tariffs. My TX family’s small business is struggling to survive because tariffs put a blocker on potential business deals.
7
@Dr. John Completely incorrect.
Start by reading this from National Review (not exactly left wing propaganda):
https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2019/06/24/trumps-trade-war-casualties/
While I do agree that with regard to China there was/is a need to address numerous trade, regulatory, environmental, and human rights issues...I am at a loos to see any coherent strategy out of this administration to actually accomplish anything.
9
@Dr. John
Since tariffs won’t solve the longstanding problem of racism against black and brown people, I don’t think they are any good.
2
The President is justifying his power to impose tariffs with the International Emergency Economic Powers Act IEEPA of 1977. Most legal scholars say President Trump is sailing in uncharted legal and constitutional waters.
This Act provides the president with certain extraordinary authorities that he may use to “deal with any unusual or extraordinary threat". Does Mexican illegal immigration, an historically prolonged phenomenon require such urgent action by the Executive?
7
First, why stop at 25%? Seems kind of arbitrary.
Second, those are mostly red states. I'm curious how stubborn those voters are. Will they still vote for him next fall if their economies are hit hard? Exactly what does Trump have to do to alienate his base? Is that even possible? Or are they every bit as in love with him as North Koreans are of the Kims?
15
@Julian
When is the last time American's have voted in their best interest instead of voting for their tribe?
He has an extremely high approval rating within the republican party, and has a 30% immutable base... Of course they'll still vote for him.
7
@Julian
Trump boasted about the strength of his support. He said he could shoot people on 5th Avenue and not lose support. Well, I guess he can impoverish his base and not lose any either. Go figure!
6
So true - but give it time - no one is going to admit, due to ego, that they backed the wrong horse.
However, once the financial pain of this fiasco sinks in, I’m guessing In the privacy of the voting box the thinking may be a very different.
3
It still seems to me that Trump may be deliberately manipulating the market. When his unexpected tweeted threat about tariffs went viral, the market took a deep dive. This has happened several times with his tweets. And then each time, he backs off and markets go back to “normal” until the next time. If this tariff idea was really a well thought out plan, then Trump and his cabinet and advisors should release the reports on the plan and the data and evidence that supports tariffs affects on immigration and asylum seekers from Mexico or any other country. Until then, it looks like a purposeful market maneuver. Maybe the FEC should begin watching these tweets and market dives more carefully.
34
@DB I would love to know whether Trump or any of his associates are dumping or purchasing stocks in a way that correlates with his decisions that impact the market. How can voters learn whether this is being watched?
35
@DB It makes sense, especially in light of his past market manipulating statements in concert with his father's stock buys and dumps.
9
I'm glad I'm not the only one saying this. Who would be in charge of checking? Would it be considered insider trading?
6
The combination of the tariffs and a lower corporate tax rate will incentivize US multinationals to move their sources of supply to the US. This will in turn revitalize our manufacturing base and employ more people here. So, even if the tariffs stay in place, this is a win for the US. It is one-side to assert that the consumers will fully bear the cost; the lower corporate tax rate will enable the US importing firms to lower prices and still maintain earnings per share. Meanwhile, the tariffs will enable the US government to offset some of the corporate tax decrease. So, Mexico has to decide whether they want to see this outflow of capital and jobs or whether they want to control their southern border and stop providing free passage to illegal immigrants across their country to the US. Hopefully, the sharper pencils there will prevail. MAGA!
2
@pete
You are dreaming if you think those jobs will move back to the US. That would increase the cost of goods by such an amount that there would be far less sold. Those companies would lose sales.
Also, you are double counting here. If any manufacturing does move back, there will be no tariff money to offset the corporate tax reduction. If not, the corporate tax cut will be paid for by a consumption tax, just increasing the cost of living to enrich the rich. MAGA!
12
@pete Sir, your analysis is fundamentally flawed. The United States operates in a global economy. Trade allows countries to benefit from their comparative advantage, and on balance is a win-win for countries that participate in and increase trade. The converse is also true, creating barriers to trade is a lose-lose.
What is worse for the US is that this pattern of trade tariffs is a war of the US against the world. So, it is highly unlikely that the scenario you dream of (decreased trade for the US=increased jobs in the US) will pan out. Your dream assumes that the US imposes high import duties, but that the rest of the world does not retaliate. It also assumes that the US tariffs stay in place long enough for manufacturers to retool in order to entirely re-order supply chains. These are ludicrous assumptions. If the tariffs stay in place and supply chains shift, it will not be to the advantage of the US. Global growth in consumption is much faster outside of the US. Once the US walls itself off from the world, Germany will be more than happy to step into the vacuum to be a global supplier.
While agree that Mexico will be hurt, the damage that this tactic of imposing trade tariffs to address every issue is in the long run damaging to the US.
You do correctly state that tariffs are revenue to the federal govt. But, as a method of taxation, this is extremely inefficient.
15
@pete Aside from trade wars being retaliatory, my guess is that the US will not be able to respond by growing more crops. Besides, even if we did grow more fruits and vegetables, assuming our farms are not stricken by floods, drought, fires or disease from that global warming "myth", who's going to pick the crops?
6
Looking forward to seeing the states that voted for Trump but their money where their mouths (votes) are, literally.
18
This is Trump's usual technique to retain control of the news cycle. The press falls for it every time . He threatens or creates an action so disruptive that it becomes the top news story, and he then backs off , or takes credit for a solution to the crisis that he has created . In this case he has created a crisis with Mexican tariffs. The reason Trump has been "vague" about what he wants from Mexico is that allows him to declare victory regardless of whatever is received in the talks . These tariffs will not occur . What will occur is that Trump will point to "progress " in the talks which have allowed him to delay their implementation.
17
Our Republic’s founders did not want to grant the president kingly powers. One expression of their intent is the Constitution’s clause giving Congress the sole power to impose tariffs.
Congress through various laws has ceded this power (among others) to the executive.
It’s time for the House to pass legislation reclaiming its sole constitutional power over tariffs. It also needs to initiate a review of all laws granting powers to the presidency the founders did not intend.
We’re learning the hard way that power invested in an unstable, impulsive, immature egoist has destructive consequences. The nation’s founders sought to protect us from “mad kings”, and we were wrong to think the danger had passed.
37
Personally I wouldn’t mind Trump had decided this tariff were appropriate had he consulted a respected economist or two. But we all know that’s not true. The only ones he might have consulted are a sycophant CEO hoping for another tax cut, or someone on his staff like Stephen Miller.
18
I wouldn’t cheer this too much. I don’t believe that most people are against paying taxes per se. Instead, people hate paying taxes they think are going to people or things they don’t care about. This is why vilifying welfare goes hand in hand with wanting to lower taxes. You tell people their money is being wasted by lazy undeserving people. But I bet many people in Texas and Michigan will be happy to pay a little more in the (mistaken) belief that it will help keep “good jobs” in America or will stop “bad people” from infiltrating the country. I also wouldn’t underestimate how much people are willing to pay to support racism and xenophobia. Tell a republican their taxes are going to a person of color - they become a fiscal conservative. Tell them they are being used to fight a foreign war or to stop refugees, they become “pro security”. These tariffs turn the economic debate to a discussion about foreigners and Trump has already shown that appealing to the worst in people gets more than enough support.
24
@Baldwin Considering we're already getting gouged by car insurance costs (the highest in the country), higher taxes won't be exactly welcome in Michigan.
10
@Baldwin
No, I doubt my fellow Michigan residents will be "happy to pay a little more" in costs to maintain good jobs and keep "bad" people out of the country or the state. Michigan got clobbered when the Big Three automakers got lazy as they watched their share of the new car market disappear when better-quality cars came in, primarily from Japan years ago -- which continues. Visit struggling but big-hearted Detroit for continuing evidence.
No, I do not want to pay more for my avocadoes, lettuce or any other produce grown in and imported from Mexico. Thankfully, I have a new TV built in S. Korea and a new amazing Mazda 3 built in Japan in April, 2019.
5
@Baldwin you might want to hold the snark. Michigan went for Trump by about 11 thousand votes: a rounding error. The votes from Detroit were not able to be recounted, and it's questionable whether they were counted properly in the first place (this is an ongoing problem which never seems to improve-- but look to who benefits from Detroit not being properly counted, to get clues as to who might be behind it). The citizens and the dems have woken up to this sort of electoral capture, so common across the purple states in the last decade, and are fighting it. Michigan districts will be apportioned by a bi-partisan commission, beginning in 2022...that leaves the possibility of republicans working their tricks in 2020. There is a court case, waiting on the Supreme Court-- might not be a lot of help there. It seems to me that very few people on either coast understand the nuances of the situation (no, it's not as simple as it appears), nor the amount of money brought to bear, in buying the legislatures of the last decade...Koch money, a lot of it.
8
As a Trump supporter, I have to admit my initial thought when the Mexico tariffs were announced was that it was a terrible idea. Upon further reflection, it’s actually brilliant. Mexico has been allowing people to use its land as a conduit for entering our country illegally and for trafficking in narcotics that are killing Americans at epidemic levels (70,000 Americans dead a year from a totally preventable cause). Mexico has an obligation to something about this, and they probably could do quite a bit if they wanted to particularly in light of how much smaller Mexico’s border is with Central America relative to its border with the US. Now we have Mexico’s undivided attention so we’ll see if they’re truly as powerless to do anything as they’ve claimed. If they decide not to do something the silver lining is that they will indeed be paying for that border wall. I know it’s a popular talking point that the consumer ends up paying the tariff but obviously that’s untrue; irrespective of who actually writes the check to the federal government, clearly both sides effectively end up paying part of the tariff. Also, we just lowered nearly everyone’s taxes and the economy is on fire; I think most Americans can probably withstand an increase in costs that is less than what they save under the new tax law.
