Trump announces steel and aluminum tariffs Thursday over objections from advisers and Republicans

[upsideguy]

Even worse, the idiocy of these tariffs will easily affect the globe negatively.

We can only pray that Trump isn't this retarded.

Well ya know, like the coal mines, all the steel mills will suddenly reopen and everything will be just fine.

Let's face it: our President is an idiot.

Then again, its simple chemistry. Just as Sodium and Chloride yield the compound Salt, a good thing, Arrogance and Ignorance yield the compound Idiot, not a good thing.

Reality is not his specialty.

Nor that of his fan base....

 

[dobieg]

It is amusing hearing big city liberals tell middle America they need to just suck it up and deal with it.


We'll see how unions feel come the next few elections when they're told by Democrats that they are dinosaurs of a by gone time.

 

[MTAtech]

We've sat by as the government did nothing for decades as other countries manipulated trade at the expense of American workers and people like you make excuses for it and just want to continue turning a blind eye.

Sorry but this is partly why Trump got elected and I fully support forcing the hand of other countries until they start playing fair.

The last time steel tariffs were tried was during George H.W. Bush. Those tariffs lasted 30 months and cost 200,000 jobs — more than the number of total steel workers.

Admitting that you stand by you vote last year of someone who institutes reckless policies is no virtue. I voted for the candidate that thinks out and weighs the ramification of proposed policies.

 

[Saladin4]

It is amusing hearing big city liberals tell middle America they need to just suck it up and deal with it.


We'll see how unions feel come the next few elections when they're told by Democrats that they are dinosaurs of a by gone time.

More business depend on imported steel than ever...Canada is the leading importer...They will make it more expensive to buy it....Companies will raise prices, lay off workers when that occurs.....Hard to believe trump and his goons don;t know this...I say he'll back away from this by weeks end....You've been conned.............again

 

[MTAtech]

It is amusing hearing big city liberals tell middle America they need to just suck it up and deal with it.

We'll see how unions feel come the next few elections when they're told by Democrats that they are dinosaurs of a by gone time.

Democrats rightly have respect for unions, something you don’t seem to realize based upon your post. You should have more respect too, as unions gave us the weekend days off and safety regulations that all workers benefited.

 

[Thelion]

We can only pray that Trump isn't this retarded.

Yeah, that's a comforting thought.

 

[MTAtech]

More business depend on imported steel than ever...Canada is the leading importer...They will make it more expensive to buy it....Companies will raise prices, lay off workers when that occurs.....Hard to believe trump and his goons don;t know this...I say he'll back away from this by weeks end....You've been conned.............again

I am not surprised at all that Trump’s cult supports this action, as they have shown to only care that the policy is macho, and not the policy is well thought out and not counterproductive.

 

[calamity]

I am not surprised at all that Trump’s cult supports this action, as they have shown to only care that the policy is macho, and not the policy is well thought out and not counterproductive.

Idiots would support inflation by go ernment intervention...as long it's their idiot enacting it.

 

[dobieg]

Democrats rightly have respect for unions, something you don’t seem to realize based upon your post. You should have more respect too, as unions gave us the weekend days off and safety regulations that all workers benefited.

Democrats only care about letting a hairy 40 year old man into the women's bathroom and letting millions of illegals into the country.



If you do get into power, perhaps you can do another NAFTA just to show your love for unions.

 

[MTAtech]

Democrats only care about letting a hairy 40 year old man into the women's bathroom and letting millions of illegals into the country.

If you do get into power, perhaps you can do another NAFTA just to show your love for unions.

That’s such a silly strawman there is no reason to respond.

 

[dobieg]

I am not surprised at all that Trump’s cult supports this action, as they have shown to only care that the policy is macho, and not the policy is well thought out and not counterproductive.

Let me guess, the liberal idea is to let foreign countries keep manipulating trade so more of our manufacturing leaves our shores but by golly they'll give those displaced workers welfare and job training to make 'em feel a little better.

I'd just love to see any of you liberals go to some of these decimated areas of Ohio, Pa or Michigan and tell them they have to just suck it up.

 

[dobieg]

That’s such a silly strawman there is no reason to respond.

lol

Says the man who blew this snot.

I am not surprised at all that Trump’s cult supports this action, as they have shown to only care that the policy is macho, and not the policy is well thought out and not counterproductive.

 

[Reformedfindlay]

We've sat by as the government did nothing for decades as other countries manipulated trade at the expense of American workers and people like you make excuses for it and just want to continue turning a blind eye.

