Right now, the great boogeyman making the rounds is the “T” word…tariffs. Based on 95% of news stories, blogs, talking heads and “expert economists” the American economy is on life support and the plug is very loose, due to tariffs.
Believe it or not, not everything in this country is under the threat of tariffs. If it is manufactured in this country, it is NOT subject to a tariff. That is not to say that there are items that cannot be manufactured here that have to be imported, and will be subject to those tariffs. But if people stop and do a little research, a little comparison shopping, they will find the damage can be minimized, not eliminated (yet) but minimized.
I read an online blog posted by a man that showed, in a simple example, how tariffs can work FOR us. He uses a simple padlock, one manufactured in China, and an identical one made in the USA. The lock made in the USA was $2.00 more than its import clone, $5.00 vs. $3.00 for the China lock. By imposing a tariff on the Chinese import, driving the price up to $6.50, the U.S. made lock suddenly became more desirable. This is a very simplistic example, but shows clearly how the system works.
There has been big talk about bringing much needed manufacturing (and the jobs that go with it) back to America. Is this going to be the manna from heaven everybody thinks it could be? No, because the thing they don’t talk about is how overseas manufacturing does things we are not allowed to do. Child labor, systems run by the government, not private citizens, questionable quality, pay, and other things are strong factors. Unions don’t help the situation either, but that’s another subject.
There are so many factors that make up the tariff wars, Quality of products being one. Another is the availability of some products that can only be grown in selected areas, like coffee for example. There is no perfect answer, but what we do need to do is remember who was and can still be the single greatest manufacturing country in the world.
Carpe Diem
Alan Marshall
Trump’s decision to impose reciprocal, long-overdue tariffs on many countries that have been taking advantage of the U.S. for years was not just a necessary step but a crucial one. His efforts are a vital response to the trade imbalance, and I wholeheartedly support his actions.
Contrary to popular belief, Trump didn’t initiate these trade wars but simply responded to the nations that did. His actions are not about aggression, but about restoring fairness in trade. So, let the elites in other countries squirm for a while; justice is being served.
President Trump is accomplishing what no one else could. Countries that ripped us off for decades are now coming to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, made-in-America manufacturing is enjoying a generational comeback. And most importantly, we’re standing up to communist China and fighting back against its underhanded economic schemes.
Rural American farmers just spent the last four years having every aspect of their lives attacked by the Biden climate agenda, from absurd soil regulations to electric farming equipment mandates.
Rural farmers were at the White House recently, telling Trump they were grateful to him because their jobs had been shipped overseas, and the tariffs were suitable for our country.
The American Cattle Company supports Trump’s tariffs, saying, “Tariffs are the best for American ranchers and consumers long term.”
Leann Bosarge, the COO of Bosarge Boats, said Trump’s tariffs “threw us a lifeline” in the struggling domestic shrimp industry.
The Trump hater, Mark Cuban, primarily supports Trump’s tariffs. Mike Pence hates tariffs, so that means Trump is correct.
Everyone knows Trump’s negotiating style is to ask for the moon and settle for something in between. He is using this same approach with tariffs.
It’s high time we stopped subsidizing other countries. We can endure short-term losses, even if it means losing a battle here and there, because it’s all for the greater good, securing victory in the long run.
Well said salt life. I wish I could go back and add you as a co-author.
Thanks, Alan!
Under Trump’s leadership, we should hold China accountable for its numerous malfeasances against the U.S. It may be a long road, but with Trump at the helm, we can be confident that it will be traveled.
With Trump’s initiatives and his exceptional negotiation skills, we can reclaim America and be treated with honesty and fairness. This offers a glimmer of hope in the current U.S.-China relations.
For decades, China’s regime has been implementing predatory and criminal trade practices, and the U.S. has let them slide. Now, as China’s economy is failing and export factories in southern China are closing, it’s a critical time to hit them where it hurts.
China wants to deal, but they don’t know how to approach Trump, the master negotiator.