2
Your facts are simply untrue. The 70000 people that are dying each year have little to do with Mexico as it is related to the opioid epidemic. As far as tariffs being paid for by both sides our supply chains are so complex that the goods will still flow and passed on to the consumer. Finally, if you think you the tax law is benefiting you, look closer. Most people I have spoken to have had to pay more under the new laws.
35
@TD
The 70,000 Americans are dying from opiates, in particular fentanyl that is coming in from Mexico. The stats I've seen indicate that 90+% of the fentanyl is coming in from Mexico.
Your analysis on tariffs only applies to the short-term. Long-term, if tariffs were to remain in place, the supply chains would most definitely start to change in order to reflect the new order. And there's no question that both the supplier and the consumer are affected by the tariff. Maybe the supplier has to reduce it's prices and therefore it's profits rather than directly paying the tariff, but the result is that the federal government collects significant revenue at some pain to both supplier and customer.
And as to your statement that most people you have spoken to paid more taxes...The problem with that is that most Americans have no clue what their taxes would have been in the absence of the new law relative to what they are now. A lot of people think the size of the refund or whether they owed taxes at the end of the year is germane to the issue of how much they paid in taxes (it isn't)...
2
@Bob The present tariffs have had a negative impact on industry.
Mexico can't stop people from central/south America from seeking asylum in the US.
What's he gonna do, give another 12 billion dollar bailout when the disaster strikes?
4
"Later in the day, Mr. Trump said no deal was reached. He plans to gradually ramp up his tariffs on Mexican goods to 25 percent by October."
Where did Trump get the power to "ramp up tariffs"? I haven't seen it in the Constitution. Why don't people just ignore him?
21
@Charlesbalpha congress gave the president that power a long time ago. I don't imagine that they will take it away from him, but they could.
2
@Charlesbalpha Congress explicitly gave up their tariff prerogatives early in the 20th century because they sucked so bad at it, and they figured the President would do a better job. I think time has contradicted them.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/03/tariffs-congress-handed-president-power-to-levy/
2
I have no opinion about the tariffs as I'm not an economist and I don't always believe edited facts before the hearing all sides. Additionally, I am far from being a fan of Trump. However, I wonder if many writing here just don't like the idea of tarrifs because it came from Trump
4
@leftrightmiddle
Do some basic research, sir.
Tariffs, regardless of whom they are sponsored by, allays cause prices to go up; they do nothing to stimulate our economy, and in fact, cause retaliatory tariffs that specifically *harm* our interest.
THAT is the point.
31
@leftrightmiddle
Tariffs were a 19th century device that were replaced 100 years ago by modern taxes, for good reason. Trump revived them so that it could harass nations he doesn't like and pretend that he hasn't raised taxes on Americans.
26
@Paul P.
Using capitalized words does not make something more true. I also would argue that you don't seem to understand the point.
You've evaluated tariffs as if their purpose is to stimulate the economy. That's roughly equivalent to pointing out that going to war doesn't prolong life and instead tends to shorten it. Both are true, but fairly obvious.
The point of these tariffs isn't to stimulate the economy; it's to get Mexico's attention about an urgent issue they've been largely content to ignore (namely the drugs that are pouring into our country and killing 70,000 Americans every year and the millions of people who are coming into our country illegally). I'm unsure whether these tariffs are the best way to achieve the goal, but it's quite clear we got Mexico's attention because they really don't want to lose our business.
2
Again, Mr. Trump will hit the states that voted for him hardest. My comment is "that serves him right." That, and the recent floods, may well ruin the economies of many states that historically vote Republican. It is a shame that states like SC, MS, AL will not get hit as hard as I would like. When he put the tariff on soybeans and other things from the midwest, he hurt them there also. I don't think he has an idea of the entire picture.
19
@Bill Dooley
As far as I can tell not one single Trump supporter would vote differently. They seem to think he knows best because he is a "good" business man, proven because he's "rich". They say they believe that in the end they will be better off, he has their best interests in mind. Hopefully this is true and happens before they lose the farm and savings. Delusional is all I can think. No cause and effect thinking, no critical thinking, just blind faith in a snake oil salesman.
2
@Bill Dooley Problem is, he crushes their industry and bails them out, while they decry Socialism is evil and their products sour.
2
After reading ,any of your comments here, I am still left with the question? How are the Tariffs going to solve the problem of illegal immigration to the USA? Ohh I am sure it will prod our Mexican government to try harder to stop the Caravans coming from Central America, and return more people back to their countries. But we have a 700 miles border with Guatemala and Belize that is mostly a river (and there are portions that you can actually be on the "our" side of the river, and still be in Guatemala), and mountains and jungle. Our entire Army is about 200,000 in total. I am sure if you take away all the administrative and support personnel, the actual soldiers on the ground are much less, and about 50,000 of them are charged with fighting the cartels in the War on your drugs. So, how are we to stop 100,000+ crossing the 700 miles border? With conditions the way they are in some Central America countries, people will find a way in, no matter how many times you send them back.
Shouldn't we as neighbors, be trying to find ways to improve the conditions in their home countries? That would be the only permanent solution.
56
@Jose - I agree, Jose. The cheap prices that Americans expect are the result of the suffering of foreign workers deprived of fair labor and environmental regulations. Until all nations share fair labor and environmental standards, people will migrate to seek a better life. But let me tell you, neither American political party will admit this. They're more worried about their constituents whining about paying a bit more for the luxury of being the biggest consumers in the world.
6
@Jose
"How are the Tariffs going to solve the problem of illegal immigration to the USA?"
They're not going to - Trump is a showboating charlatan who is using this tactic (and misusing the power of his office) to try to show his easily-fooled "base" that he's a "tough guy." Smart people in the United States know this and don't approve.
4
@Jose
"How are the Tariffs going to solve the problem of illegal immigration to the USA?"
They won't. He'll just tell his worshippers that they will and pretend that he has accomplished something.
4
Given the Electoral College, what matters is the per capita cost. If voters feel the pain, maybe they will wise up. If I have done the math right, it will cost each resident of WI about $580 and each resident of Texas about $3700, about 3 times as much as those terrible people in California. When will his supporters wake up to the terrible treatment they are getting?
22
@Eric Key Yeah, they don't care.
"If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you." - LBJ
4
The answer is, his "base" will likely never wise up. They believe what they are told by Fox, Trump and his shameless press secretary. For the most part, discernment is not their strong suit. Other Republicans will look the other way because he is making them richer; that he is choking the less fortunate to do so is not so important; it's been decades since that mattered to most conservatives.
What may save our Republic - outside of a chance asteroid hitting Air Force one on his return trip from Europe - is the few Republicans with some sense of non- fundamentalist morality that may sit out in 2020 because they are disgusted by our red haired Godzilla's penchant for destroying all he touches. That, and every registered voter that has had enough showing up at the polls on that November Tuesday 18 months from now.
2
Eric, I agree with you, except for the “terrible” comment about our state and it’s forward thinking residents, not to mention the 5th largest economy in the world, thank you.
1
The operating budgets of divisions in my town's government have already been hit by Trump's China tariffs over the past several months.
Nobody in our bipartisan meetings wants to mention the president's name, but the comptrollers have to say "Look, this item that we need to fulfill our mission is costing X% more than we budgeted because the only country producing this item is China."
14
I hope the Democrats don't vote against the tariffs. Trump is their boy,let them deal with him.
1
I suppose Trump wants to share the pain that farming states incurred after the China tariffs so manufacturing hubs lime Michigan can experience the same insanity.
13
I am not impressed by the two current Texas senators. They haven't done a thing for Texans lately. They just sit there and accumulate their government pension & benefits. Ted Cruz almost lost his re-election to Beto in 2016. So I would recommend Trump continue his tariffs to get rid of two GOP senators. Why not? He vowed to drain the swamp, didn't he?
31
I would like to see similar graphs and an article on the impact on exports to Mexico from the U.S. as many farmers and others are already hard hit by other tariffs imposed on China etc.
12
It’s time for Congress to step up and to step in to stop this tariff insanity. Congress has a duty under the Constitution to set all tariffs. There is no trade-related nor national emergency justification for these tariffs on Imports from Mexico other than Trump’s political agenda and authoritarian bullying. It’s time to say “Enough is enough!” to his latest violation of the Constitution’s separation of powers.
21
@Paul Wortman The "Art of the Deal" now for Trump as President, as it's always been for Trump as Business Man is, "So sue me."
2
I think we should impose a " 25% Luxury accommodation tax" to be paid by citizens, companies or governments of any nation currently on a US tariff or sanction list.
This tax would apply specifically only to Hotel bills, golf course fees and condominium purchases in the USA by these foreign entities.
The purpose is to punish bad behavior by foreign nations.
20
@Edd
Do you think our leader would be so quick and eager to install punitive financial measures to control the borders, if it hit him in his own pocketbook? I wonder how much tolerance he has for personal financial pain?
2
I wish everyone would stop calling this man unstable. He is doing what he was elected to do create instability. I don’t want anyone to be able to use his age, mental stability, health or anything else as an excuse to lessen his responsibility for his actions. He and his enablers are responsible for the mess he has created.
38
@TW We will need to have trials and long jail sentences for his treasonous collaborators.....Oh, wait....in America the rich and powerful are exempt from the consequences of their actions.
1
Immigration policy ought not to be made via trade wars. It is bad strategy and costly. And look how badly Michigan will fare if these new Mexico tariffs are implemented. Ask yourself - where are the promises of a bailout for the Michigan auto industry that will suffer greatly from these tariffs? Could it be that Trump's bailouts to the midwestern farmers are purely political? In his re-election effort, he may want to win Michigan again but he HAS to win those farming states.
And where are the voices of the Republican members of Congress from Michigan? Representative Upton, you spoke out over three weeks ago, before this latest tariff threat. What will you DO now, to fight for smart policy and to protect your own constituents?
