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Why free-traders and all Americans should back Trump on China policy
The Hill ^ | May 12, 2019 | Stephen Moore

Posted on 05/12/2019 12:02:27 PM PDT by Innovative

I’m a free-trader and I hate tariffs — which are consumer taxes — but if ever there were a right time to impose punitive tariffs, it is now, and it is against China. President Trump is on the side of the angels on this one, and this is the right moment to shut down China’s abusive trade practices forever.

Start with the basic facts: The average tariff that we imposed on China when Trump entered the White House was about 4 percent. China’s tariffs on us were about 10 percent and, even when including the 10 percent tariff that Trump first imposed on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports in 2018, our tariffs were still lower than theirs. So the playing field is not level and is especially tilted against us, given that Beijing’s non-tariff barriers in China can make it prohibitively expensive to do business there. We have an open market competing against the world’s second-largest economy whose doors are slammed shut.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: boycotts; china; incometaxes; sanctions; stephenmoore; tariffs; taxcutsandjobsact; taxreform; tcja; thehill; thehillary; theshill; trade; trump
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To: Concentrate

while I’m happy fair trade seems to be coming about, I have but one concern; that it’s being done too much, too fast.

It could cause an unnecessary shock to the system
***************************************
It’s a very NECESSARY and long OVERDUE “shock to the system”. Any managers currently importing from China should be looking elsewhere, either domestically or other foreign sources, for their sources. Those who don’t will justifiably face the consequences of their inactivity/passivity.


21 posted on 05/12/2019 1:45:49 PM PDT by House Atreides (Boycott the NFL 100% — PERMANENTLY)
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To: Innovative

Although there are those here that will deny it, the purpose of the Trump tariffs, the China tax, is to induce or coerce or force the removal of trade practices considered unfair.

If a modicum of attention is directed to the Trump international actions, it can be seen that both Iran and China have been sorely wounded. The Iranian wound might actually be mortal. China can come to terms

The lesson for all, especially Kim is don’t screw with Trump. He’ll kill ya.


22 posted on 05/12/2019 1:46:45 PM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12)There were Democrat espionage operations on Republican candidates)
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To: House Atreides

Amen,

Few, very few understand what you said.


23 posted on 05/12/2019 1:49:05 PM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12)There were Democrat espionage operations on Republican candidates)
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To: All

Will be interesting to see if a 25% tax reduces American’s purchases of Chinese made products. Would be nice to see some data regarding USA made equivalents and if they command more than a 25% price premium vs Chinese. If so, then these tariffs may have to be permanent and the trade deficit stays about the same.


24 posted on 05/12/2019 2:15:47 PM PDT by Drago
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To: Innovative

FREE TRADE LIE

Never use your opponents’ twisted language.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sells Privileged Trade because they are too lazy to work.

They deceive with feel good words like open or free.
Republican Rinos would sell their own younger sister as Free Sister, come and get it.


25 posted on 05/12/2019 2:21:03 PM PDT by TheNext (Democrats Gun Control Kills)
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To: econjack

I’ve already had several Chinese suppliers volunteer to absorb 15% of the new tariff in their pricing. They are worried that we will switch to cheaper sources.


26 posted on 05/12/2019 2:39:55 PM PDT by SomeCallMeTim ( The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them!it)
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To: SomeCallMeTim

I’ve already had several Chinese suppliers volunteer to absorb 15% of the new tariff in their pricing. They are worried that we will switch to cheaper sources.
**************************************************
Well, as a patriot and prescient manager, you SHOULD switch to cheaper sources. Don’t think that the American tariffs will remain at 25%. China’s part of this trade war is much more harsh than the American 25%. For example, China’s tariffs on pork are 62% (link follows).

