US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China

Re:US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China – 20% on EU by griffzhowl on Thursday April 03, 2025 @09:52AM (#43569669)

Overall I agree, but I'm not sure there's literally no point. American primary producers will likely benefit - people who own mines, oil wells, farms, etc., and some American manufacturers too as long as they source enough of their raw materials from within the US that the price hikes on resources from overseas don't bite them too much. Still an overall loss that will be borne by American consumers, but a small section of the population who are already wealthy will greatly benefit...

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Re:US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China – 20% on EU by davidw on Thursday April 03, 2025 @10:10AM (#43569966)

The point is, as this Senator explains, not economic, but to gain leverage over companies and countries:

https://bsky.app/profile/chrismurphyct.bsky.social/post/3llu...

"Do _____ and maybe we can cut you some slack on the tariffs"

If there is a point and it's not just absolute stupidity.

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Re:US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China – 20% on EU by Balgair on Thursday April 03, 2025 @12:17PM (#43571910)

I think he's on to something, but then I come back to Hanlon's Razor: Never assume conspiracy when stupidity will do.

Sure, they might be trying to do this. But I'd give that a ~3% chance.

There is no 'there' there.

They are 'burning down your house to cook a steak.'

The emperor has no clothes.

There are many more ways to say it, but as truly unbelievable as my mind keeps insisting it is, these people are just plain-jane morons.

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Re:US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China – 20% on EU by davidw on Thursday April 03, 2025 @12:53PM (#43572410)

Fair points. I go back and forth.

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Re:US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China – 20% on EU by mrguyorama on Thursday April 03, 2025 @05:03PM (#43575378)

I genuinely thought his cabinet was at least competent, they have credentials like they are at least, but then fucking Signal happened and made it obvious what they actually are:

The exact same kind of fail-upwards, born on third thinking they hit a triple, grindset grifter, loser mid-level management nepobabies.

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Re:US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China – 20% on EU by Balgair on Thursday April 03, 2025 @06:41PM (#43576343)

> The exact same kind of fail-upwards, born on third thinking they hit a triple, grindset grifter, loser mid-level management nepobabies.

Could not have put it better myself.

Welcome back.

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Re:US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China – 20% on EU by bodiekane on Thursday April 03, 2025 @11:22AM (#43571067)

> people who own mines, oil wells, farms, etc.

Huge swaths of midwestern farmers will go bankrupt if tariffs are imposed. Subsidies and exemptions are being specifically added to prevent the complete collapse of multiple red state economies due to the harm from the tariffs.

Even things like oil and mines aren't guaranteed safe, because of complexities around where refineries are, loss of export market, or weakness of dollar offsetting any nominal gains when looking at actual purchasing power.

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