[tpaine]

One rate that applies to EVERYTHING is easiest, fairest, and works best.
Pick a rate, any rate: 10%? 15%?
Doesn't much matter if the sole purpose is to raise revenue.
-willie-

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I thought the purpose was to protect american jobs?

Say we have a flat 10% tariff.. How would that protect a US clothing manufacturer? 10 dollar mexican made blue jeans at $11 are still gonna undercut US made at $15. - [If the US can be made/sold at that price, big IF.]

[Willie Green]

I thought the purpose was to protect american jobs?

It serves that purpose indirectly without getting government involved in micromanaging our lives.How would that protect a US clothing manufacturer? 10 dollar mexican made blue jeans at $11 are still gonna undercut US made at $15. - [If the US can be made/sold at that price, big IF.]

That large of a discrepancy is more likely with Mexican coffee or bananas, considering that we don't have the right climate to grow coffee or bananas competitively. If foreign competition can still beat the tariff differential, good for them! The revenue tariff only serves as a buffer between different systems of government regulations. (Don't forget, those $15 US jeans will probably be a bit lower because tariff revenue can reduce other domestic taxation.)