Octopus Overlords

After months of waging a behind-the-scenes war against President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs that have escalated far beyond what business groups once imagined, more than 60 U.S. industry groups are launching a coalition on Wednesday to take the fight public.

Emergence of the group, Americans for Free Trade, comes after Trump has warmed to the use of tariffs, implementing billions of dollars worth in an effort to use them as a threat to win concessions or in the belief they will create U.S. jobs.

“A lot of other interest groups thought they wouldn’t go this long or go this deep, but the layering effect (of tariffs) has finally gotten everyone to say: ‘Enough is enough,’” said Nicole Vasilaros, the top lobbyist for the National Marine Manufacturers Association, whose members are weighing laying off workers after seeing costs rise as much as 35 percent.

President Trump has decided to impose tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods, two people briefed on the decision said, one of the most severe economic restrictions ever imposed by a U.S. president.

An announcement is expected to come within days, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss internal plans.

The new tariffs would apply to more than 1,000 products, including refrigerators, air conditioners, furniture, televisions and toys. These penalties could drive up the cost of a range of products ahead of the holiday shopping season, though it’s unclear how much.

Apple said recently its Apple Watch, AirPods, MacMini and a variety of chargers and adapters would be caught in the tariff war. “Our concern with these tariffs is that the U.S. will be hardest hit, and that will result in lower U.S. growth and competitiveness and higher prices for U.S. consumers,” the company said in a letter to the U. S. Trade representative. “The burden of the proposed tariffs will fall much more heavily on the United States than on China.”

Trump has ordered aides to set the tariffs at 10 percent, likely leading to higher prices for American consumers. These tariffs are paid by U.S. companies that import the products, though they often pass the costs along to U.S. consumers in the form of higher prices.

The U.S. imports roughly $500 billion in Chinese goods each year, and — combined with existing tariffs — these new penalties would cover half of all goods sent to the U.S. from China each year.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Sat Sep 15, 2018 11:00 pm Well, it was a fun expansion while it lasted.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Sat Sep 15, 2018 11:45 pm There goes the US auto industry and many other things. China is sitting down to the buffet now. Idiot.

GreenGoo wrote: He is terrible, but at least Americans can take solace in the fact that he's hurting everyone, not just them.

GreenGoo wrote: ↑Sun Sep 16, 2018 12:56 am

Daehawk wrote: ↑Sat Sep 15, 2018 11:45 pm There goes the US auto industry and many other things. China is sitting down to the buffet now. Idiot.

Both sides of any trade war are gonna suffer.

Everyone gets hurt, no one wins, and if we're lucky, everyone comes back to the table to end the insanity.

Drumpf isn't dealing with local contractors who live or die during the next 90 day credit cycle any more.

He is terrible, but at least Americans can take solace in the fact that he's hurting everyone, not just them.

GreenGoo wrote: ↑Tue Sep 18, 2018 8:50 pm As for China, I'll just remind everyone that China doesn't pay the tariffs. Tariffs are paid by the importers and/or American public. If importers/Americans want the stuff, they can have the stuff, at significantly increased costs. China doesn't pay jack.

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Tue Sep 18, 2018 9:12 pm

GreenGoo wrote: ↑Tue Sep 18, 2018 8:50 pm As for China, I'll just remind everyone that China doesn't pay the tariffs. Tariffs are paid by the importers and/or American public. If importers/Americans want the stuff, they can have the stuff, at significantly increased costs. China doesn't pay jack.

Hats the idea though, isn't it? Not to make China pay directly but to make their goods overpriced and vulnerable to lower-priced American competition. Not that it works, but that's the idea.

Carpet_pissr wrote: ↑Tue Sep 18, 2018 10:35 pm If I thought he cared about paying for the recent tax cut for the oligarchs, I might be tempted to think this is one strategy to buff up the coffers, but nay.

GreenGoo wrote:

Carpet_pissr wrote: ↑Tue Sep 18, 2018 10:35 pm If I thought he cared about paying for the recent tax cut for the oligarchs, I might be tempted to think this is one strategy to buff up the coffers, but nay.

Not quite following here. Do you mean with increased tax revenue from economic growth?

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Sep 19, 2018 12:18 am Have we won the trade war yet?

I wouldn't be surprised if someday China says F it all and bans all US imports. Then other countries follow. Trump with be left holding his mushroom hidden in one hand blowing in the wind.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Sep 19, 2018 12:18 am Have we won the trade war yet?

I wouldn't be surprised if someday China says F it all and bans all US imports. Then other countries follow. Trump with be left holding his mushroom hidden in one hand blowing in the wind.

hepcat wrote: ↑Wed Sep 19, 2018 1:05 pm Thankfully, Ivanka knew this was coming and pulled out of her Chinese manufacturing deals. But it does mean Trump MAGA hats are going to go up in price.

Kraken wrote: ↑Wed Sep 19, 2018 11:01 pm I'm sure nothing will happen in the interim to upset that scenario, because economists know what they're talking about.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Sep 19, 2018 12:18 am Have we won the trade war yet?

I wouldn't be surprised if someday China says F it all and bans all US imports. Then other countries follow. Trump with be left holding his mushroom hidden in one hand blowing in the wind.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Fri Sep 28, 2018 4:43 pm Burning down your own house because it will take your neighbor's with it is not a viable strategy.

Drazzil wrote: ↑Fri Sep 28, 2018 4:41 pm

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Sep 19, 2018 12:18 am Have we won the trade war yet?

I wouldn't be surprised if someday China says F it all and bans all US imports. Then other countries follow. Trump with be left holding his mushroom hidden in one hand blowing in the wind.

I think it would be a gift if China banned US imports, because instantly, we would stop buying their stuff and their country would rip itself to pieces within a month. China's whole economy would instantly collapse