The manchild strikes again…

@Great-King-Rat said
And neither do his moronic cult followers.

If only there was a vaccine. But they probably wouldn't take it.

@Mott-The-Hoople said
Show your proof…you folks have a bad habit of making these claims but never back it up.

https://www.cfr.org/articles/who-pays-trumps-tariffs

https://www.piie.com/blogs/realtime-economics/2025/who-paying-trumps-tariffs-so-far-its-us-businesses

https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/trade-tariffs

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10240/

https://taxfoundation.org/blog/who-pays-tariffs/

https://www.axios.com/2024/09/28/how-tariffs-work-trump-china

https://www.aei.org/op-eds/trumps-collecting-record-high-tariffs-whos-paying-them/

https://www.bankrate.com/taxes/trump-tariffs-explained/#what-are-tariffs


The verdict is unanimous:

Who pays for tariffs?

Contrary to how it might sound when policymakers say they’re imposing tariffs on foreign trading partners, it’s not the country that’s exporting the goods to the U.S. that pays the tariff — but the domestic company that’s ordering that import.

In short, tariff does not bring any new money into the U.S treasury from foreign sources--it is nothing but a domestic tax with a different name.

@moonbus said
Who pays for tariffs?

Contrary to how it might sound when policymakers say they’re imposing tariffs on foreign trading partners, it’s not the country that’s exporting the goods to the U.S. that pays the tariff — but the domestic company that’s ordering that import.

In short, tariff does not bring any new money into the U.S treasury from foreign sources--it is nothing but a domestic tax with a different name.

If you were being generous with Trump's logic, then the exporting country does pay, in the sense that their goods will become more expensive leading to a shrinkage of the volume of goods they will export into the American market, so the tariff card is a threat for exporting nations to play by America's rules. Tariffs will hinder their trade, but not in any way would they be paying the American government. The tariffs will always be paid by the American consumer.

Now if the trade is significant and the exporting country really depends on that trade, they could reduce their profit margin on each item meaning that the end price to the consumer stays the same after the consumer has paid the tariff, but I am not sure there is enough profit in any item these days for an exporter to reduce the price of their exports to absorb the tariff their end line consumer has to pay. Maybe they will in the short term and operate at a loss if they believe things will revert back to normal eventually. What could go wrong hey?

The exporter could find cost savings in their production potentially harming the reputation of their brand. If that exporter has no other market to participate in they might be forced to reduce the cost price of their exports. However they still are not paying the tariff, but the profitability of their business is being disrupted and as soon as they can divest from the American market they will.

Trump's description of tariffs is absolutely bonkers and if he thinks tariffs will improve trade in America's favor then he is absolutely dreaming.

@kmax87 said
If you were being generous with Trump's logic, then the exporting country does pay, in the sense that their goods will become more expensive leading to a shrinkage of the volume of goods they will export into the American market, so the tariff card is a threat for exporting nations to play by America's rules. Tariffs will hinder their trade, but not in any way would they be pa ...[text shortened]... nkers and if he thinks tariffs will improve trade in America's favor then he is absolutely dreaming.

The reality is that exporting countries do not reduce their profit margin. They retaliate with reciprocal tariffs on American goods.

So:

1. Trump is lying when he deliberately leads people to believe that tariffs bring foreign money into the U.S. treasury, or

2. Trump is too stupid to understand how tariffs actually work, or

3. both of the above: Trump is lying and stupid.

@kmax87 said
If you were being generous with Trump's logic, then the exporting country does pay, in the sense that their goods will become more expensive leading to a shrinkage of the volume of goods they will export into the American market, so the tariff card is a threat for exporting nations to play by America's rules. Tariffs will hinder their trade, but not in any way would they be pa ...[text shortened]... nkers and if he thinks tariffs will improve trade in America's favor then he is absolutely dreaming.

What you are trying to say is that it depends on the elasticity of demand for their respective goods and services, in the affected country.

@Rajk999 said
What you are trying to say is that it depends on the elasticity of demand for their respective goods and services, in the affected country.

That sounds like the appropriate Economics term.

I have never heard any economist of significance promote tariffs as an optimal strategy though. Whatever I have read is that the paradox of tariffs ultimately lead to an uncompetitive economy that because of the protection tariffs provide various industries they ultimately lose their edge in being at the cutting edge of their industry. Witness Detroit and Ford and GM who have sat behind a protective wall for decades and require government bailouts on a regular basis just to stay in business.

@kmax87 said
If you did not listen to the inverse logic of Trump supporters and simply weighed up all his actions and directives, you would surely have to conclude that at every turn no one short of an absolute traitor could be doing a better job of destroying America's position and influence it has enjoyed over world affairs for the past 80 years. And the lemmings that are all in with his ...[text shortened]... t this destruction will do to their lived experience once this monkey is carted off the world stage.

Agreed!

@kmax87 said
That sounds like the appropriate Economics term.

I have never heard any economist of significance promote tariffs as an optimal strategy though. Whatever I have read is that the paradox of tariffs ultimately lead to an uncompetitive economy that because of the protection tariffs provide various industries they ultimately lose their edge in being at the cutting edge of thei ...[text shortened]... ective wall for decades and require government bailouts on a regular basis just to stay in business.

Why do you suppose other countries have tariffs on the US?

@Mott-The-Hoople said
Why do you suppose other countries have tariffs on the US?

For one thing tariffs were not arbitrarily set without any warning, but slowly evolved into place. America with its petrodollar and default reserve world currency gives America the advantage to have been able to tax the rest of the world simply by devaluing their dollar every time it prints a lot more money as with quantitative easing. More money in circulation leads to an inflation in prices which means anyone who holds American treasuries will find that inflation erodes the value of what is owed them. This subtle truth about the global economy has led to an evolution in prices and tariffs over a long time. For Trump to shock that system with his life is so unfair for the US spiel, without recognizing America's hand in the till so to speak, is the problematic thing.

@kmax87 said
For one thing tariffs were not arbitrarily set without any warning, but slowly evolved into place. America with its petrodollar and default reserve world currency gives America the advantage to have been able to tax the rest of the world simply by devaluing their dollar every time it prints a lot more money as with quantitative easing. More money in circulation leads to an in ...[text shortened]... the US spiel, without recognizing America's hand in the till so to speak, is the problematic thing.

Trump didnt sneak attack anyone with tariffs.

Inflation is down, the dollar is gaining value.

Study up, you are ignorant.

“U.S. inflation climbed less than expected in the 12 months ending in November, based on economists’ consensus ahead of the government report released Thursday, December 18, which was delayed by the 43-day shutdown. October's CPI report was canceled because most pricing data could not be collected retroactively...“

https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

@Mott-The-Hoople said
Trump didnt sneak attack anyone with tariffs.

Inflation is down, the dollar is gaining value.

Study up, you are ignorant.

“U.S. inflation climbed less than expected in the 12 months ending in November, based on economists’ consensus ahead of the government report released Thursday, December 18, which was delayed by the 43-day shutdown. October's CPI report wa ...[text shortened]... most pricing data could not be collected retroactively...“

https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

Seriously?

" During his second term as President of the United States, Donald Trump enacted a series of steep tariffs affecting nearly all goods imported into the country.[1] From January to April 2025, the overall average effective US tariff rate rose from 2.5% to an estimated 27%—the highest level in over a century."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariffs_in_the_second_Trump_administration

So you have no recollection of his tariff day when he had this big chart saying you will pay this and you will pay that oh and China you are going to pay the most!

You need to pay more attention!