Yep, the People’s Republic of China is waging war against us, and has been for years. Not a hot war, but a cold war – and our leaders have let them.
Until now.
A few critiques of “Tariffs Can Work For Us”
1. Oversimplification of Tariff Effects
Claim: Marshall suggests that tariffs make U.S.-made goods more desirable by raising the prices of imports, as illustrated by his padlock example.
Critique: This example oversimplifies the complex dynamics of global trade. While tariffs can make domestic products more price-competitive, they often lead to higher costs for consumers and businesses. For instance, the Yale Budget Lab estimated that recent tariffs could cost the average U.S. household an additional $3,800 annually due to increased prices on goods like food, energy, and clothing .
https://budgetlab.yale.edu/research/where-we-stand-fiscal-economic-and-distributional-effects-all-us-tariffs-enacted-2025-through-april
2. Neglecting the Impact on Domestic Manufacturers
Claim: The article implies that tariffs primarily affect foreign goods and benefit domestic manufacturers.
Critique: Many U.S. manufacturers rely on imported components. Tariffs on these imports can increase production costs, making domestic products more expensive. The Federal Reserve Board found that tariffs led to a 1.4% reduction in manufacturing employment, as the increased costs outweighed the benefits of protection from foreign competition .
https://econofact.org/factbrief/did-the-trump-tariffs-increase-us-manufacturing-jobs
3. Inaccurate Attribution of Manufacturing Decline
Claim: Marshall attributes the decline in U.S. manufacturing jobs to unfair overseas practices like child labor and government-run systems.
Critique: While unethical labor practices abroad are concerning, the primary driver of manufacturing job losses in the U.S. has been automation and increased productivity. A Vox article explains that as manufacturing processes become more efficient, fewer workers are needed, leading to job reductions .
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/408949/manufacturing-jobs-tariffs-trump-trade-automation
4. Ignoring Retaliatory Tariffs and Global Trade Dynamics
Claim: The article does not address the potential for retaliatory tariffs from other countries.
Critique: When the U.S. imposes tariffs, trading partners often respond with their own tariffs, which can hurt U.S. exporters. For example, during previous trade disputes, China and other countries imposed tariffs on U.S. agricultural products, adversely affecting American farmers .
https://www.fb.org/market-intel/tallying-up-the-latest-retaliatory-tariffs
5. Overlooking the Broader Economic Impact
Claim: Marshall suggests that tariffs can help revive U.S. manufacturing.
Critique: While tariffs may provide short-term relief to certain industries, they can also lead to higher consumer prices and reduced economic growth. The Tax Foundation notes that tariffs act as trade barriers, raising prices and reducing the availability of goods and services for U.S. businesses and consumers .
https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/trump-tariffs-trade-war/
6. Lack of Discussion on Supply Chain Complexities
Claim: The article implies that manufacturing can easily return to the U.S. if tariffs are imposed.
Critique: Modern supply chains are complex and global. Reestablishing manufacturing in the U.S. requires significant investment, infrastructure, and skilled labor. The McKinsey Global Institute highlights that U.S. manufacturing companies face challenges like high capital costs and the need for advanced technologies to remain competitive .
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/americas/building-a-more-competitive-us-manufacturing-sector
Conclusion
While the intention to bolster U.S. manufacturing is commendable, the article’s arguments are based on oversimplified scenarios and overlook the multifaceted consequences of tariffs. A comprehensive approach that includes investment in technology, workforce development, and fair trade practices is essential for revitalizing American manufacturing without unintended economic drawbacks.
Sorry, I don’t have an advanced economic degree but what I’m hearing you say is we should just bend over, grab our ankles, take it and not bother trying. If I’m wrong, please forgive me.
Yes, my example is very basic and simplified but for someone with a high school education that is going out to try to make basic purchases using price comparisons, all the other stuff you threw out there, IMO, clouds the issue. I look at two basically identical items in quality and function and one is cheaper, that’s most likely where I’m going.
Alan backs his ignorance with more ignorance. Paint me shocked.