13
@Joan Johnson What would be a better way to enforce immigration policy? I'm not sarcastic, I'm really wondering.
@Mary Ann Mehegan. Really? How about passing immigration reform? An agreement had been reached months ago, one that Trump had "pre-approved," only to have him change his mind. We could also follow the laws we already have regarding asylum. Trump has worsened the situation.
Tariffs are NOT a tool to force other countries to bend to pur will. And the economic costs are great, long-lasting, with a hugely unequal burden.
This is HUGELY ill-advised policy.
1
What part of the cost of illegal immigration to the US budget- upwards of 200 billion dollars per year, do the anti-tariff folks forget? The NET effect of reducing illegal immigration ( which I suspect WILL HAPPEN, because Mexico can ill afford the financial hit they will take from the tariffs) will more than offset any increased cost of buying Mexico made products. And guess what- businesses, individuals, etc will find ALTERNATIVES to Mexico based products if the price is not right. That is how it will all work out to our NET BENEFIT.
2
@samuel That's _not_ how it will all work out. First, where do you get your $200 billion figure? Second, Mexico will not take a financial hit as a result of this move, if it happens. American importers will take the hit, and will simply pass it on to consumers. And finally: I don't advocate illegal immigration in any way, but it's a fact that illegal immigrants play a role in our economy. Getting rid of them will make prices on a large number of products and services rise, and will contract our economy. It's unfortunate that the President of the United States doesn't understand any of this.
19
@samuel Please provide the source (not Breitbart) of your $200bln figure. It's completely ludicrous.
But, set that aside. Sure, let's address the issue of illegal immigration by improving the system of legal immigration such that we can increase the number of productive tax paying green card holders and citizens.
As for Mexico, can you please explain what exactly Mexico is supposed to do? What is the proposed action that the Mexican government is supposed to take? Should they start carpet bombing the border? I just don't get it.
@samuel
Where did you get the $200 billion number? You know that even the illegals pay sales tax, Gasoline tax and someone pays the property tax on the place where they live. Americans citizens do not pay income tax on earnings less than $24K now....standard deduction.
With the illegals gone all us old geezers will have to wash our own dishes at Cracker Barrel. ugh!
Did anyone look at the chart The NY Times published yesterday, showing border crossing during the Bush era double what they are today. And Trump gets away with calling this an emergency because if he's a master of anything, he's a master of ramping up fear based on emotions not reality and then manipulating that reality by redefining asylum in the narrowest of ways.
Calm down everyone; we are not facing a crisis at the border, but we are facing a crisis through denial of science and denial of climate change. If you want to see a genuine migrant disaster, just follow Trump's ignorance on climate.
42
@dmdaisy
What we are facing is a crisis of leadership. Stupid tarrifs should not be used to stem immigration. We will all pay more because one idiot says so. Immigrants are a large part of our economy. They take jobs Americans don’t want. Legalize them. Let them work and pay taxes.
Congress needs to grow a set put a stop to the tarriffs that won’t work. 2020 can’t come soon enough. Funny the states the “wonder” carried are getting hurt the most. Happy you voted for it.
1
With so much produce imported from Mexico, food prices on items such as tomatoes and avocados are already showing signs of volatility with fluctuating increases around 40% above recent low prices. However, the largest impact is expected to be on autos and auto parts, where some parts go back and forth across the border, incurring multiple tariffs: thus 5% can become 15% or more. If the 25% tariff is imposed, prices will skyrocket. With so many US autos made in Mexico, the effect could be substantial and crippling to sales. It looks like a rocky road ahead unless cooler heads prevail in this trade war.
15
Gee. Michigan, Texas and Kentucky. Such a shame.
Bless his heart!
38
Poor little Ted Cruz, his state will get slaughtered. With enough pain, Texas will vote Democrat in 2020. Yeah!!!
36
It's rather refreshing to see John Cornyn sweat.
30
So the Trump Tax hits Texas hardest of all. I wonder at what point would Texans stop supporting Trump..the the Trump Tax hits 35%? 45%?
25
@David R If we get the intended result of reducing illegal immigration, the savings will be tremendous. Short-sighted thinking forgets that illegal immigration costs the US 200 billion dollars/ year and rising!!!
When there is enough pain caused by this President on everyone, eventually someone will say, no! We aren't at that point unfortunately and won't be for at least another year.
Wait until Trump gets home. This bravado that appears every now and then with the President is gone dies down with his return......
I do what I can, believe in Karma and I will vote Democratic no matter what, even if it's Hillary again!
16
Yep, I can add!! It appears that building a wall is a much cheaper and more humane way!
2
Right, a process that would take about 20 years minimum (if all the lawsuits settle) and cost hundreds of millions. But Trump Koolaid is attractive, I guess.
@RS
Maybe he's harassing Mexico so that they will pay for his wall.
No wonder Rafael Cruz told the WH no GOP Senator said "yes" to the Mexico tariffs. Look at Texas' Mexico trade figures! If Dotard's escalating tariffs are put into effect, this could lose Cornyn his seat.
14
In the end, I bet Trump fails to follow through with his threat (or end it after a couple days). Too much blow back from fellow Republicans. He will make up some lie saying he won, declare victory and move on to creating the next unnecessary disaster. I just can't take any more of his winning.
25
@BMD
I'd like to agree with you on this.. but this guy is so unstable that ANYTHING with him is a coin toss.
If he has a bad hair day on Monday.... he will probably double the starting tariff and demand it be retroactive to when he took office.
9
@BMD Nail on the head. He manufactures hysteria and crisis to keep everyone spinning out of control to distract from all of his incompetence and criminal behaviors.
2
Well, the one thing you can say about Trump; if you support him, you will definitely get thrown under the bus at some point. This is just one little data point in a sea of evidence
21
I hope Sen. Cruz is happy with this outcome....
10
THE STATES THAT IMPORT THE MOST FROM MEXICO Are going to be hit the hardest by Trump's tariffs. The Congress will override his tariffs, since the GOP Senators have opposed them. The GOP Senators are the last hold out group that has supported Trump blindly. Now that their chances for reelection are being diminished because of Trump's actions, they're standing up and upholding their oaths of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution! This is the first time the Senators fulfill their oath regarding Trump's illegal, unethical policies. But it will NOT be the last! Not by a long shot!
2
First it was threatening sanctuary cities with people he thought below his wild genius. Now he's threatening states who are keeping him distracted from TV time and burgers.
Look at the images from Buckingham Palace. He's walking around considering their decor with tape-measure-eyes for his next World Class Ripoff for Generation Wealth.
I can just see the prospectus claiming The House of Windsor his inspiration and Queen Elizabeth is muse.
8
@Guy Walker
I love your descriptor "tape measure eyes". Reminds me of the time I took another Republican to the newly opened Barnes Museum and all he could comment on was the woodwork...
1
This will never happen. He will back down.
It is all a game.
3
@Denise ... and you're the pawn, Denise.
1
These tariffs will do nothing to rectify the situation: instead, the President should be focusing on aiding the Central American countries whose economies and governments the United States destabilized over the past century, finding ways of encouraging peace and prosperity; and either providing a citizenship path to the asylum seekers and illegal immigrants already here, or providing resources and tools to help them return to their countries of origin and implement change. Why continue making the problems worse? Why act antagonistic towards a country we’re tied at the hip, and wallet, to? Why mistreat other human beings because they’re seeking safety and change?
Don’t put a baby in charge of maintaining a Bugatti.
12
I can't imagine the tariff having a big impact on California. Our single largest expense is housing, which is non-tradable (ie, can't be exported or imported) and largely immune to tariffs. Even the cost of construction is mostly determined by local regulation and land cost, again non-tradable.
Also it makes no political difference to this administration and the GOP what California thinks.
So as I see it, even though I personally think the tariff is a bad idea and severely harms our neighborly relationship with Mexico, I can only shrug. It doesn't affect me much and there's nothing I can do about it.
1
@William Fang
...except call your congresspeople and VOTE! The reason our country is a mess now is because of the millions who are apathetic and able to voute, but don't. If everyone who is eligible voted, we would have a permanent Democratic Party congressional majority and presidents.
1
@William...this will absolutely impact Californians.
The amount of goods and products manufactured/grown and moved back and forth is significant; ask any supermarket, appliance retailer, restaurant, they will tell you if their significant imports.
We will feel this in our pockets, at the registers, across the US. Mexico is one if not the largest trade partner!
1
It's more than a little tiresome to see Alaska and Hawaii excluded from a graphic yet again. This happens all the time and is not only inaccurate, but feels like a bit of a slap in the face to residents in these states. I understand if we're not included in the main graphic as I know it's a bit unwieldy, but it would be great to see something further down in the story. Or even just a sentence at the end of the story with our stats -- if only just to acknowledge our existence. Yes, we're states, too. One could also argue that because our cost of living is already so high, that we could benefit from this reporting more than many places.
11
@Kevin Gullufsen clearly they are in the bottom left of each map
6
@Kevin Gullufsen
You can clearly see Alaska and Hawaii in the bottom-left corner of the graphic....
and I'm Canadian!
8
@Kevin Gullufsen They are included.
1
I am sorry for those people in the listed states. EXCEPT the people in those RED states who voted for TRUMP. They voted for him. They deserve the results. It this Tariff goes through, let the GOP Senators and House override the POTUS or suffer the results in 2020.
23
In that much of these tariffs will go on produce, it is a regressive tax aimed to be a burden on the poorest Americans. The Republicans will never stop attacking the poor.
26
@loveman0 The elite does not attack on the poor, they prey on the poor. Not so subtle a difference. They don't do it because they like to, they do it because they must.
In the industries mentioned in this article and in these comments, consumers money, rich or poor, are the product delivered to the shareholders who are the corporations' actual customers. I'd watch out for any excuses to raise prices. In the end it will be done in a way that will increase profits, even further exploiting and polarizing the economy.
