Idaho

Regardless of the impact on prices that might arise for purely political reasons, it makes perfect sense to charge tariffs on goods that externalise costs to the environment. It would a more effective deterrent for buying overseas goods if a tariff were levied per mile travelled plus a tariff equivalent to the exporting country’s saving on not operating the same environmental regulations as the US.

However, a simple one size fits all for certain product lines is a start. Let’s level the playing field from an externalised cost perspective - all good.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

We are the economic power of the world. Quit cowering like libs always do. If you think an economic downturn won’t hurt China you’re delusional. They have grand expansionist plans. That costs huge amounts of money. They need our goods and they need them cheap. What’s your solution? I have a feeling just like immigration, shootings, global (BS) c*****e c****e, and debt you have none. Just more liberal whining and woe is me. Mainly because you h**e Trump to distraction.

eden

Clearly you have not been to China. I have been there several times and was in KunMing and Beijing 2 weeks ago. You need to understand their mindset to defeat their agenda and Trumps blustering telegraphs weakness and foolish western ignorance rather than strength.
I don’t personally h**e Trump but I have no use for his low class unevolved behavior. He may turn out to be useful in the short term because our enemies may be temporarily thrown off stasis by his unpredictable erratic behavior but long term we need sharp thinking experienced foreign service people to dismantle the China threat.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

And just how would you do that? Like I said all whine no solution. Just because you’ve been to China you understand their policies, economic structure, expansionist goals, and political insider workings. Good to know.

Chocura750

I've always looked on these trade agreements between countries as agreements for a bunch of small tariffs which each country agrees to impose or not impose on imports and which have a beneficial effect for both countries. If I'm not mistaken it's the failure of countries not to keep their agreements that causes the problems. By trying to unilaterally use tariffs in a punitive fashion Trump has changed the game. Trump puts tariffs on steel; China puts tariffs on soy beans. Both tariffs chosen to inflict political or economic pain on the other; neither one looking to benefit the country imposing the tariff.

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

I think it's hilarious watching all these people trying to discern strategy or policy in the stuff Trump tweets or blurts out during news conferences................because there isn't any. Notice how the great negotiator can't seem to negotiate anything? What folks don't realize, is that ALL of Trump's business success - has been engineered by others - he just took credit for it. Of course, he's convinced himself ( and unfortunately, a great many others ) that he's frickin brilliant. This has caused an irrationally inflated ego and visions of grandeur, which inevitably leads to chaos and confusion, requiring someone who DOES know what they're doing to try and fix it. Unfortunately for America - she cannot file for bankruptcy when the doodoo is too deep to survive in, which is what Trump Industries does when Trump tries to sink THAT ship.

Trump has no concept of global trade, diplomacy or statecraft, and has no motivation to learn, because he's convinced himself that he knows all he needs to know - just like he always does. He's removed everyone who did know a little about stuff, surrounding himself with folks that reinforce his delusions, leaving our country at the mercy of fate and the whims of a spoiled child. The DOJ was intentionally isolated from the White House, to ensure that it does not become the enforcement arm of the administration - and yet - Donald makes a call and Sessions begins enacting the latest whims. Does this not alarm anyone?

Here's the thing: China's trade people know trade forwards, backwards and everything in between, and our countries leadership has no one with the experience to compete with them. China's trade, military and every other aspect of it's governance, is in absolute lockstep with it's supreme leader - because it is a totalitarian regime. No Nation can successfully compete with that, unless it's government is ALSO on the same page about everything, as military decisions, political decisions and diplomatic decisions all effect trade - and Trump's "stir the pot" method is dangerous, added to his refusal to TAKE advice ( other than from Fox news ), announcing stuff via twitter without informing staff first and we have a recipe for disaster.

China does not need the USA to survive and even thrive, but the USA does need China. That means, China will cannot be pressured to do what we want......they can wait us out. Here's some good news; when the corporate leaders and shareholders start howling after their profits drop, the same folks the GOP relies on for it's campaign funding, some Republican leaders will find their balls and rein in Trump. Money talks - bulls**t gets elected President.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Problem is, they have been putting much higher tariffs on our products. Making it much harder to sell our goods there. Hurting American families and manufacturing much as you blame Trump for. I take it economics was never your strong suit?

Chocura750

ipnmajor ; great writing and scary as hell. Google is a magnificent resource. I googled NAFTA and 15 seconds later was reading the agreement. Look it up yourself people. It's long complex legalistic. It's the obvious product of experienced technical precise intelligent people unlike Trump or any people he has about him that I know of. I'd like to ask Trump to tell us what section was most detrimental to the US. He couldn't of course, since he hasn't read it ( I think that's a fair statement. Although not completely fair since I'm sure Bill Clinton hasn't read it either, but he could have unlike Trump). I agree that the Republican money people have to feel the pain before Trump gets a blanket thrown over him. I pray that people don't get k**led before it happens.

vernon

If he made tv's 4000 maybe characters like you get off your rear and get a job.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

How do you know it's not the obvious product of experienced technical precise intelligent people unlike Trump or any people he has about him that are owned by corporations who have made a fortune under NAFTA. Your obvious dislike of Trump comes through on everything you spout. That's fine but it makes anything you say skewed.

vernon

If its a disaster it will be a Chinese disaster.Your loony politicians have gone to these negotiations just to line their pockets.The so called negotiators

weren't interested in how much their negotiations hurt the working man in America they were just into sending our wealth to the rest of the world.

Chocura750

Good point. The drafters of the NAFTA may have been corrupt and were structuring the agreement mainly for the benefit of corporate America with little regard for the average worker.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Hallelujah! I actually agree with you.

Lonewolf

China is so unfair is just why the trumps make all their shoddy merchandise there!
The same reason he got all the protections for hiss brand there.
China and Russia prop up north Korea and little Kim is playing trump like a cheap violin.
China is going to hit trumps base with their tariffs and let's not forget Putin put trump in power and he can take him down the same way.

BigMike Loc: yerington nv