• protist@mander.xyz
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    6 days ago

    First, other countries can accept tariffs on their exports to the United States without retaliation, providing revenue to the U.S. Treasury to finance public goods provision. Critically, retaliation will exacerbate rather than improve the distribution of burdens and make it even more difficult for us to finance global public goods.

    Second, they can stop unfair and harmful trading practices by opening their markets and buying more from America;

    Third, they can boost defense spending and procurement from the U.S., buying more U.S.-made goods, and taking strain off our servicemembers and creating jobs here;

    Fourth, they can invest in and install factories in America. They won’t face tariffs if they make their stuff in this country;

    Fifth, they could simply write checks to Treasury that help us finance global public goods.

    They genuinely still think other countries are the ones that will pay the tariffs…

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Finally, Miran said that countries could “simply write checks” to the Treasury Department.

    So, they’re calling trade deficits tariffs…

    Then that means if America buys $10 million meow meow beans from Penguin Island, the trump admin thinks the penguins should then pay the trump admin $10 million so it’s a balance…

    Like, did they legitimately forget that anything besides money exists?

    • Rhaedas@fedia.io
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      6 days ago

      An example I heard I think on Stand-up Maths’ video was going in to buy a cheeseburger, and then demanding a tariff charge because the owner won’t buy something of equal price from you. Imports and exports don’t have to be the same to have a healthy trade balance.

        • floofloof@lemmy.caOP
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          6 days ago

          Yes. This business shows that not only does Trump not understand tariffs or trade or economics, he doesn’t even grasp the basic purpose of money.

          • MuskyMelon@lemmy.world
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            6 days ago

            Well if you don’t pay your loans or bills and declare bankruptcy when you’ve fucked up, you forget what money is.

        • jonne@infosec.pub
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          6 days ago

          Yes, and the US is in the amazing position where basically all global trade is denominated in US dollars. This tariff thing is just going to incentivise everyone to switch to something else.

            • jonne@infosec.pub
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              6 days ago

              BRICS has a project to create a cryptocurrency to denominate all trade between those countries. Not sure if it’ll be successful, but it’s definitely their ambition.

      • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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        6 days ago

        Yeah, everyone has been making that point…

        But this is the first I’ve seen where the admin just straight up says to give them the money.

        Like, it’s not just demanding they buy a cheeseburger from you for the same cost. They’re saying if you don’t, then you just have to give the money back and they keep your cheeseburger.

        It’s literal toddler logic. They don’t understand how the literal basics of what trade is between two people.

        He might as well have said:

        I don’t understand how the US economy works, much less some sort of self sustaining one…

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAKOWcs8w54

    • cravl@slrpnk.net
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      6 days ago

      Oh, it gets better. For countries that we have a trade surplus with… they’re still levying a 10% tariff. Because like, UsA biG stROnG, I guess? Stupid reckless chest pounding. I just can’t.

    • ShadowRam@fedia.io
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      6 days ago

      Makes me wonder,

      Do they calculate all the software / subscriptions / services that are being sold by US companies in their ‘trade’ calculations?

      I’m willing to bet, US is already exporting more than importing if you put those into the equation.

  • aramis87@fedia.io
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    6 days ago

    There’s a negotiating technique where you demand absolutely insane things, then “back off” to things beyond what you originally wanted. The Republicans do it a lot.

    • protist@mander.xyz
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      6 days ago

      Yes, and Trump has done it a lot. This is different though. This is going to undermine US trade relations permanently, even if he tries to walk back the tariffs or “cut deals” with some countries

    • JeremyHuntQW12@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      Thats not how the mafia works.

      They make a demand, and if you accept it, they make more demands.

      The mafia are businesspeople, just not very good at it, that’s why they kneecap their competitors.

      • Gates9@sh.itjust.works
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        5 days ago

        The mafia are businesspeople, just not very good at it, that’s why they kneecap their competitors.

        Have you ever heard of the “Monroe Doctrine”?

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    I actually prefer the Chinese method of replies. Just set the tariff to the same level as the US, and then add some pain points to bring the message home.

  • Gigasser@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    They’re thinking like Qing Dynasty or general Dynastic Era China? History really does repeat. They really want “Tribute” now…

    Sigh…