Tariffs can very much work if handled in a manor that allows for the targeted corrections to markets in a manor paced in a way that allows for the investment in infrastructure etc… to replace off shore suppliers. The Chips Act is a great example.
A better approach is to target those industries that have the most strategic importance, then those that are most attractive (higher profit margin, ease of access to raw materials, etc….), and on down the line.
The Trump bully approach has basically killed 1000s of small American businesses that rely on oversee manufacturing. Not to mention cut off much of US manufacturing from access to many raw materials we don’t have access to in the US.
Easy to accept the pain when it isn’t yours. Typical conservative lack of ability to empathize with anyone unlike themselves.
Trumpn doesnt have a plan. He just has hate and ignorance.
Chris says, “A better approach.” I’m surprised Chris is not a chief economist for our country.
He’s part of the Randolph County Intelligentsia, don’t ya know?
They meet each week in coffee shops and put the World to rights.
Both of them.
Na, we just post here. They keep saying we can’t fix stupid, but we try anyway.
Chris, what do Houses or estates have to do with tariffs?
Weird question to ask. Cost to build a home is already beginning to go up as many building materials come from offshore sources.
Is there something in particular you are referencing?
He was probably citing the same economist who said Build Back Better was going to fix all of the US economy’s problems and wouldn’t have any effect on inflation.
Ye old “KISS” principle.
It doesn’t matter if we bring manufacturing back to the U.S. The main point is we have been screwed since WW11 with unfair tariffs—time to say no, especially to China.
Don’t forget about the patient infringement issues that are rampant in China. How would you like it if you had hockey your house worked for several years to up with a product that saves people money and you reach the magic sales revenue number of 5 million dollars only to see the product you had a patent on being manufactured in China and selling at half your cost to the customers you developed here in the U.S. You can’t do anything about it but just let your life dream go away. No one in this country would want that to happen to them but it happens every day. China has no legal laws and will not pass any.
So you are suggesting that the solution is to go cold turkey on China manufacturing regardless of impact to the US economy? No one twisted the arms if US businesses to offshore their manufacturing.
Weird.
Ford is working closely with the Trump administration to streamline its car production and delivery processes, particularly as the company faces challenges due to the president’s tariffs. The company CEO said it is committed to its “From America, For America” program.
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) said, “I had a Texas cattle rancher come to see me, and we talked about all of the Australian beef, for example, that comes into the United States. Yet we can’t sell a single steak in Australia. So, I think the idea of reciprocity is hard to argue with. As a matter of fact, it seems just fair.”
Senator David McCormick (R-PA) said, “So, you know, to help the world come back from World War II, we gave very favorable terms to the world, and those terms have largely stuck. It hasn’t gotten better. China and many other countries have taken advantage,” explaining that the tariffs are designed to bring “fairness” back for the American worker.
Ford isn’t working closely with Trump. They are kissing the ring to avoid Trump’s bully approach.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/17/business/ford-car-prices-tariffs/index.html
Good luck being able to afford a car full manufactured in the US. Most estimates are 10% to 20% increase in costs. So much for getting rid of inflation.
But you be you
According to a Pew Research Center survey, the majority of Americans view trade with China, Canada, and Mexico as less beneficial to the United States than trade with these three countries.
Interestingly, the Democrats, who are often seen as having a different perspective, view trade as relatively equal between countries.
King Obama said in 2015, I will not stand by when our competitors don’t play by the rules… That’s why we must ensure the U.S, not countries like China, is writing this century’s rules for the world’s economy.
Don’t disagree that we need to move away from China in trade. But going cold Trukey will harm thousands of small busiensses that have now where to trun for manufacturing within the US. What do you say to them?
Chris,
Please show me where ANYBODY (except you) said anything about going cold chri…I mean turkey on trade with China.
Check current shipping levels to and from China. Who is going to import good and pay more in tariffs than the goods are worth?