1
Who thinks AMERICANS won't pay for these tariffs? The tax is levied at the border, and gets immediately rolled into the wholesale price, which is passed along in the retain price.
Who pays the retail price?
19
Good -- Kentucky. Hi, Mitch, how's your golden boy now?
20
A 5% increase on anything is not significant pain. Thousands illegally storming the border and consuming our resources IS pain.
7
@Jackson
These tariffs do nothing to address individuals crossing the border illegally.
Imposing a steadily increasing tariff does not help Mexico solve a problem that nobody has been able to solve.
30
@Rusty Shackleford It is at least as difficult for Mexico to stop refugees at our border as it is for US to do that, which is to say, if WE can't do it, and given that Mexico is not nearly as rich as we are, what Trump demands is IMPOSSIBLE.
11
@Rusty Shackleford It is at least as difficult for Mexico to stop refugees at our border as it is for US to do that, which is to say, if WE can't do it, and given that Mexico is not nearly as rich as we are, what Trump demands is IMPOSSIBLE.
In any case, Mexico has already declared that it will not be forced, which means that those 5% and higher tariffs WILL be imposed, and given the the US buys 2X as much from us as we buy from them, AMERICA and AMERICANS will suffer most.
4
If these tariffs take effect, will they finally help turn Texas blue in 2020?
20
@Paul Smith
No, because the right-wing press will blame the Democrats, and they'll believe them.
@Paul Smith
That would be a net gain!
1
@Paul Smith
Let's keep hope alive, Paul, let's keep hope alive!
1
Watch out Mitch!
9
When in Mexico...everyone is your amigo....amigo this and amigo that when pesos or dollars are exchanged.
Sorry Mexico...but amigos do NOT help others break into your country! Stop it now!
3
“That could cause significant pain for American consumers and businesses, even those far from the southwestern border.”
Good. It pains me to say it, because I don’t like to see my fellow Americans suffer. But thanks to the electoral college, economic pain inflicted on these red states is the only way we’re going to be able to vote out this despot.
22
@Eric R. Why on earth would we want to vote him out?
1
Impeachment then. Got it.
1
A 5% tariff on my Corona? Let’s see, I buy a case of 24 at Costco for about $20, when I buy one in a bar it’s $7 a bottle. I should be worried about tariffs on Mexico as the enemy?
5
I live in Ohio which is also Trump country. Many of his supporters here in the Buckeye State are going to feel the pain.
8
Does anyone else remember when Trump said in January of last year that he would sign ANY bill that congress came up with and would "take the heat" for BOTH sides about any blowback?
“I think my positions are going to be what the people in this room come up with,” Trump said…“If they come to me with things I’m not in love with, I’m gonna do it. Because I respect them”
He also (of course) said: "I don’t think it’s going to be that complicated."
And now we're talking about using tariffs, of all things, as a solution to immigration?
I never saw Mexico bully the U.S. about it's collective national drug addiction that created the cartels and gangs that are partially driving refugees up here in the first place.
23
@Mark
"He also (of course) said: "I don’t think it’s going to be that complicated."
He also said that he didn't thing health insurance would be that complicated, then spent 2 years failing to change the law.
1
Medicine can sometimes cause discomfort. We have a real problem on the border, and Mexico has an incentive to help us out on this. That incentive is free trade with the US, immensely advantageous for them (and us). Free trade is a worthwhile goal, assuming there is a politically viable framework for it, and a suitable state to state relationship. Those need to come first. The economies we gain from Mexican trade certainly do not outweigh the wage pressure exerted by tens of millions of illegal workers in the country. That wage pressure is an important political factor across the USA. One that can not be dismissed lightly.
3
@rjs7777 Wage pressure on mowing lawns and picking crops...? Come on, we are talking different labor markets within this entire economy.
3
Republican Senators in those high MX import states are cruel to their constituents.
9
Mexico will be hit hardest.
2
@NYC Dweller
Please don’t be naive NYC, we Americans will pay the tariffs imposed by trump. The cost of fruits and vegetables will increase dramatically. Produce prices in Texas have already gone up substantially and the tariffs (taxes) haven’t gone into effect. Don’t be fooled and think Mexico will not seek other countries to export their products to. Trump is fighting a losing battle with his tariffs (taxes) on the American people.
17
I'm willing to take the hit if it turns Florida blue.
12
Michigan and Texas... Trump voters. Enjoy.
22
@David
Michigan has traditionally been a blue state because of unions and liberal Southeast Michigan.
Trump won Michigan's electoral votes by only 11,000 votes. Recent polls show five Dem candidates leading Trump for 2020.
Don't write off potential allies.
8
Let Trump dig his own grave.
15
This is a beautiful map. The most beautiful, incredible map in the history of maps. Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee........Votes count. They bring about change. Hire a plumber to do an electrician's job? You usually get burnt.
19
Lets do this trumpsky - I want to see it at 25%
5
Let the Texans eat cake.
10
@joannd1
Texans like cake and we’ll sure continue to eat it, but joanna1 not all Texans are Republicans. In fact there are more registered Democrats in Texas than Republicans, we just need to get them to the polls.
4
@Freddie Fender
If they don't go to the polls, how can they count as Democrats or anything else?
1
Trump supporting states will be hit the hardest - except for California - but California is the 6th largest economy in the world - ahead of France. It can’t avoid being affected.
13
"And, folks, Mexico will pay for my big beautiful wall." How's that working out Trumpets?
And, now "They'll pay and pay, until they stop migrants from coming to our borders." Like the wall, you'll be the ones paying, Trumpets. While the rest of us sit and wonder if there is a limit for how gullible you can be?
31
@KCox . . .The fundamentalists are still happy. They see the light at the end of the tunnel in controlling women's bodies. They are all in for Trump regardless of economics.
12
@Sue Salvesen
" .The fundamentalists are still happy." Yes, they think the world is coming to an end and they'll end up in heaven. As Keynes said, in the long run we are all dead.
1
I need some help.
I lost my list of all of the knowledgeable and successful economists and business leaders who form the panel that told Trump that tariffs will bring companies and jobs back to the US.
19
For my part, I refuse to pay the additional taxes. Keep my five year old car--nothing wrong with it--cut back on consuming other items, including imported food. I'm going to spread the pain around to importers and retailers, until pressure is put on by them to get Congress to do something. And of course i'm going to let Congressional members as well as the White House know what I think. Thank you mr president for the "tax cut" but I'm going to pass.
7
How can one man or man-child posses so much power as to affect our pocketbooks on a daily basis? Tariffs should be legislated not up to the president alone.
40
@Phil M Yes, and the Constitution does not give the president these powers. Congress once passed legislation to let the president set tariff policy, and Congress could choose to rescind those powers.
16
@Phil M He is affecting my financial security too, causing the retirement IRA that furnishes my income to take a huge hit - but our pocketbook problems pale in significance next to the impact he has on human lives - consider the men and women in our military and their families whose lives he puts at risk through a combination of ignorance and narcissistic self interest as he threatens war while also trashing NATO, or the families he has separated putting children in cages, or the discrimination and hatred he inflames against vulnerable people with his lies and inflammatory rhetoric.
9
It is frustating and sad to be blame for whatever reason Trump thinks. this only creates instability on investments for either national and international companies. it also spreads hate among USA citizens towards my fellow Mexicans and hispanic people.
Trump will launch his campaing next week, and unfortunately for us (Mexicans) we will be his "piñata" all the way.
it is easy to blame others for our own problems, but it is always better to work together to solve whatever situation we are facing.
We can blame the US for sending guns that ends up in the cartel hands, and for having a high rate of illegal drus usage. and we can be blame for whatever side effect drug have in the US population.
the real thing is that both economies have benefited on trade, and consumer from both side of the border also benefit with competitive prices.
The tarrifs (taxes) will hit both countries economy. it is insano to think that the US economy will benefit from that.
Free trade increases access to higher-quality, lower-priced goods.
Free trade means more growth
Free trade improves efficiency and innovation
Free trade drives competitiveness
23
The Senate will do nothing to stop him until rich people start to feel the effects unless Mitch McConnell can't live without avocados!
8
@M Vitelli The senate will do something if their rich donors speak out. Money (and power) always speaks the loudest.
4
To say tariffs are Trump's "plan" is ludicrous. It's a temper tantrum reaction from the Baby in Chief. However this one is going to cost him votes which is the silver lining.
30
A guy who has never had to scrounge for change in the couch cushions for gas money has no idea what all of us little people rely on every day. Maybe we’ll hear Wilbur Ross tell us again to just take out a loan.
34
Not a word in this article regarding Kentucky, with the fourth-largest share of state GDP derived from Mexican imports? Surely, Mitch will poke his head and leathery throat out of his shell and see the harm poised for his state and thus put his constituents ahead of himself, his party and the pathetic “leader” he is in thrall to.
18
@Tomas That was a joke, right?
5
Once again, the economic illiterate squatting on the White House is foisting "policy" based on xenophobia, vengeance and his continued need for accolades from his base (who believe he's "doing something"). This is no way to run anything.
23
If Texas turns blue, it’s all over for Trump.
19
Way to go Donald! This will certainly fuel inflation. If we can boost inflation for July, August and September we’ll get a heck of a COLA on Social Security. Thank you Donald.
I’ll get a nice COLA on my pension too.
Long live King Donald the First!
4
@SS RecipientEven if you weren't writing tongue-in-cheek - what is not getting any media attention is that those of us who have worked all our lives and have our modest retirement savings invested in stocks and bonds are taking huge hits to our portfolios because of Trump caused market volatility. Thanks to Trump I am now on track to outlive my money and after being retired 10 years have had to go back to work.