Sorry but this is partly why Trump got elected and I fully support forcing the hand of other countries until they start playing fair.

The only thing you'll force out of other countries with things like this is counter-tariffs.

Also, it's merely competitive advantages that allow other countries to beat us in the steel department. It's no different with the rest of manufacturing. China has a comparative advantage because it has such a large labor force that they can work for slave wages making ipads, so our companies intentionally outsource labor over there.

Meanwhile in the US, what we have that China doesn't have (for now at least) is a highly educated population. So while we lost manufacturing jobs, we gained a lot of jobs in the services industry. It's why services make up the largest portion of our economy BY FAR while manufacturing is hardly 12% of our total economic output.

Also, if anyone is really screwing over your ****ty minimmum wage jobs, its machines, not China. **** thay Joe Schmoe did 30 years ago a machine can do better, faster, and cheaper.

That’s such a silly strawman there is no reason to respond.

Non Sequitur actually, but yeah, his arguments throughout this entire thread have been garbage. He's mad that the global economy has stripped him of his ****ty 5 dollar per hour job and granted him the opportunity to work at a 20 dollar per hour, non-hard labor job instead, an opportunity he and many others don't give a **** to try and grab.

 

[Reformedfindlay]

Let me guess, the liberal idea is to let foreign countries keep manipulating trade so more of our manufacturing leaves our shores but by golly they'll give those displaced workers welfare and job training to make 'em feel a little better.

I'd just love to see any of you liberals go to some of these decimated areas of Ohio, Pa or Michigan and tell them they have to just suck it up.

Liberals this liberals that.

Im a free market libertarian; in other words, I'm the most conservative, cut-throat capitalist mother****er you'll ever meet out there. And guess what, when these jobs go because of automation and global competition, yeah, you have to suck it up.

It seems to me that the problem is you're too afraid to compete and want things handed to you by uncle Sam; YOU WANT welfare, you WANT handouts. After all, what is protectionism (tariffs) but big government intervention to try and give an unfair advantage to a group of people?

 

[Saladin4]

Democrats only care about letting a hairy 40 year old man into the women's bathroom and letting millions of illegals into the country.



If you do get into power, perhaps you can do another NAFTA just to show your love for unions.

I thought trump was going to get rid of NAFTA?...Lots of stupid angry white men cheered him at his Rallys when he said it, but he hasn't .....Why?

 

[Unitedwestand13]

Liberals this liberals that.

Im a free market libertarian; in other words, I'm the most conservative, cut-throat capitalist mother****er you'll ever meet out there. And guess what, when these jobs go because of automation and global competition, yeah, you have to suck it up.

It seems to me that the problem is you're too afraid to compete and want things handed to you by uncle Sam; YOU WANT welfare, you WANT handouts. After all, what is protectionism (tariffs) but big government intervention to try and give an unfair advantage to a group of people?

Some people long for the 1950s.

 

[Reformedfindlay]

Some people long for the 1950s.

Yeah right, the good ole days. Cuz the quality of life then was just so much better than now :lamo

*laughs as I type this in a 3000 dollar powerhouse laptop that is hundreds of times stronger than the first computer made by mankind*

 

[iguanaman]

The Top 10 Steel Producing Countries In The World

1 China 803.83
2 Japan 105.15
3 India 89.58
4 USA 78.92
5 Russia 71.11
6 S. Korea 69.73
7 Germany 42.68
8 Brazil 33.25
9 Turkey 31.52
10 Ukraine 22.93

Anyone who thinks it's wise to import steel and only produce 1/10th the steel an emerging enemy China does is nuts.

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-top-10-steel-producing-countries-in-the-world.html

But who will be effected by these inane tariffs? Countries that export steel to the U.S. right? Here's the top 5. China is a small player here and it is these countries that will be hurt by the tariffs. Look who number 3 is...

I think we should stop buying ANYTHING from Russia period. Strangling that viper in his own greed.
PS China is NOT our enemy...

1. Canada
2. Brazil
3. South Korea
4. Mexico
5. Russia

https://www.voanews.com/a/top-us-import-sources-steel-aluminum/4277212.html

 

[Kushinator]

Im not following how cheap Chinese steel is good for the US economy or our manufacturing base ?

It is cheaper for steel consumers, allowing them to produce more products for a lower price. If they are forced to pay 2x-5x more due to protectionism, how on earth does this benefit our economy or manufacturing base? How can you say in one hand higher taxes cost jobs and in another claim protectionism benefits the U.S. economy or manufacturing base?

