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Tariffs are taxes that hurt consumers


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2016 Apr 28, 11:06am   4,998 views  13 comments

by dublin hillz   ➕follow (1)   💰tip   ignore  

"In simplest terms, a tariff is a tax. It adds to the cost of imported goods and is one of several trade policies that a country can enact."

"Who Benefits?
The benefits of tariffs are uneven. Because a tariff is a tax, the government will see increased revenue as imports enter the domestic market. Domestic industries also benefit from a reduction in competition, since import prices are artificially inflated. Unfortunately for consumers - both individual consumers and businesses - higher import prices mean higher prices for goods. If the price of steel is inflated due to tariffs, individual consumers pay more for products using steel, and businesses pay more for steel that they use to make goods. In short, tariffs and trade barriers tend to be pro-producer and anti-consumer.

The effect of tariffs and trade barriers on businesses, consumers and the government shifts over time. In the short run, higher prices for goods can reduce consumption by individual consumers and by businesses. During this time period, businesses will profit and the government will see an increase in revenue from duties. In the long term, businesses may see a decline in efficiency due to a lack of competition, and may also see a reduction in profits due to the emergence of substitutes for their products. For the government, the long-term effect of subsidies is an increase in the demand for public services, since increased prices, especially in foodstuffs, leave less disposable income. (For related reading, check out In Praise Of Trade Deficits.)

How Do Tariffs Affect Prices?
Tariffs increase the prices of imported goods. Because of this, domestic producers are not forced to reduce their prices from increased competition, and domestic consumers are left paying higher prices as a result. Tariffs also reduce efficiencies by allowing companies that would not exist in a more competitive market to remain open."

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/08/tariff-trade-barrier-basics.asp

#politics
#economics

Comments 1 - 13 of 13        Search these comments

1   lostand confused   2016 Apr 28, 11:16am  

Globalism is good, why don't you hungry peasants eat cake!!

2   dublin hillz   2016 Apr 28, 11:23am  

lostand confused says

Globalism is good, why don't you hungry peasants eat cake!!

I believe you mean to say that trump is a communist trojan horse.

3   tatupu70   2016 Apr 28, 11:27am  

And you need to balance that tax on citizens with the expected gain from increased jobs and wage gains. Corporations would likely not be as profitable but workers' income would likely increase.

4   zzyzzx   2016 Apr 28, 11:31am  

dublin hillz says

"Who Benefits?

American workers and taxpayers.

5   tatupu70   2016 Apr 28, 11:33am  

dublin hillz says

In short, tariffs and trade barriers tend to be pro-producer and anti-consumer.

I would argue that the most anti-consumer policy is one that enables corporations to move jobs overseas. An unemployed American is no longer a "consumer" as he has no money.

6   dublin hillz   2016 Apr 28, 11:38am  

I believe that unionization is a much better answer as it will raise salaries without drastic across the board price increases that destroy purchase power (as tariffs would do). In some cases, it simply makes no sense to implement tariffs as certain countries are simply better at manufacturing electronics, etc and the consumer should not be forced to pay unjustifiably higher prices to buy the goods or to buy inferior domestic products.

7   HEY YOU   2016 Apr 28, 11:40am  

By eliminating tariffs,all out sourced jobs & manufacturing will immediately move back to Murika.
Glad other countries don't place tariffs on Murikian goods.

FMTT

8   MisdemeanorRebel   2016 Apr 28, 11:41am  

dublin hillz says

I believe that unionization is a much better answer as it will raise salaries without drastic across the board price increases that destroy purchase power (as tariffs would do). In some cases, it simply makes no sense to implement tariffs as certain countries are simply better at manufacturing electronics, etc and the consumer should not be forced to pay unjustifiably higher prices to buy the goods or to buy inferior domestic products.

And then the companies will just move overseas.

Tariffs are a tax penalty on those who choose voluntarily to consume foreign made items instead of buying from US Companies who employ American Workers.

If you don't want to pay the Tariff, buy American. A nation of 330+M people that invented the entire mass consumption of consumer goods from appliances to clothing concept should provide plenty of choices.

The Chinese are not "better" at manufacturing electronics, Companies backed by the full weight of Neoliberals in the US Government (that allows companies to deduct moving expenses for going to China from the USA the same as if they moved from one side of the state to the other) transferred about 50 years of technology to China. Other US concerns the Chinese brought out and packed up and shipped to China.

9   dublin hillz   2016 Apr 28, 11:43am  

thunderlips11 says

And then the companies will just move overseas.

Not if the contract has strong job security provisions.

10   MisdemeanorRebel   2016 Apr 28, 11:45am  

dublin hillz says

Not if the contract has strong job security provisions.

A union contract that doesn't allow companies to move overseas - no way. Even if that was a thing, contracts expire and a company would simply announce the move before the contract expiration date, and use that as leverage to either lower wages or simply move and the union will like it or lump it.

11   HydroCabron   2016 Apr 28, 12:09pm  

If you want make-work programs for rural Oxycontin whites who can't compete with Chinese laborers on the labor market, then someone will have to pay a higher price for the introduced inefficiency: the American consumer. It would be cheaper to pay to retrain these people (many of whom have refused to leave Buttfuck, Indiana for better opportunities).

They have time and money to attend Trump rallies. They could instead use that time and money to pack up and leave town.

If these same tariffs were proposed to provide manufacturing jobs for blacks, the response from Trump supporters would be "fuck 'em "

12   tatupu70   2016 Apr 28, 12:12pm  

HydroCabron says

If you want make-work programs for rural Oxycontin whites who can't compete with Chinese laborers on the labor market, then someone will have to pay a higher price for the introduced inefficiency: the American consumer. It would be cheaper to pay to retrain these people (many of whom have refused to leave Buttfuck, Indiana for better opportunities).

Retrain them for what exactly? It's not like there are all sorts of high tech jobs going unfilled.

13   FortWayne   2016 Apr 28, 12:21pm  

How do you win against a country that manipulates it's currency to be dirt cheap and causes their employment to be cheaper than yours artificially? We need tariffs to protect our working people and our industries.

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