5
I see the headline now
Trump puts tariffs on Mexico and Americans are going to pay for it
1
This is good and it will help those folks in those states realize what a destructive person trump is and they will vote for a Democrat next election and bury trump in a landslide vote. Go trump go.
8
@Dr. B
Don’t count on a different result on the election. If the Democrats nominate a less than perfect candidate then too many people will stay home.
1
Funny, how much this will hist mostly states that voted fro Trump, or are so called GOP "safe states". Darners,miners, trade workers, auto workers, etc. And, all will take a large hit at the cash register, or see their jobs vanish, as Mexican factories shut down, because US consumers are buying less.
The Fed is bracing for a recession, the tariffs will cause, hence why the plan on reducing interest rates.
So, voters in these most affected state, go ahead and cast your vote for the GOP, and Trump, you deserve the consequences.
10
People who live in states that supported Trump in 2016 along with any and all current Trump supporters deserve to suffer economically from Trump's white European American Judeo-Christian majority supremacist tariff war against Mexico.
They should not crying and whining for Uncle Sam to bail them out with any government dole welfare.
While those people from states that didn't support Trump in 2016 and don't support Trump's current tariff war against Mexico deserve and have earned Uncle Sam's helping hand.
What Americans deserve and need to know is what profitable Trump Organization advantage arising from Trump's occupation of the Oval Office of the White House is being hidden from the American people in his personal, family and business income tax returns and records.
Russia if you are listening can we please see this information? China? North Korea? Iran? Israel?
16
@Blackmamba I agree with your assessment of what Americans need to know on a continuing basis about Trump. I don’t think it’s useful to wish suffering on people in Trump supporting states. Score settling is not a solution. It doesn’t keep people focused on what has to happen for things to change. And of course not all the people in those states even voted for him. We need a relentless message about the consequences of his policies.
5
@c marvin
Who is 'we'?
I expect that the Trump Nation wants to suffer with pride while wishing the worst for their fellow Americans aka Chicagoans, Detroiters, Houstonians, New Yorkers, Philadelphians, San Franciscans and Puerto Ricans.
Economic suffering is not akin nor equal to emotional, mental and physical anguish.
The love and worship of money is the root of all evil. Pride is the deadliest of sins.
See Matthew 25:31-46
2
Despots just don't care about who suffer from their decisions.
19
“ He’s not hurting the people he should be hurting “. Just give Him Time, and he absolutely will hurt Everyone.
Thanks, GOP. 2020.
42
I hope Trump does impose the tariffs so impeachment can become a bipartisan discussion
26
Trump's big money supporters who stay in the background are the bankers,corporations,and wealthy individuals who benefit the most from his deregulation and tax cuts. His supporters in the fly over states like rats led by the Pied Piper.
11
Maybe we could have a chart of how many middle class families are "hit hardest" by overcrowded schools and emergency rooms.
7
@Wolf Bein Overcrowded schools are caused by lack of funding and support for education which you can thank Republicans for, and overcrowding in emergency rooms is due to a lack of health insurance coverage for millions of working American citizens who are not undocumented immigrants - one of the situations that the Affordable Health Care Act was designed to help - and again you can thank Republican opposition for obstructing more progress on that front.
11
@Monty Hebert Clearly you do not live in California.
1
With senators like Cornyn and Cruz, a governor like Abbott, and a far right wing state legislature, it is great to hear that Texas will be the state hardest hit by Donald Trump's new tariff tax.
Trump's odious Secretary of Xenophobia, Stephen Miller, should do a state tour of Texas, to explain why his white supremacy plan for the USA is worth all the economic suffering it will bring on to that state. Houston, Brownsville, Austin, El Paso.
TO make it more interesting, Miller should make this tour without a security detail.
43
Pres Trump decision to impose these tariff makes for an interesting election map.
6
We have lived in Tucson, 60 miles from the border for the past 25 years. We have yet to see the hordes of rapist invaders Mr. Trump imagines, storming through our backyard on their way to creating nationwide mayhem.
As a businessman, many of my projects involved cross-border installations of voice and data services and equipment to the maquiladoras in and around Nogales. Profitable business with terrific partners.
Demonizing those who seek asylum from terrorism and murder throughout Central America, branding them as criminals and locking their children in cages, is disgusting. Cutting off our collective noses to spite our now ugly faces, is the stuff of historical explanations for the failure of once great nations and empires.
81
This is a domino effect, because the states that are effected the most will raise services and goods that are supplied to the other states.
This is a lose, lose situation made possible by the biggest loser of all time.
19
Wow! Looks like America might be able to finally ditch McConnell and Texas may get rid of at least one republican Senator by blowing up Texas and Kentucky (and others) economies. Wonder what other candidates will go down with this ship?
15
@EHanna
But only if all the stay-aways of 2016 show up in 2020.
The only way you throw your vote away is to stay away.
6
@Melvyn Magree ...or to vote for a third party candidate who has no chance of winning.
4
The other important map is the one showing each of these states' exports to Mexico. It's huge, including among the Midwest States which "won" the election for Mr. trump. When Mexico finds other countries which will replace these US exports to Mexico, the costs will be enormous to the United States....
12
I hope that the tariffs will go up to 25%. That will be a good test of Deranged Donnie's base and supporters. Will they finally see the light as the Dotard destroys the economy? Or will they go over the cliff with him till the end?
With Donnie, it's all about HIM, not about the people that he is supposed to serve.
BTW, several of the anchors on cable shows (but not Fox Fake News) are beginning to openly mock tRump and to laugh at him saying that he is unfit to be president. It will be interesting to see when or if print news begins to do this.
15
Trump flipped Michigan by a narrow margin in 2016. These ridiculous tariffs may give the Democratic nominee the edge needed to win the state in 2020. The same may be true for other battleground states. I know that these tariffs will cause us irreparable harm, but I cannot imagine what 4 more years of Trump can do.
157
It’s a cult. Revisit Heaven’s Gate to be reminded just how truly true believers believe in something. Add to this the omissions of fact (probably worse in effect than the propaganda) from Fox News and nothing changes the way you are hoping.
Dragging people to the polls in record numbers to vote is what matters. The GOP already loses nationally by the numbers in elections, we just need to clear the gerrymander hurdle with enough political force.
47
@John Trump is an out of control megalomaniac; GOP drops to their knees praising him. Democrats pooh pooh and murmur. Trump's crazy economic policies are leading us and the World to the cliff. We may be too far gone to pull us back. VOTE out Trump/GOP. Ray Sipe
34
@John. There's some hope (a lot really) that we can build on the results of 2018 and "flip" Trump into history's trash bin, along with Pence and all the other reprobates. I also have much faith that my native state Penna. will lead the way for us.
15
I'm a 19-year employee of the American subsidiary of a Japanese corporation (not automobiles) with operations in Mexico. During my tenure, I've survived a double-digit number of layoffs both large and small. Until now, I've known that my becoming a casualty could be due only to:
- a drop in the quality of our products
- production stoppages caused by natural disasters near our manufacturing sites
- a failure to adapt technologically
- a failure to grasp the trends and future direction of our industry
- poor executive level decisions
- inefficiencies in designing, manufacturing, marketing or delivering our goods
Never did I fathom that my position might be jeopardized by an ill-advised, unilateral decision made by an intellectually deficient and psychologically defective sitting POTUS who lacks all understanding of the mechanisms that lubricate our economy -- and to add insult to injury, one whose own business "success" reveals multiple bankruptcies, bad credit, influxes of money from dubious foreign sources, running a scam university AND a scam charity, nonpayment of business and personal taxes...
If Trump's action should cost my colleagues and me our livelihoods, will he treat us to a bailout as magnanimous as the one he handed the farmers whose soybean market he obliterated?
763
This should have been a NY Times pick. Lucid, on point, and an exemplary comment that directly connects the dots and lays the blame where it squarely belongs, on the Trumputin’s shoulders.
88
@D Price
You're 19?? What are you doing in 16 years? Ever considered running for President?
18
@D Price - Best. comment. ever.
32
Congress can vote with a veto-proof majority to strip the Donald of the tariff authority. He has proven that he does not understand how tariffs work and it´s time to remove this instrument from his fickle hands.
35
We have a NAFTA agreement with Mexico with was passed by Congress and is the law. So isn’t putting tariffs on items that are bound by an agreement a violation of that agreement/law?
19
I didn’t realize that California and Illinois were Republican states.
Obama just said “so sue me” when he discarded the long term care insurance provisions of Obamacare. Obama was a Constitutional Law scholar and knew that Presidents don’t need to follow the laws.
@Not Pierre Law? We don' need no stinkin' law.
2
The diagrams are interesting. Trump seems to be interested in taxing his supporters. Strange that! I guess it's another instance of how well he knows what he's doing.
20
For years I drank Corona, made in Mexico, now I'm more than happy to switch to Sierra Nevada, made in Chico, CA, thanks. Not to mention that it was really not all that great anyway. You definitely get what you pay for.
6
@John Doe
Unclear on the concept JD.
You may be right - at least, I happen to agree with you - it's generally best to buy locally, from independent sellers. The problems in doing this, obviously, are manifold. For one, American's propensity for shopping at Targets and Walmarts has killed small town USA.
Furthermore, beer aside, nobody manufactures much of anything in the US anymore, relatively speaking. Why? Because companies like Walmart have put inordinate pressure on manufacturers to move their production out of the US. So while you may have no problem finding an alternative to Corona - you may not be so lucky for 90% of the rest of the stuff you buy. And it'll take a long time for manufacturing to return, if at all, as a result of tariff wars. In the meantime, you better hope your local beer is inexpensive, 'cause you'll need all the extra money you have for the rest of the stuff you buy which will cost you loads more.
Here are a few links to illustrate what I mean:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_4XTQQzA8U
https://www.epi.org/publication/ib235/
10
@John Doe
...what does this have to do with anything?