No need to explain this deep discrepancy to me... i'm well aware of the blatant hypocrisy that has infected the U.S. conservative base.

 

[Reformedfindlay]

It is cheaper for steel consumers, allowing them to produce more products for a lower price. If they are forced to pay 2x-5x more due to protectionism, how on earth does this benefit our economy or manufacturing base? How can you say in one hand higher taxes cost jobs and in another claim protectionism benefits the U.S. economy or manufacturing base?

No need to explain this deep discrepancy to me... i'm well aware of the blatant hypocrisy that has infected the U.S. conservative base.

I would agree in full except I need more clarification on the last part. I strongly believe that a huge chunk if not the majority of the conservative base does not approve of protectionism. If anything it seems to be a split within the Conservative base. The libertarians like myself of course I'm sure are in 100% agreement with our opposition to protectionism.

 

[slick]

It is cheaper for steel consumers, allowing them to produce more products for a lower price. If they are forced to pay 2x-5x more due to protectionism, how on earth does this benefit our economy or manufacturing base? How can you say in one hand higher taxes cost jobs and in another claim protectionism benefits the U.S. economy or manufacturing base?

No need to explain this deep discrepancy to me... i'm well aware of the blatant hypocrisy that has infected the U.S. conservative base.

Where am I wrong here. If the USA produces 75% of the steel we use & import the other 25%. The effect of the 25% tariff on consumers would only be
6.25%. I don't think the 25% figure is etched in stone either a 20% tariff if my math is correct would mean a 4% increase to consimers of steel products.
Perhaps the tariffs would only be put on countries known for dumping & other devious practices. I think something should be done to make sure U.S. steel
makers get the necessary protection in order to remain viable. I'll wait until the dimensions of the tariff proposal is announced to give it a thumbs up or down,
but overall I'd like to see something done!

In the last decade I recall a few steel companies going under. The industry that was one of the primary factors in overtaking
Britain as the greatest economic & military power in the world about 100 years ago ought to remain productive & profitable.

 

[maxparrish]

Let me guess, the liberal idea is to let foreign countries keep manipulating trade so more of our manufacturing leaves our shores but by golly they'll give those displaced workers welfare and job training to make 'em feel a little better.

I'd just love to see any of you liberals go to some of these decimated areas of Ohio, Pa or Michigan and tell them they have to just suck it up.

While I have a great deal of empathy the American working class dislocation from economic (and demographic-cultural) changes in the last 45 years, I don't find any salvation in most of the intellectually barren nationalist-populist tariff bromides. Trump, much like populists William Jennings Bryan, Huey Long, and George Wallace reflects little intellectually credible thinking, beyond gut attitudes and table pounding - free-lanced popular passions unmoored by coherent principles, intellect, or education.

It shouldn't have been a surprise that Trump found it difficult to recruit actual experts on policy (only one of his Council of Economic Advisors is an actual economist) because most experts share a common set of fundamental knowledge and skills consistent with either liberal or conservative views, and their academic training - few (if any) can tap into Trumps economically primitive, unstructured and subjective epiphanies of the moment.

You see, populists often don't get that their favorite bromides don't have any support among the experts and specialists, regardless if they are liberal, conservative or libertarian. While Trump is pronouncing tariff policy, almost all economic experts agree this sort of "solution" is a throwback to 17th century mercantilism and archaic economic "theory" (the sort of thing you might lump with the gold standard and Malthusian theory).

The following link, by a Republican economist (and former chair of the Council of Economic advisors) provides a basic education on free trade, and is quite useful for the many populists whose education didn't include a semester of Econ 101.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/business/trump-economists-trade-tariffs.html?smid=pl-share

 

[AustralianuS]

Great message, Mr President!

 

[holbritter]

You didn't read very well. There is more profit from selling automobiles made with steel than on the steel in them. Same goes with any other product made with steel or aluminum. As an advanced nation we need to stick with high profit items that provide good paying jobs for Americans. Those jobs are in jeopardy if a trade war makes those high value products no longer exportable because of retaliatory tariffs on American goods. We cannot make every "widget" and expect wages that are satisfactory for Americans. Jobs for low profit items are not coming back nor should they.

We want a nation of salespeople? Those are not always good paying jobs.

 

[Aristaeus]

I appreciate President Trump putting the interest of the American worker first. It's unbelievable how some would have us stand by as other countries decimate our steel industry thru unfair trade practices.

What about the many US industries that rely on steel and aluminium? It's going to really hit their profits and cost a lot of jobs.