Donald Trump the Megathread part II - mod warnings in OP, Updated 18/03/25

RoyalCelt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123334871#Comment_123334871

Yeah can countries like that really complain America responded? Already the Vietnamese asking for a deal where they remove all tarrifs. At least in this case it's worked for Trump.

I know countries like Brazil have huge taxes on stuff produced outside their country while enjoying the luxury of selling to markets without getting charged themselves.

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336076#Comment_123336076

Chinese leaders don't like loosing face. And China plays the long game.

China will be considering that if the US economy suffers and the US becomes insular then Taiwan is less secure.

Not giving in might be a diplomatic win in the places that China wants to influence.

What does China need from the US apart from dollars ?

Emblematic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336145#Comment_123336145

I think you might be forgetting that pharmaceutical manufacturing is one of the areas where jobs have been exported to other countries, Ireland being one of them. Pharma has not been included in the current round and we are hoping it stays that way.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336157#Comment_123336157

Yep.

Americans have an expectation when it comes to their standard of living and how much it costs. This is why the China retaliation is such a problem for Trump.

China is betting that Americans won't tolerate high prices and not being able to afford the things they are used to buying for too long, and a drop in their standard of living. They are betting that Trump and co can only bullshit for so long, ultimately increased prices and living costs will become reality and no amount of nonsense will hide it.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336180#Comment_123336180

The things that aren't cheap in the US are, of course, the things that rely most on American labour. Such as restaurants etc, because wages are incredibly high as well.

They are taking an insanely robust, high wage services economy and just completely trashing it so that some guys can earn minimum wage on a production line doing the same menial task all day.

My name is URL

I think both Máiréad and Pearce would be good presidents tbh

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336179#Comment_123336179

The point wasn't about Pharma.

The point was your assertion that tariffs are good because they might increase wages or might create jobs is not correct.

skimpydoo

But I did not shoot the VAT.

Field east

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123335543#Comment_123335543

I wonder why? Ho wait …….. They did not want to talk about the Gaza war, the Iran situation, enquiries about how Mr Putin is and a.lvthe peace negotiations with him , etc, etc, etc.

Emblematic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336198#Comment_123336198

But that was not my point. My point was that those directly working in those areas that get a boost from tariffs will benefit over inflation. The country as a whole may not benefit but that is not what I was saying.

donegal_man

https://nypost.com/2025/04/03/us-news/howard-lutnick-defends-trump-tariffs-says-eu-hates-us-meat-our-beef-is-beautiful-and-theirs-is-weak/

US Trade Secretary, Howard Lutnick talking about the EU. "They hate our beef because our beef is beautiful and their beef is weak."

How in the name of all that's holy does anyone negotiate a deal with someone who comes out with that sort of word salad?

VinLieger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336087#Comment_123336087

Cheap is relative, Americans generally pay less for a lot of things than most of europe does, take an iphone for example, the basic iphone 15 costs about 750 dollars vs 850-950 euro, iphones are made in China so adding what now amounts to a 100% tarriff on them will have them soon costing north of 1500 dollars, it will be the same for tvs, computers, clothes etc etc. But thats only for imported goods, inflation will also increase prices across the board for anything produced in the US and then american producers will start upping their prices to just below that of any imported goods or thanks to the tariffs just because theres less competition .

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336180#Comment_123336180

It's the plot from Azimov's Foundation where the flow of new goods stops.

"And so after three years of a war which was certainly the most unfought war on record, the Republic of Korrell surrendered unconditionally,"

Field east

Did Trump factor in the value of all the military equipment/ ordnance the US has supplied to Israel in his tarriff calculations

aloyisious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336089#Comment_123336089

Chief Johnson has put a temporary hold on the lower court order instructing the Govt to bring the deportee back from.. edit: El Salvador.

Field east

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123335697#Comment_123335697

was it not 10 mm?

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336222#Comment_123336222

I think it is unlikely they would benefit on the whole. This whole thing is just recessionary and that is kryptonite for manufacturing.