Good luck
I’m not sure about your simplistic example on how tariffs will help us. Having been in my own business for 40 years here’s how I would see this playing out. Since my competition is now $6.50 I can raise my prices to $6 and still be under China’s pricing. My customer will now be paying 100% more than they used to pay for the same item. If you extrapolate this out, the consumer will now be paying $60k for purchases they used to pay 30k for. This will devastate a large part of our population. Now Trump, who the little man who has been duped into thinking is for him, is totally screwed.
Tariffs are a tax on the poor!
Here’s how I see it happening…
You raise your price to $6 dollar but your competition chooses to raise theirs to $5.25 and still be under China’s and YOUR pricing. The customer will be paying 25% more then they used to pay for the same item, but my question is how much of that goes out of the country to China vs. stays in our economy.
Tariffs are a tax on the poor only if they chose to pay it. Last time I checked there’s nobody holding a gun to my head making me buy your $6 lock. As I see it that’s called free market choice.
“My customer will now be paying 100% more than they used to pay for the same item.” As I said earlier, I have a high school education but how is a price increase from $5 to $6 dollars a 100% increase in price, unless your using New Math.
Just my opinion.
I guess you really can’t fix stupid.
We’ve noticed.
He tries though and it’s cute.
Was especially telling how he left out of his example where you could buy a ‘made in china’ $3 dollar lock that now costs $6 and then asks where the 100% increase comes from? But even if you were overpaying for the American lock out of patriotism, your ‘inflation on locks’ is 14% which is greater than the inflation rate conservatives was Biden’s way of destroying America. (although it was a much a result of Trumps actions in office prior to Biden as Biden himself).
Maybe next time he will figure it out all by himself.
But you be you.
Golly, I sure wish I was as smart as you.
*
Chris, you are so stupid that you can’t see what’s going on here.
We’re mocking you.
al is too slow to pick up on my making fun of his childish comments? Hense the “it’s cute” statement…but wait for it…the real fun is responding to your childish mocking with more breakdowns of your foolish your loyalty to Trump as if you are dumb enough to follow Alan’s childish logic.
Kinda cute you think I don’t see through your childish comments. But not surprised you can’t see the response as mocking you. LOL you kids go play now. Have fun!
No, in your comment of April 21st at 8.44am you clearly believe that I’m agreeing with you, and condemning Alan as stupid. The fact that I’m sarcastically referring to you flies right over your head.
That’s because you’re the stupid one. Got it now?
Lol, you flatter yourself. I clearly understood you referencing me but was more fun to play as if you were referring Alan. But if it helps you play date with Alan … believe what you want. Kinda the conservative move to believe whatever makes them happy versus the truth.
But you be you.
Oh please… that’s just pathetic. The sort of excuse a six year old would come up with.
“When I said that, I was only pretending…”
——-
Typical Leftist, caught out and then lying to C.Y.A. You’re a sorry little guy.
So, you can ‘mock’ but you can’t believe someone would ‘mock’ you back using a dry sense of humor?
Weird, but I get you aren’t able to follow along. I will type slow and more loudly for you next time.
Admit it, you’re as thick as s**t.
Alan
Your example of your competition undercutting
Your $6.00 price @5.25 supposes the fallacy of applying Adam Smith’s the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker as agents who establish some sort of market advantage for consumers aka the Invisable Hand. Go to the Farmers Market at Sandy Ridge and try and find vendors vieing for a competitive advantage.
Strawberries, melons what have you are all the same price.
Again, I am just a high school graduate with a faint passing knowledge of Adam Smith and the Invisible Hand reference, but as to your example of the Farmer’s Market and their price fixing (that’s what it is) is, IMO, not how the overwhelming majority of businesses work. Again, I refer to free market choice and the freedom I have as a consumer to go where I wish and deal with whom I wish. Do you really think I’m not going to find and pay the lesser price for the same product? Ask yourself what would happen if one of your Farmer’s Market vendors decide to cut their price by 5 or 10%. My guess is they would be leaving early because they have sold out of product.
I’ve landed on my head more then a few times, but even a dumb grunt can figure that one out.