2
@Mike Bonnell, my dad and his cousin used to make home brew in his bathtub. Worse comes to worse I can probably figure it out too.
1
But, Michigan, Ohio and Texas are very important to Trump's re-election prospects! How will he square that?
21
@RLW
Within weeks of Trump instituting his 5% tariff, he will do what he always does, LIE.
He will falsely report a dramatic drop in immigrants at the borders and claim victory.
39
@RLW Even a 25% tariff on Mexican goods, won't sway Trump's supporters in Texas. They will think of themselves as patriots, suffering for the long term good of the country.
5
@qisl This will not sway any Trump voters in Michigan. They have drunk the koolaid. They will accept his lies.
Dear Conservatives,
While some might applaud Trump's "get tough" approach to immigration, you might ponder how his efforts actually strike at one of the core values of conservatives--taxes.
A tariff is nothing more than a tax on goods produced elsewhere. Initially the tax is paid by the importer, increasing tax revenue for the government. You might say that's a good thing.
But the importer then turns around and off sets that dent in their profits by passing the cost on to the consumer in the form of higher prices.
You might even think that's a good thing. After all, higher prices on foreign goods makes American products more competitive. But there's a problem.
Many "American" goods actually have components that are produced in Mexico or China and will be subject to the tariffs. And so even our American made products will get hit by tariffs and pass along those costs to us.
And 45% of the goods made in China are actually made by American companies whose products are shipped back to the US.
You might still insist that's a good thing. They will now bring those manufacturing jobs back home. Except you and I both know that won't happen. The global capitalist cat is out the bag and isn't about to be put back in.
So Trump's "get tough" tariffs actually are new taxes on the goods that we purchase. While corporate taxes have gone down, tariffs mean that taxes on the little guy are going up.
But then who ever really expected Trump to be for the little guy?
Sincerely, L, G
113
@Drspock There are no conservative values other than greed
14
Also, we may pay multiples depending on how many times those components flow back and forth. Crazy!
1
For those that say he's not serious and just using this to get attention just look at steel tariffs with our allies in Canada or the China tariffs. He is dead serious and while the economy has survived thanks to the tax cuts, all these tariffs will eventually start to hurt consumers.
16
PREDICTION: These tariffs on Mexican imports will never take effect or, if they do, they will be removed, at most, within a few weeks, more likely a few days.
Trump likes to look tough and look like he is deeply involved in getting solutions. He uses the threat to get attention for himself and to try to make other nations bend. Then, the man who says he never backs down, quickly backs down when he sees he can't easily get what he said he wanted.
There is a Republican revolt against imposition of these tariffs on Capitol Hill the likes of which Trump has not faced during his time in office. Though they aren't showing it much publicly, hey are screaming mad, upset that Trump is going to ruin the economies in their states and endanger national prosperity.
107 billion dollars in imports in Texas alone? Taken to the threatened level of 25%, that would amount to almost 27 billion dollars per year. Having lived and worked in Texas, I know that the economy there is fragile, not as robust and complex as other parts of the country. The disruptions would start immediately and continue each time higher tariffs were imposed. Texans might decide they would prefer more immigration compared to a recession.
The most attention getting way for Trump to handle this is to make a big announcement next Monday that there will be no new tariffs. Tune in CNN at 11 AM Monday.
22
@Doug Terry
I'm betting you're prediction will be correct!
1
@Doug Terry
Even if President Trump backs down from these tariff threats, the damage to our nation's relationship with Mexico has been done and cannot be easily undone. Trump has clearly demonstrated that he does not believe that he is bound by the terms of international treaties and agreements. President Trump will act unilaterally to punish a country for alleged transgressions and non-compliance with his agenda, which is shaped by the xenophobia and prejudices of his base. Mexico and the United States will suffer from his arrogance and his folly.
9
What ever happened to checks and balances?
27
@AVT
In the Trump era, they only apply to banks.
4
Obama showed Trump how to avoid them. Obama used Presidential declarations.
The checks bounced.
2
"Terms that will satisfy Mr. Trump." We have now come to the place where we speak of him as the ultimate "decider" of so many things, with no input from either branch of Congress. Bush only claimed such a role as commander in chief of the military, which of course remains the most worrisome thing about the realm of Trump's possible whims in the future. We are now accepting his sole authority on a wide array of matters, often made either without or in oppositiion to advice from his inner circle, while he himself is a man who knows so little, as evidenced by his unawareness in his visit to Ireland, where he visited to plug his golf course and did not know the worry over a "hard" border Brexit would require or possibly even which side of the border is in the UK. The unitary executive theory is subconsciously accepted today in so many areas of decision-making after his short time in office, to the disadvantage of our democracy.
30
I like the way in which the states with the higher levels of imports are colored in the deeper shades of blue.
11
@Stan Sutton it’s a mix, but I think it’s more biased to red/purple states to be honest. Texas is red; Pennsylvania is purple; Michigan is red/purple; California is blue around the urban areas, and red otherwise; Ohio is red; the other southwest states are red as blood.
2
@Ngie: The tariffs might help to change that a bit.
2
Our man-child President discovered a new toy a while back that he could play with without permission or adult supervision. He hasn't figured out what it does or how to actually make it work, but he LOVES the fact that it's his and that no one seems to be able to take it away from him or tell him what to do with it. So he plays with it every chance he gets. The toys is called Tariffs ®. Hope he gets bored with it soon, before he breaks it (and the economy along with it.)
Who could possibly have imagined that we would be in this situation just a few short years ago? Boggles the mind.
158
@Enigma Variation
Nailed it! He's like a kid who found a book of matches the parents forgot about.
32
@Enigma Variation
It's a tax. It's the TRUMP TAX.
9
A question about the maps - do the dollar totals represent amount consumers spend by state or the location of the importing companies. For example, is Michigan's $56 billion in imports (second highest state) due to people in Michigan consuming a lot of goods from Mexico or is it due to the auto industry importing a lot of cars from Mexico (which will be sold everywhere in the US)?
8
This is how we win the senate. Beto should run in Texas, Abrams should run in Georgia, Hickenlooper in Colorado and Al Franken should carpetbag and
move to Maine or Arizona and challenge the incumbent republican there.
55
@Deirdre
" Abrams should run in Georgia"
Exactly. Kemp may claim to be the governor, but he's no longer secretary of state and that means that he can't rig the elections this time.
3
@Deirdre I hope that is the outcome of the inevitable winnowing of the two-dozen field of Democratic candidates. None of the three first mentioned is really ready to be president, and all have strong recognition and support in their home states.
Abrams demurs that she wants to be an executive rather than a legislator, but when she falls short in the early going, she should take a hard look at the bigger picture. Beto came awfully close to winning against Cruz; I bet he could beat Cornyn in an anti-Trump wave election. Hickenlooper didn't help with his centrist drivel at the California convention, but he's popular in Colorado.
I like the idea of Al Franken taking a shot at Collins.
Impeachment doesn't get him out of office, just like it didn't get Bill Clinton out of office. What needs to happen if that he gets voted out of office.
19
@Levi He was impeached in the House, but not in the Senate, so he wasn't required to leave.
3
@Levi
But America will never know the true extent of Trump's egregious crimes unless Dems start impeachment hearings.
Plus Dems look like total weaklings and cowards with their whining and complaining while doing nothing.
Who cares if this spineless Senate does not convict?
We're prepared for it.
It should not affect the constitution requirement by the House to impeach with the evidence they already have.
And if the GOPers think they will escape damage from ignoring, covering up and defending Trump's blatant criminal behavior, they will hear and feel the voters wrath once all the evidence is revealed.
Clinton was impeached for virtually nothing compared to Trump's outrageous multiple obstruction of justice charges, not to mention what is forthcoming with Deutsche Bank and IRS revelations.
Clinton was also not convicted, yet he (and his wife) carry the stigma and shame of "impeachment" forever. Donald will also go down in history as a loser.
1
@JM
Maybe we'll be lucky and Trump will tell one of his lies while under oath. "Lying under oath" ( on a nonpolitical matter) was the pretext for impeaching Clinton.
1
I think Donald Trump is mad at Congress, especially Republicans, for objecting to his arms sale to Saudi Arabia and UAE.
I bet he has a bunch of money on the line (we don't know how or what) but if that doesn't go through, he loses money.
So he decided to pull this Mexico tariff thing KNOWING that it would freak out members of Congress because of the negative impact on their state's economy.
12
Lot of pain in the rust belt and TX. Go for it, Tariff Man!
38
@maqroll
Hasta la bye bye to my avocado toast!
2
Oh the irony. Texas, one of the most Republican states in the US, will now pay the price for their loyalty to Trump.
79
@Kristin
But it's not one of the most Republican states in the US. It's just the most important red state.
7
@Keith You're right. I'm not so sure Texas will always be red. I mean I doubt it turns blue, but in future can see it being a purple state.
4
@Kristin Maybe they are finally see the light?
1
I note the usual cohort of Trump-voting states.
13
So trump is going to tax Americans until Mexico stops Central Americans from legally applying for assylum in the US. Sounds like a sane, solid plan. How can it possibly fail?
60
In the meantime, Jerry Nadler continues to work the investigation of Trump re: Mueller report. Pelosi keeps resisting impeachment calls, as they quietly collect info. I'm sure the great deflector is well aware of this. He still puts much effort into control of the news cycle, peppered with occasional insults towards celebrities.
19
@Steve
Spot on Steve.
Thanks for reminding America of the true intent of Trump's totally illogical tariffs.
Dodge, Divert, Distract from the growing call for impeachment!
5
It's ironic that two of Trumps biggest supporters, Cruz and Cornyn, are now being thrown under the bus.
Many of the states that voted for Trump are going to pay the price for those votes now. The million dollar question, "will they continue to follow Daddy's Money down the path of destruction"?
26
@Heartland Harry
"It's ironic that two of Trumps biggest supporters, Cruz and Cornyn, are now being thrown under the bus."