But even if it did - so what? A tiny proportion of the US labour force would have small benefits while a global economic collapse happens.

VinLieger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336284#Comment_123336284

Indeed, like congrats you got a 10% pay increase while your spouse lost their job, siblings business went bust and parents pensions disappeared, but 10%... Good for you?

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336271#Comment_123336271

This case is going to be the first real test of whether the concept of the rule of law is just gone in the US.

Thelonious Monk

Looks like Netanyahu has told Trump to threaten Iran over nukes

Will_I_Amnt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336157#Comment_123336157

I was responding to a post that said goods AND services. And services such as Heath, Education etc are ridiculously expensive. But you're only addressing goods.

Also your link shows there are only 2 EU countries with more expensive goods than the US

Emblematic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336284#Comment_123336284

Could potentially be quite large though.

The US is the yellow line. Look at how much it has lost in manufacturing in just the last twenty years or so.

DrPsychia

this is real. At first I didn't believe it and had to look on twitter.

again I am lost for words to describe the extent how much of a clown show this administration is.

Exiled Rebel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336371#Comment_123336371

It's because everything is so damn expensive to produce in the States. The company I work for import a particular product from Korea into the states. That same product purchased from the same company, manufactured in the states, for use in the states, costs double!

There was an issue on site last week where that product went pop. The company said the product will cost X plus the tariff to replace. Fun times!

That's just one example. My American colleagues are on double my salary. If staff choose to relocate from Ireland to the US the package includes doubling of salary, accommodation, a car and free flights home every quarter. It's one mad expensive place to do business.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336371#Comment_123336371

The US losing manufacturing has been an absolutely unparalleled good thing for US employees on a whole. They have mostly moved into much better paid and less back-breaking jobs. It is an utterly absurd thing to try and revert back.

There is negligible unemployment in the US - today at least, it is likely about to get a lot worse. There is no massive cadre of manufacturing workers about to get a bonanza.

joseywhales

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336398#Comment_123336398

Yeah but the meth addicts in the rust belt aren't happy about being left behind, apparently we have to cater to that "demographic"

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336385#Comment_123336385

I thought this one was even worse

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336278#Comment_123336278

..

Tell me how

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336398#Comment_123336398

Not necessarily.

The wage gap has grown significantly in America, and particularly the gap between CEO's and the average worker wage in the company they manage.

And we know how housing, education, healthcare costs have increased over the last 40 years. I saw someone describe recently how their father provided for a wife, and 4 children on a salary of 35K back in the day which would equate to 120K now and then there's no way you'll provide a house and living items for 6 people on that sort of money today. The Federal minimum wage hasn't increased since 2009 and if it kept track with inflation from where it was in the 1970,s would be over $25/hour now. Instead it is still at $7.25

And also, the American unemployment figure is very good, but it is also hiding the stark reality for a lot of people. The amount of people using food stamps or having to work 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet is much higher than what it was in the past. There's many stories of Walmart workers or the likes having to access food stamps to supplement their incomes. When I lived there, I worked with a guy who was earning between 150K and 200K per year as an electrician who worked 50-60 hrs/week and he could not afford to take a days sick leave because of how tight his finances were.

The irony about how globalisation has harmed American society is that it was pushed massively by stringent capitalists. The same people who identify mostly as Republican. And no matter their claims, the Republican party hasn't seen the American workforce as anything more than a vote providing commodity for decades. Even now, Lutnick is talking about manufacturing coming back in the form of robot staffed factories. The capitalist behemoth will continue to look to prioritize it's profit at the expense of masses. That's one of the only things we can be sure of.

Kermit.de.frog

First reaction from Chinese government on Trump's 24 hour ultimatum

*CHINA COMMERCE MINISTRY ISSUES STATEMENT ON US TARIFFS

*CHINA SAYS 'WILL FIGHT TO THE END' IF US INSISTS ON MEASURES

*CHINA VOWS NECESSARY ACTIONS TO DEFEND RIGHTS

*URGES DIALOGUE