Posted on 03/24/2016 1:09:34 PM PDT by Mensius
When the Ford Motor Co. decided to move jobs south to Mexico so that it could pay its workers less, billionaire businessman Donald Trump was furious. He made trade inequalities and Ford’s betrayal of American workers a central issue of his campaign.
And, without his even being in the Oval Office, it worked.
In an interview with CNBC, Ford CEO Mark Fields said that the automaker would be “here to stay.” He also said he had outlined his company’s plans in a letter to Trump.
(Excerpt) Read more at conservativetribune.com ...
For several years I would buy gifts for my English Pen-Pal that said they were made here in the USA. Well, needless to say this practice had to stop a long time ago. She on the other hand can find items made in England or in the EU. I have given up and I started buying her gifts on Amazon UK. I can buy a lot more for my money and also help her country at least. The biggest expense is VAT taxes I have to pay. I am not for a VAT tax.
No problem, they can just pay the 35% tariffs, which can be used to subsidize their onshore competitors. :)
“promoted governmental regulation of a nation’s economy for the purpose of augmenting state power at the expense of rival national powers”
It is also important, though almost overlooked in the Wiki article, that augmenting state power involved strengthening the economy, and this resulted in a partnership between government and business at the expense of the common man.
I wouldn't call that running the company, maybe just trying to coerce "The Invisible Hand."
Instead of threatening Ford he ought to be talking about a plan to cut taxes and regulations.
What decision is the President making for Ford? He’s in Cuba or Argentina right now.
Seems to me if the 2nd amendment can, in some minds and policies, have restrictions, then the 1A regarding freedom of the press can have ‘reasonable restrictions’. I would like to see the media prohibited from public policy polling entirely. I would also love to somehow force media to disclose their bias or prohibited from providing biased reporting. I don’t know how to go about it other than having already cut my cable (20 years ago), but the left bias has in many instances influenced elections. Look what Dan Rather almost got away with, as just one of many examples. Perhaps RICO actions against the media (ie AT&T) giants and force them to break into small local outlets (Baby Bells).
Just thinking out loud. Feel free to ignore.
If the price does increase and their expenses do not, then the additional profit stays with the company. If they move to Mexico and Mr Trump imposes his threatened 35% tariff, where does the money go?
What is the exploitation? Who is being exploited?
Ashley that was a pretty good read.
“But who decides what is in the national interest? Can some bureaucrat in Washington or Austin make this decision better than the market?”
Are you an American? Seriously.
Our system of government is based on the election of representatives to carry out the proper functions of government. We are supposed to elect representatives who will do that, and who will carry out the will of the people.
The market is not the issue here, because our “friends” and enemies don’t allow it to work.
Instead of threatening Ford he ought to be talking about a plan to cut taxes and regulations.
Just in passing, I have heard of Trump’s plan to CUT TAXES.
It is out there plain and simple.
Instead of pretending it does not exist, DO SOME RESEARCH !
“What is the exploitation? Who is being exploited?”
I wrote a fairly lengthy reply, but this laptop dumped it.
Let me just invite your attention to the state of US industry today. You should be able to figure it out from there.
“Actually, from what I’ve heard most of the Ford Mexico production is small, cheap cars (Fiesta, anyone?) headed for the Central and South American markets. These cars have the lowest profit margins and it’s also smart to build them closer to where you’re going to sell them.”
Well, if that’s the case, Ford ought to be letting everyone know that’s what they are doing. We have a 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche, which, along with the other GM SUV’s was assembled in Monterrey, Mexico. These cars are not low-margin vehicles. I just imagine thought that the high-value components were built in the US just like the Japanese, Korean and German companies are doing here now.
It’s a tough situation all around, but if we don’t have a population that earns decent money, our markets for cars and alr conditioners, goes South.
"The fire is in the minds of men, not on the roofs of houses"
--Dostoyevski, "The Possessed"
http://www.google.com/search?q=fire%20in%20the%20minds%20of%20man
I hope We manage to enlarge our vocabulary beyond "let it burn".
The issue is a 35% tariff on imports from Mexico. Not China. My understanding, all products, not just cars.
Obama has been President for over 7 years. Per your example, through his appointments he's managed by a tie vote he has managed to now twice hand victories to the United Steelworkers in the ITC over dumping. Tires, not cars. Dumping, in the US, not simply manufacturing vehicles in Mexico.
Even if I haven't heard Trump limit his proposal to vehicles, solely on vehicles, where has he charged legally actionable dumping? Can he make that case, if not, why hasn't he. Don't see it in this "huge" announcement. And I doubt Ford is dumping. Making vehicles cheaper in Mexico isn't dumping. Sorry.
If Trump want's to enact tariffs, he's going to need Congress. NAFTA will have to be repealed, he'll need support for that.
If you're suggesting Donald can, given only two years to Obama's six, win a dumping case on auto mufflers imported from wherever, who cares.
He has talked about theft of intellectual property, not relative to tires. That's something that could be pursued. He's not spoken about how he will unilaterally apply tariffs. It's an important issue.
He hasn't spoken about how he'll get Mexico to pay for constructing a wall. If Mexico flips Donald the bird, what happens? Invade? I think building the wall makes sense, worrying about "who" pays for it is juvenile nonsense.
If you care to fill me in on the corporate tax breaks he'll eliminate to fund his across the board tax cuts, I'd love to hear it. I think it's a good idea, and I understand why he doesn't want to be specific on that one.
Foreign policy. Israel's best friend ever, he led a parade, but neutral. Will destroy ISIS. Right away. How? How many troops do we commit, and what are his long term plans for standing up a pro American government in Iraq and Syris. Two Presidents in a row flunked that one. How will he do it?
It's a sound bite campaign, and yes, Hillary is as bad, worse on the issue if we believe his sound bites. American exceptionalism in the 21st century.
But, but, his name will be Trump.
You sound like a capitalist!
In the short term, to the government. That's a good thing, isn't it. In the long term, a 35% bump in prices will have an impact in the US, I presume products will find their way to a less hostile economic environment. Or Ford will reduce production in Mexico. Doubt they'll move it to the US.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.