Alan
We may disagree and even bicker now and again but a high school degree is not a limitation. As William F. Buckley once said ” I would rather be governed by the first 5000 names in the phone book over the smartest 5000 intellectuals”
In fact we somewhat need intellectuals to ask deeper questions but those opinions have to be balanced by the practicality of the greater body of informed citizens.
Peace
But then I, as your American competitor in the same business, would undercut your price to steal your business. You in turn would have the choice of lowering your price again, and then back to me, back and forth until the market settles back to an area where the business still makes a profit, but at a competitive price. Unless you are running a monopoly, your example is fake news.
False news…no
The free market in operation…yes
I won’t argue your example but how low can you go and still make a profit, or would you lose money in an attempt to run ne out?
Allen, I’m replying to Phillip and agreeing with you. I think our replies to Philip dropped at the same time.
My mistake, My humblest apologies to you sir
salt life,
I find myself in complete agreement with you. It’s time we got up off of our hands and knees and quit being the world’s bi**h.
Sorry folks, this is one subject that has stuck in my craw for a long time.
OFF SUBJECT, BUT IMPORTANT…
“Stand your ground! Don’t fire unless fired upon! But if they want to have a war, let it begin here.”
Captain John Parker
April 19th 1775
The Battle of Lexington
The shot heard round the world
So the party that said inflation was destroying America, now willfully promote not only increasing prices, they promote destroying American reputation as a fair and honest trading partner.
Amazing how a cult makes people beleive the most stupid of ideas.
Tariffs Can Work for Us
In factories humming, once silent and still,
Echoes return of American will.
A padlock, a symbol—just metal and key,
But a tariff can set our manufacturing free.
Cheap goods from abroad, they flood in each day,
While our workers stand idle, their skills fade away.
Raise the tariff a bit, give home goods their due,
Watch the labels now proudly say, “Made in the U.”
We grumble of costs—but consider the gain,
Factories thriving, jobs back again.
Yes, trade is complex, and tariffs no cure-all,
But fair competition stops American downfall.
They claim tariffs harm us, that markets recoil,
Yet fairness returns with American toil.
Quality rises, our standards are clear,
Ethical production, held high and sincere.
We don’t exploit children; our wages are just,
Our goods bear the hallmark of freedom and trust.
Let coffee and cocoa come where they must grow,
But our tools and our talents—at home, let them flow.
So reject the fearmongers who cry out in dread,
Choose homegrown industry—keep families fed.
Marshall is right—it’s our time, let’s begin,
Tariffs, when wise, help America win.
Our workers aren’t standing idle. But they will be soon as Trump tanks the economy.
Cheap goods being replaced by more expensive goods doesn’t help you.
Manufacturing in US costs more than abroad so you pay more for American made goods because HaVE a great Econonmy
Universal tariffs are a tax YOU pay.
It would take decades to replace all the off shore manufacturing here in the US.
These aren’t reciprocal tariffs. Drump’s reciprocal tarriff table had nothing do do with actual tariffs charged against American trade. It was trade deficits. Shocker, smaller economies can’t consume the same as we can from them…..
MAGA Republicans have been conned. Which isn’t difficult given their years of training to ignore experts, the educated, facts and science.
MAGA ignorance is destroying America. Alan is the perfect example of a MAGA fool.
Don’t be like Alan.
He drives, he shoots, HE SCORES!
Returning to Chris’ head for the night.
Yet again, Alan can’t defend his own arguments. Just a tool for the fool.
You are his tool you fool.
Go Alan !!
Just another conservative defending stupid because they can’t think for themselves.
Third-generation Sneads Ferry shrimper Nancy Edens said the president’s tariffs are a relief. “It feels like he threw us a lifeline.”
Sure, that’s until she can’t be parts for her boat without paying an arm and leg. Some people will have an advantage by being able to charge for their goods now. Is that winning for the American consumer, the American economy? Nope.
Short sighted points of view won’t save you or the American economy.
Hey Chris are you getting ready to celebrate our Holiday on Monday. Asking for a friend