Posted on 05/31/2019 3:08:33 PM PDT by ransomnote
At present the U.S. is involved in a protracted trade war with China that has yielded nothing in concessions from Beijing, cost U.S. companies and consumers billions, obliterated $5 trillion from the stock market, and is threatening to tip the economy into a recession. At the White House, Donald Trump has learned the lessons of this failed strategy and decided to…drag the U.S. into another unwinnable trade war, this time with one of our neighbors and largest trading partner.
Yes, Tariff Man announced Thursday night that starting June 10, he will impose a 5 percent tariff on allMexican imports, a levy that will “gradually increase” all the way to 25 percent until undocumented immigrants stop crossing the border. Tariffs, of course, are usually used to counter trade violations as opposed to being a blunt instrument to deal with border security, but reason and logic have no place in this administration. If they did, someone would have likely been able to get it through Trump’s head that this move will badly damage the U.S. interests, a point that has thus far eluded him.
An across-the-board tariff on all Mexican goods would exact a serious toll on American consumers and corporations, and is likely to generate significant opposition among businesses. Rufus Yerxa, the president of the National Foreign Trade Council, which represents the nation’s largest exporters, called the move “a colossal blunder.”
Mexico is Washington’s largest trading partner, sending across the border items like tomatoes, cars, and rugs. Mexico sent the United States $346.5 billion of goods last year—meaning that a 5 percent tariff on those products would amount to a tax increase of more than $17 billion. Most of the costs would then be passed on to businesses and consumers. Mexico’s deputy foreign minister for North America, Jesús Seade, said at a hastily arranged news conference on Thursday that Mr. Trump’s announced tariffs would be “disastrous” and suggested Mexico could retaliate against American products.
Raise it to 20% sooner and use the money for the wall.
I thought Vanity Fair was one of those FR “no thanks” sites.
It should be.
They’re wishing for a recession. Consider the timing. If they can collectively shout the same message across the board that we’re entering a recession they might be able to actually cause one. ...all in time for the next election.
I expect to hear much more like this over the coming months.
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