How are auto makers going to handle tariffs?

[RickMachE]

What would make sense, but never happens, is that the federal government sit down with the industry and discuss, then plan, what makes sense to bring back to the US.

But when products are made in the US, costs are higher, and therefore prices are higher. These trade agreements, including those negotiated by the BigFatOrangeMan, were intended to benefit US citizens by providing products with lower prices based on a balance of manufacturing in the US and elsewhere.

"Buy American" is a bullcrap statement made by people that say it, but have no idea what it means or will cost them. When faced with the cost decision of buying X for $200 (if non-US) or $300 (US), 99% of consumers pick the $200 item.

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[Sikkun]

"Buy American" is a bullcrap statement made by people that say it, but have no idea what it means or will cost them. When faced with the cost decision of buying X for $200 (if non-US) or $300 (US), 99% of consumers pick the $200 item.

Especially when they put a nice “Designed in America” flag sticker on the box. The made in China stamp basically doesn’t matter then.

 

[load97]

What would make sense, but never happens, is that the federal government sit down with the industry and discuss, then plan, what makes sense to bring back to the US.

But when products are made in the US, costs are higher, and therefore prices are higher. These trade agreements, including those negotiated by the BigFatOrangeMan, were intended to benefit US citizens by providing products with lower prices based on a balance of manufacturing in the US and elsewhere.

"Buy American" is a bullcrap statement made by people that say it, but have no idea what it means or will cost them. When faced with the cost decision of buying X for $200 (if non-US) or $300 (US), 99% of consumers pick the $200 item.

So true.

 

[RickMachE]

So true.

My father in-law was a union member that would go on strike when the union told him to. When I would ask him why he was on strike, he would say "because they told me to". When I pointed out the lost wages and the amount of time it would take to make up the loss with any increase, he would look at me funny.

Then again, he retired with a very small pension, but free medical benefits for life...

Anyway, he was ticked that I drove a Datsun 280Z. I bought an American car (Chevy) to quiet him after that, and it was nothing but problems. He didn't like that, and handwrote a note to GM....

His house had a Toshiba TV, a Panasonic VCR, he proudly use a big Panasonic video camera, ... But "buy American".

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Canada’s illegal crossings is also a small fraction compared to Mexico.

People are stuck in last century thinking. The vast majority of illegal immigration happens by air. People arrive on airplanes with tourist visas and overstay. Some use student visas and overstay.

 

[Sikkun]

People are stuck in last century thinking. The vast majority of illegal immigration happens by air. People arrive on airplanes with tourist visas and overstay. Some use student visas and overstay.

Don’t put that out there, next week there will be a 25% airline tariff.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Don’t put that out there, next week there will be a 25% airline tariff.

I’m risking the fates by using the laugh response in your post.

If it means fewer tourists blocking the entrance to our subdivision so they can gawk at the cows and horses, I’m all in favor though.

I mean really what are they looking at? “Look Mildred, Hawaiian cows!”

 

[Sikkun]

I’m risking the fates by using the laugh response in your post.

If it means fewer tourists blocking the entrance to our subdivision so they can gawk at the cows and horses, I’m all in favor though.

I mean really what are they looking at? “Look Mildred, Hawaiian cows!”

That’s funny (not blocking your subdivision part). Of all the things us mainlanders could enjoy that’s unique to Hawaii it’s not looking at cows and horses.

Mainland US does not have a lack of cows!

Kalua pork, I enjoy immensely…but that’s eating it not watching it .

 

[Jimrpa]

I’m risking the fates by using the laugh response in your post.

If it means fewer tourists blocking the entrance to our subdivision so they can gawk at the cows and horses, I’m all in favor though.

I mean really what are they looking at? “Look Mildred, Hawaiian cows!”

They have COWS in Hawaii?! Wow - how many can each island support? Like 3? 4?

Horses are nasty, evil creatures. You can have all of ours ?

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Horses are nasty, evil creatures. You can have all of ours

Not a mean bone in his body. The cow though, that’s another story.

 

[Blue highway]

Keep in mind that this will have very little impact on probably over 90% of the typical person's spending. Look at where most of your monthly spending goes... mortgage/rent, insurance, utilities, healthcare, internet/cell/TV services, etc. Not affected.

It could add a few pennies to gasoline, it'll make a *few* grocery items more expensive (that many people will just avoid). Similarly, it'll make certain cars and certain other items much costlier, but consumers will usually just avoid those too. If the tariffs are still in place when dealer inventory of Mach-E's runs out, if someone really wants a new one from the factory it would cost a lot more (unless Ford just eats most of the cost). Which will cause buyers to choose a different model that doesn't have the tariff (which is kinda the point of a tariff).

In other words, yes, it'll raise the price of certain items, but they make up a tiny share of most people's overall expenses. Unless they happen to be heavily dependent on (or just REALLY want) a particular item affected.

It will, however, have significant affect on certain businesses that are heavily dependent on those imports. It will hurt them, but help others when consumers choose non-affected products instead.

Tariffs are a tax. And yes, taxes hurt. But at least these are more easily avoided by most consumers than other taxes.

maybe. 20% IEEPA tariff on stuff from China for instance... So... virtually everything in a Walmart will begin going up in the next few weeks.

 

[Sikkun]

maybe. 20% IEEPA tariff on stuff from China for instance... So... virtually everything in a Walmart will begin going up in the next few weeks.

Good thing we also don’t import a bunch of oil or lumber from Canada, or one of the main ingredients in fertilizer.

Or even 4.6 billion dollars worth of tequila alone from Mexico, I mean no one drinks that stuff.

And Americans definitely don’t spend a lot of money on consumer electronics made in China.

Man we are also super lucky we don’t export a bunch of soybeans and corn to those countries that would obviously never result in the government having to spend billions of tax dollars in relief.

Will just be a couple pennies, barely even notice it.

 

[dbsb3233]

maybe. 20% IEEPA tariff on stuff from China for instance... So... virtually everything in a Walmart will begin going up in the next few weeks.

I mainly meant Mexico and Canada, but yeah there's an additional 10% on China. We've already had 10% (more on certain items) in place on China for years, that's already baked into the equation.

 

[CarlSagan82]

This is a regressive tax meant to harm everyone except for the top %1. Poor people buy food, so anyone who says this won’t impact most people is a Russian bot or just hateful.

 

[Jimrpa]

Not a mean bone in his body. The cow though, that’s another story.

Some people have an unreasoning fear of snakes. In my case, I have an unreasonable fear of horses. I literally will go the other way if I see a horse and am not in a vehicle.

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