Love it.
Couldn't happen to a more deserving pair!
2
@Heartland Harry
"Many of the states that voted for Trump are going to pay the price for those votes now."
Georgia already has. The money they were expecting for disaster relief from a hurricane two years ago got diverted to Trump's wall.
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Go ahead Mr. Trump, make our day. The one thing that just might get my fellow Kentuckians to come to their senses is higher prices and lost jobs.
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@David And lose they will. All of the Japanese automotive component manufacturers and assembly plants in KY,IN,OH and TN send product back and forth across the border. The layoffs will start within days of the tariffs being implemented. The automotive industry has been to the recession rodeo many times before. All of those truckers for trump will also be sitting on their brains not making money while not hauling parts and vegetables. I'm rooting for a recession if it will tank this traitor and get him out of the WH. Pelosi and the Dems obviously have no spine.
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@David probably not.......
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@David he told people that their jobs would be saved in that coal would be number one it was all just a ploy to get people to vote for him. Remember he's a billionaire so if something goes up he doesn't care, and right now the hard-working people of the USA I paying for his needs.
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It's clear to me that every buyer needs to see a sign that says "the price increase for this product is due to trump tariffs".
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@Charlie Fieselman It would be great if Bezos posted that on every product listed on Amazon. Trump might just stroke out.
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@HoosierGuy
And Costco!
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@HoosierGuy Brilliant idea! Please suggest it to him!
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Americans forced to consume less frivolously, more responsibly? Cry me a river.
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@David Miller-If you think buying automobiles, eating fruits and vegetables and wearing clothing is "frivolous", you need help. By the way, where do you think your fresh produce comes from in the winter, fellow NYer?
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@David Miller I believe that it's people spending habits that have kept the economy going
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@Val I generally agree with you. I was under the impression I was responding to an article that focused on tariffs on goods from China (my error if it included tariffs on goods from Mexico), which are generally not cars, fruits, and vegetables. Clothes yes, but I do stand by my observation that perhaps 98% of us buy far more clothes than we need, and we do so because clothing can be incredibly cheap.
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This will turn Texas Blue. After this, no Republican can ever be voted President again.
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@RW in Austin
Your word in God's ear!
I am not sure if you are old enough to remember, but Texas WAS blue until 1994. Albeit with some generous help from Clayton Williams.
A, the good old days of Ann Richards!
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The tariffs Trump is wielding with so much gusto right now are nothing but a national regressive sales tax that will disproportionately hit the poor people who have no disposable income as is.
The higher the tariffs go, they more they will have to subsist on junk food. Life expectancy will further decrease. Prepare to see more ragged people in the street, most of them Trump voters who will be even more angry and continue to vote for Trump, convinced this is all a ploy of the Democrats.
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Exactly. Seeing people, after two solid years, cling to the hope that this — THIS — will finally be the thing that snaps his base out of its trance is getting as as tiresome as he is is, himself.
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@Kara Ben Nemsi
But wait. The tariffs will destabilize trade and the markets. These brilliant moves have already forced the Federal Reserve and the ECB to promise to ease interests, so stock market prices will rise, high end real estate will recover, and large amounts of debt can be renegotiated at low rates.
Bad for working folks, good for high end investors, and excellent for real estate investors who borrow foreign money.
So everything works for Trump's constituency - himself. Now there is a stable genius for you.
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@Kara Ben Nemsi
Since when did trump ever care about the poor, in his words they are losers.
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"Mexico, if you're listening, if you don't stop illegal immigration, I'm going to make Americans pay anywhere from 5% to 25% more for the products they purchase from you, despite what I said about you paying for my wall."
American voters, if you're listening, that is what Trump is really saying.
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@Tom Q What Trump is really saying falls on deaf ears...
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@Tom Q
Spot on.
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@Tom Q I would like to know what trumps going to do about all the people that he called illegal aliens for example Haitians that are Crossing into Canada. Why isn't it doing more to stop them you know like he wants Mexico to do on the southern border.
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Much of our food comes from Mexico. Good luck y'all.
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In a perfect world only Trump supporters would be hit by these insane tariffs. In the real world we all suffer.
In a perfect world all voters will come to their senses and realize that Trump is an out-of-control disaster. In the real world we’ll have to wait till 2020.
One can hope.
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@Avatar
He will be reelected next year.
It may not be rational, but that's the way it will play out. He is making all the right moves.
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As a Texan, why did I bother voting for Hillary? Because of this insane electoral college system, only the swing states matter. I always vote anyway because it's my civic duty, but it still didn't accomplish anything in the end.
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@Kristin I feel the same way every time I vote for President in Louisiana. Something must be done about the electoral college system.
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Craziness and lies are not an immigration nor trade policies. Tariffs are tools that which are actually Trump's Tax on Americans. Locking up asylum seekers is nothing more than sanctioned graft for the Trump buddies and very dangerous as demonstrated by the 5 babies who have died since December. Building a wall is just a pay off of a single supporter. Real immigration and trade policy stops spending money and time on things that don't work. Develop real immigration and trade strategies that do work. Threatening everyone doesn't work and makes American business and investments less attractive. Republicans are actually at a point where they could save the Trump's re-election by rejecting Trump's approach.The Republicans could be developing immigration and trade policies that would actually benefit America, our neighbors and trading partners rather than accepting craziness and lies.
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Down the rabbit hole indeed...
We have gone from “We’re gonna build a wall and Mexico is going to pay for it!” to “We’re going to make Mexico do something that we can’t do even with our vastly greater resources, and joe six-pack can’t buy produce anymore!”
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@Jon Maybe the real long-term plan (as if there was one with Trump) is to deny all the 'Joe Six Packs' jobs, healthy food, a liveable environment, and decent, affordable health care so they all die off sooner-than-later?
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Congress could fix this in fifteen minutes, but they won't, because they hate him, and working with them might make people think they like him.
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@SCPro....Regardless of one’s political leanings, it seemed obvious that a leader must have the necessary skills and temperament to work with people, including people with different, but equally valid ideas. My former primary care physician appeared to be an intelligent and well informed professional, but he moved about different hospitals and states every year or so. He seemed to have significant difficulties dealing with patients/their families/nurses/colleagues (non management) who did not just accept and follow his decisions verbatim. A leader who demanded such fealty was otherwise known as a dictator.
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@SCPro
Mitch McConnell controls Congress and he won't do a thing.
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Spoken like a true believer.
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Looking at the graphic, it seems Mr. Trump's foot has shot himself in the mouth, once again and his opponents have more cause to love him more than his friends. Somehow political dyslexia is the defining policy of the times.
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As a resident of Michigan, allow me to be the very first to thank this president and his enablers for crashing our state economy.
Good work, GOP!
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@Adrienne -- Crashing economies is pretty much what the party of Reagan does.
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The Trump administration has laid out simple steps Mexico could take to stem migration and avoid these tariffs altogether.
Why not explore the possibility that Mexico will comply or, if not, why? Everything I've read and heard about this issue jumps to the conclusion that, of course, Mexico will do nothing.
And that implies -- yet again -- that ANYTHING the Trump administration proposes has to be simply insane. Thus, for instance, his proposal to pull our troops out of the mess in Syria that the CIA instigated is somehow treasonous. And in this case, that tariffs -- which even Abraham Lincoln advocated (correctly, as history revealed) as a way to build up US industry -- are always, always a bum idea.
Trump has done much to harm this country and the planet, but it's just possible that a few of his policies are on the right track. The fact that the media jerk their knees so reflexively and predictably against everything he does or proposes undermines their credibility.
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@Pelham
It's because he has done nothing to cause anyone to trust anything he says. Maybe it is a knee-jerk reaction but it's based on history. If you were constantly lied to by your spouse, would you continue to trust that person or would you have a "knee-jerk" suspicion about their motives and intent?
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@Pelham Why? How about reading the US Constitution. It is the role of Congress to raise and allocate funds. POTUS unilaterally imposing a tariff should be ruled unconstitutional on its face, We did not elect a king.
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Because the whole world revolves around Trump, his bullying tactics, and broken promises, right? I sincerely hope all world leaders refuse to give into his childish demands.
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Americans forced to consume less frivolously, more responsibly? Cry me a river.
9
Should we stop eating?
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What people forget is that these so called illegal immigrants work in agriculture jobs that most Americans would not do. Most Americans would not work for the wage these people get or the hours they work. Also tariffs are not paid by the country they are put on but are paid by the consumer. Trump dose not care about the working poor he is only there to line his pockets after he leaves office. Trump is for bigger profits and cheaper labor. It is time that people started to do their own investigation instead of listening to people who have there own agenda. Stop being lazy and think for your selves.
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@DL12345A0 eventually there will be a recession and the immigrants will lose their job; they will still be here,on medicaid and welfare, and their children will still go to school. And the low wages will slow down automation.
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@MS
If you are undocumented, you do not get welfare, Medicaid or social security, but you still taxes.
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@MS Again, another falsehood repeated by the uninformed! Undocumented immigrants CANNOT collect welfare, etc. They do NOT SSI to do so (even though the majority DO pay into it, they cannot receive benefits -- ever.
PLEASE people, get your facts straight.
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Wouldn’t it be better use of funds to bring in more immigration judges to process claims for asylum than to tax every American, strain business, punish farmers and harm children?
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Trump thinks he has a migrant crisis now. Just wait until the Mexican plants shut down from the loss of sales and millions more start moving north looking for work here in the states. Guess what else? Due to the integration of production across NAFTA, many goods that cross the border end up in Canada and then come back into the US. Those operations will also be hurt.
When these tariffs hit 25%, the damage will be horrible. If that is what it takes to get Republicans to turn on Trump, then bring it on. Trump is handing the Democrats a roadmap to his defeat. Will they follow it?