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-trade-pork/china-makes-major-u-s-pork-purchase-despite-steep-import-tariffs-as-hog-virus-takes-toll-idUSKCN1QV2MR

Plus, China is taking TARGETED measures to hurt Trump’s “red state” base such as their tactics with American soybeans.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2019/05/10/for-american-farmers-chinas-soy-tariffs-are-least-of-their-worries/#cc18ec671f9d

So show your company your brilliance...switch from Chinese imports now. ;-)


27 posted on 05/12/2019 3:29:36 PM PDT by House Atreides (Boycott the NFL 100% — PERMANENTLY)
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To: Innovative

With certain countries the best kind of trade is no trade. China is the poster boy for that philosophy.


28 posted on 05/12/2019 4:05:34 PM PDT by chuckee
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To: Innovative

It is not possible to discuss USA trade policy without mentioning USA immigration and work visa policy.

Massive legal and illegal immigration, and at least 1.5 million annual work visas, have allowed USA companies to indefinitely postpone critical investments in R&D and in labor saving machines and software.

In the long run, importing low cost foreign workers will do just as much damage to USA industrial companies as importing low cost foreign products.


29 posted on 05/12/2019 4:44:31 PM PDT by zeestephen
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To: Innovative
I’m a free-trader and I hate tariffs

How stupidly proud these traitors are. They are a historically ignorant myopic fools.

He hates tariffs but I'll bet he loves the income tax. How progressive of him.

30 posted on 05/12/2019 4:48:31 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: ConservativeMind

What better way to claw back wasted welfare money than at Dollar General.


31 posted on 05/12/2019 4:49:43 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: econjack

Economists believe there are no border and that business operates in a vacuum above the political fray. This is why I have no respect for economists. Economics is politics and vice versa.


32 posted on 05/12/2019 4:52:33 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: poinq
But if not, they will go to friendlier countries than China.

The idea is to bring manufacturing back to the USA. Did you not get the memo?

33 posted on 05/12/2019 4:53:51 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Drago

May?


34 posted on 05/12/2019 4:55:20 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Innovative

“I’m a free-trader and I hate tariffs — which are consumer taxes...”

If tariffs were taxes, they’d be called taxes.

A tariff is a protection, like a wall.

An economic wall.

Marx was a free-trader, George Washington put up tariffs.


35 posted on 05/12/2019 5:30:35 PM PDT by JPJones (More Tariffs, less income tax.)
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To: SomeCallMeTim

“I’ve already had several Chinese suppliers volunteer to absorb 15% of the new tariff in their pricing. They are worried that we will switch to cheaper sources.”

Ding.

China will eat most of the tariffs to maintain market share.

We keep our cheap prices, the Chinese pay us.

Win, win.


36 posted on 05/12/2019 5:33:06 PM PDT by JPJones (More Tariffs, less income tax.)
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To: central_va

But if not, they will go to friendlier countries than China.

The idea is to bring manufacturing back to the USA. Did you not get the memo?


I think it was in the sentence directly before the one you copied.


37 posted on 05/12/2019 6:25:31 PM PDT by poinq
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To: Alberta's Child

Probably not, but it’s a question of degree. North Korea is totally subsidized while other countries are less so (Cuba, Venezuela). While Sweden is supposedly Socialistic, it’s not as much as other countries. The US subsidizes some industries (agriculture) directly, while other are through tax policies. I think I would be hard pressed to think of a single country that didn’t have some form of gov’t subsidies.


38 posted on 05/12/2019 8:00:19 PM PDT by econjack
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To: central_va

I seriously doubt that economists think that way. Indeed, up until about the Twentieth century, the field of economics was called Political Economy. Most historians say that, once you’ve adopted a political system, but have unwittingly adopted an economic system. That might be a chicken/egg problem, but I don’t know of any economist who thinks economics isn’t affected by the political system.


39 posted on 05/12/2019 8:06:14 PM PDT by econjack
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To: central_va

Didn’t President Trump say “May”? (If China agreed to certain “Terms”?) (Haven’t read the “nitty-gritty” of possible “deal terms”).


40 posted on 05/12/2019 10:31:36 PM PDT by Drago
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