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@Bruce Rozenblit Indeed. However, until the great tariff man acknowledges the fallout his supporters will never believe the effect of the cause.
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@Bruce Rozenblit Unfortunately, due to Trump's demented persona, he will enjoy watching the pain his tariff will inflict on the average US citizen.
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Will China pick up the slack from us receiving goods from Mexico?
If corporate taxes were bad for business and workers, tariffs are murderous. Taxes are a burden on profits, while tariffs are burden on operation. Tariffs and tax cuts are mostly a wash for big corporations who can front load the cost. Small businesses and starups, on the other hand, would be destroyed with higher up front costs.
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Consider if your boss told you to work nights and weekends without pay or take a 25% pay cut. If it was me, I'd simply not show up the next day. Now things are not quite that simple for Mexico but the lesson is the same -- the only way to deal with someone who makes unilateral demands backed up by threats is to stand your ground and look for other options. Sad.
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So the hardest hit by these tariffs will be Texas, Michigan, Kentucky and Arizona. Good. They voted for this.
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@Patty O
On the off chance that you didn't realize this, Texas, Michigan, Kentucky and Arizona are "winner take all" when it comes to presidential elections and the distribution of electoral college votes.
And tens of millions of Americans living in states that awarded their EC votes to Trump did not vote for him.
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@Julian Fernandez So those voters DID vote for state legislators who allow Winner Take All.
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The fact remains that tens of millions of 2016 Clinton voters live in “red” states. When one issues blanket condemnations against the residents of “red” states one sounds just like a Trumpista gleeful that his policies are hurting all the right people.
15
The US has the highest corporate tax rate of all countries, and those tariffs will not force US companies to come home. The US uses a world tax system, meaning the corporation is taxed by the country where the main office is located (Apple is in China). The tariffs will raise prices on all goods and US will shift manufacturing to another low tax country. The more tariffs Trump imposes across the globe, the more the supply for demand will decrease, meaning prices will double. The US will become owned.
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@Renee where do you get your facts? Each statement is on its face incorrect.
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Actually most US corporations pay less tax than other nations.
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@Zejee
One guy was talking about tax RATES, the other was talking about what they actually PAY. Big difference. Trump has a high tax rate but he's trying to cover up how little he pays.
Why not harsh fines/prison on employers of illegal immigrants?
Think about the basics of economy and marketing: Offer and Demand.
No rhino poaching if there is no demand. Therefore do something about those countries where the demand comes from. It doesn't help to go after the poor poachers from poor countries,
As long as there is a demand, there will be immigrants.
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@Hans R.
Excellent point! Both Democrats and Republicans have had decades now to do something alone these lines.
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@Hans R.....Why not, indeed. Could it have something to do with the undocumented workers in various Trump golf resorts or family farms of certain state legislators, or nominees for cabinet posts with undocumented workers as domestic help?
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Bingo! All this kerfuffle is just to keep the base stirred up and to deflect attention from on-going investigations.
9
A deal that will satisfy Trump. How about a deal that he won't renege on as he typically does.
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While it’s bad news the tariff tax will hurt Illinois (where I live), it’s good news Texas will be harmed far more. Texas supported Trump, and deserve what they get.
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@Demosthenes
Find a smaller paintbrush. There are plenty of good people in Texas that do not support Trump and do not deserve their businesses being put under. This state is becoming purple and soon will be blue.
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@Demosthenes
Unfortunately, Republican economic policies always affect the poor worst and they always bail out the rich.
8
If I was the President of Mexico I would cut off auto part exports headed to Kentucky. The state has several large assembly plants. Maybe that would get Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell's attention. Not sure auto workers in his state would appreciate being put on furlough.
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@Sam Many Trump supporters apparently are willing to "bite the bullet" of tariffs as long as the migrants are stopped, or China quits doing something, or all of those jobs lost over decades come back tomorrow.
So, the consequences here will be hidden (many will never admit Trump's war on trade is costing them monetarily).
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@Sam
Those are US companies. He can't really cut them off but he can raise export taxes (tariffs), and maybe raise corporate taxes on the company itself. Of course, that company could close its doors and thousands of Mexicans would become unemployed and head for the border for jobs.
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@Dan
So what if his supporters don’t admit that his leadership is a failure. As the old adage goes, let them put their “money where their mouths are.”
This isn’t a sporting event where winners and losers are sorted out within a limited timeframe, e.g., where the economy is judged by the latest Dow Jones average or Fed prime interest rate of the moment. The health and well-being of our nation is measured over much longer lifetimes.
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Start producing everything we use and consume right here on our own turf - If we really want to make America great again. Mexico needs the U.S. more than we need them. We could bypass these dire tariff warnings of consumers paying more for cars, TVs, bluejeans, beer, fresh vegetables and other products. Trade agreements encouraged U.S. companies to set up shop outside of our borders and overseas for bigger profits and cheap labor, then turn around and ship their wares back to us at higher prices. America shouldn't be dependent on outside entities to provide us with the same goods and services we can produce on American soil, right here at home.
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@November-Rose-59, be prepared to pay much higher prices!
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@November-Rose-59
Just as with Tariffs imposed on China, similar action taken on Mexico will shift production to other countries, not the USA. Like it or not, manufacturing is largely too expensive here. Consumers may want to purchase goods made in the USA, but there’s a limit to prices they will pay.
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@November-Rose-59 So funny. You view trade through rose colored glasses. Producing everything here? Are you able to pay $100 - $200 for jeans? $500 for a vacuum cleaner (Dyson), $300 for a blender (Vitamix) - all US products. Produce? No US citizens will work in the fields. Oh yes and our water supply is running out. Our farmers send alfalfa and soybeans overseas to get higher prices. China owns our pork industry. Like your cars - the price will start increasing with the tariffs. No more Walmart, Target, Costco. It was Walmart who forced US clothing companies to fold to get the cheap products Americans wanted. Good luck!
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A wide range of industries - from farming to auto - is going to be badly affected here in Michigan. This is what happens when we have a president who does not consult with economists and makes decisions purely on spite and on the spur of the moment.
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@jen Not to worry, he'll back off and believe 'no harm, no foul.' I'd love to have the opportunity to fleece him in a poker game. I believe the adage is he can be read 'like a book.'
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@jen didn't michigan vote for trump?
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@jen ...maybe you’re right and then again maybe your jobs in automotive were getting ready to go south and east anyway. As soon as a rational president gets back into office and we finally gladly wave open the free markets again, chances are strong your industry will bow to competition just like the TV, Telephone and Toaster did. You’ll stand in wonder how that could happen and you’ll see then that the water in Flint is still dirty because they didn’t get around to “climate-changing” it when the good guys went online.
7
Are we going to use the money collected to improve humanitarian conditions at the border? Are the Democrats going to show that these tariffs are Taxes on the working class and low middle-class?
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@Jamie Lynne Keenan
The US always has a deficit with Mexico, meaning we import more than we export to Mexico. Think of it as a charge account. We can raise taxes but as long as we are over spending, we are not making a profit.
Most of the companies affected are US companies so it is a question of is Trump making US companies pay to import their own goods? Congress has been known to give tax breaks to US companies to import their goods made in foreign countries, so they could do that. If Mexico raises corporate taxes and labor, the US can pull out and relocate to an even cheaper country in Asia. Prices are going to go up, especially food prices.
5
Here in Calif we get a significant portion of our fresh produce from Mexico. The tariffs will affect us at the supermarket. Will Trump help us out as he has done with farmers? I doubt it as he hates our Governor and our sanctuary cities.
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@richard
Mexican produce in California? Hello, how about Missouri? WHere do you think my tomatoes and lettuce comes from? Where are is most of the fresh produce in the U.S. produced...in December, January, Febuary,... 50 years ago, you didn't have fresh berries in the middle of the winter, like we have now. But hey, with climate change, warmer weather could be coming to Michigan.
26
CA can hang with it
1
Trump has the right idea.
I was in southern New Mexico last week, beautiful state and highly underrated; however, the fact the Yelp reviews had people warning some restaurants had zero ability to communicate in English got me thinking 'immigrants aren't really assimilating very well or even trying'. It is fine, I speak fluent Spanish but the fact they're running US businesses with no limited ability to interact with the regular US citizen is concerning.
El Paso was much worse. Get on a plane and go to the border.
8
@Scott What exactly is Trump's idea? He's levying a regressive tax on U.S. consumers because ... why? His previous idea, to be as cruel as possible to undocumented migrants, some of whom were legally seeking asylum, didn't magically solve the problem he has trumpeted. It did manage to separate thousands of minors from their families, with so little care paid to the process that it may be impossible ever to reunite them. His idea isn't an idea, at least not in the sense of a plan borne of describable rational thought; it's an adrenal impulse – be tough! – whatever the Christ that means, and that's all. In the meantime, no problem of any sort gets fixed, and U.S. businesses and consumers get to pay this new Trump tax. And that's just in the short term. The longer term effects could be worse.
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@Scott having been to many restaurants in Mexico, Spain, Peru, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere where they speak Spanish and not English, I’m convinced it’s not that hard to get a sandwich and a Coke or ask where the bathroom is. And isn’t a service like Yelp wonderful? Built on principles of capitalism and democracy, if people really don’t like those restaurants, they are free to visit restaurants of fluent English speakers. Maybe there’s a business opportunity. That’s a great thing about America - freedom and French fries all rolled up in one.
As for El Paso, what is the scariest part? That the restaurants have lots of Spanish speakers, or that they have a lot of young people with so little to do that they spend their time at Beto rallies? Either scenario may be terrifying, but they’ll be alright.
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@Scott Growing up in NYC in the 50's & 60's, there where whole neighborhoods that didn't speak English.
Most of my friend's Italian grandparents never really learned to speak English.
However their children was dubbed The Greatest Generation. I wouldn't be concerned at all.
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