patrick.net

DeportLibtards says

Foreign car manufacturers would have set up shop twenty years before they actually did.

Good point.

DeportLibtards says

Actually, cars are the UK's biggest export to the US, not just North America. Not sure how price sensitive the British cars are since they are prestige brands like Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Land Rover.

HeadSet says

Actually, cars are the UK's biggest export to the US, not just North America. Not sure how price sensitive the British cars are since they are prestige brands like Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Land Rover.

%100k Land Rovers getting hit with 25% tariff is $125k. Hits the well off, not Joe Kia.

So much for tariffs impacting the little guy the most.

I wish Chines will put reciprocal tariffs on US beef. The only chance makes US beef cheaper for US consumers.

https://lippincott.substack.com/p/america-needs-tariffs

Mossad was able to infiltrate the manufacturing process and implant tiny explosives in these devices, turning each pager into a mini IED. Because Hezbollah has no organic communications manufacturing prowess, it lacked the expertise to check the devices for penetration. Even if they had opened up the pagers, it isn’t clear their technical “experts” would have been able to identify the problem.

Free trade was Hezbollah’s undoing. Their faith in foreigners was rewarded with death and destruction. Their dependency on others was their weakness. Free trade is maximally efficient until your trading partner wants to kill you. Then it isn’t. You can only have free trade with someone you trust. Trust, it turns out, is hard to come by.

Patrick says

https://lippincott.substack.com/p/america-needs-tariffs

Mossad was able to infiltrate the manufacturing process and implant tiny explosives in these devices, turning each pager into a mini IED. Because Hezbollah has no organic communications manufacturing prowess, it lacked the expertise to check the devices for penetration. Even if they had opened up the pagers, it isn’t clear their technical “experts” would have been able to identify the problem.

Free trade was Hezbollah’s undoing. Their faith in foreigners was rewarded with death and destruction. Their dependency on others was their weakness. Free trade is maximally efficient until your trading partner wants to kill you. Then it isn’t. You can only have free trade with someone you trust. Trust, it turns out, is hard to come by.

Yo @Patrick ! Your fav cell phone sales girl is back!

DeportLibtards says

HeadSet says

Actually, cars are the UK's biggest export to the US, not just North America. Not sure how price sensitive the British cars are since they are prestige brands like Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Land Rover.

%100k Land Rovers getting hit with 25% tariff is $125k. Hits the well off, not Joe Kia.

So much for tariffs impacting the little guy the most.

don’t buy land rovers ever. those cars are trash that needs constant expensive repairs.

DeportLibtards says

Yo Patrick ! Your fav cell phone sales girl is back!

I wish she'd jump up and down a bit more.

DeportLibtards says

The stupidity of Globaloney


A. The US can grow pears
B. Argentina isn't so far below the US in development there's enough savings
C. Pack them in Miami, Tampa, Galveston, Baltimore, Savannah, Philly, Newark, or NOLA and save big while creating US jobs and making the tax base bigger.

Broaden the taxbase! Not by taxing workers more, but by bringing companies back to the US to pay property and corporate taxes here.

Hold your horses there, pardner!

Congress is just going to spend this and another $900 billion more.

https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/the-cost-of-a-german-car-in-europe

The Cost of a German Car in Europe v. US

Same Mercedes model costs $38,000 more in Austria than in the US

A car enthusiast friend in Vienna called me today to make fun of all the hysterical talk in Europe about President Trump’s alleged outrageous affront to free trade by imposing tariffs on the importation of European products.

“Do you know how much a new Mercedes CLE 450 costs in Vienna?” he asked.

“I don’t know—90,000 Euro?” I guessed.

“Good guess. 95,000 Euro,” he replied.

“And in the US?”

“$70,000 dollars,” I again guessed.

“No, $67,500” he said.

In other words, a new Mercedes Benz made a few hundred miles from Vienna in the same EU zone costs $38,000 more than it does in the United States. The reason is because the E.U. levies a 20% Value Added Tax and several other taxes onto the sale of cars. One result of this is that the United States if by far the largest market for German cars. Los Angeles is the largest market in the world for Porsches. ...

At least with respect to the auto industry, it is perfectly silly for the Europeans to claim that Trump’s tariffs are some sort of unfair, punitive, jingoistic action. Even with the new tariffs, American taxes on cars will still be lower than what they are in Europe.

I don't understand what the fuck VAT has to do with anything. It's applied to all goods - domestic and imported. What does it have to do with us? What is the endgame here: make them drop VAT on their domestic goods or only on our impored? We don't treat domestic and imported goods differently when collecting a sales tax, do we?

VAT is a red herring.

RWSGFY says

I don't understand what the fuck VAT has to do with anything. It's applied to all goods - domestic and imported. What does it have to do with us? What is the endgame here: make them drop VAT on their domestic goods or only on our impored? We don't treat domestic and imported goods differently when collecting a sales tax, do we?

VAT is a red herring.

Agreed, VAT has zero to do with tariffs since it applies to all products, domestic and foreign

RWSGFY says

I don't understand what the fuck VAT has to do with anything. It's applied to all goods - domestic and imported.

mell says

Agreed, VAT has zero to do with tariffs since it applies to all products, domestic and foreign

VAT rates are applied AFTER the tariffs and many other fees are already added into the taxable base cost. Americans can't formulate this in their minds because taxes in the US...especially income taxes but also most gas and most sales taxes are only applied additionally to the original taxable cost, not to an accumulated one.

So say a product that is imported to, say Germany, is valued at €10,000. Then imagine it gets hit with a 25% tariff. Then that forms the base for the VAT calculation of another 25% (Germany's highest and average VAT rate).

So, €10,000 + €2,500 (25% tariff) = €12,500
THEN VAT: €12,500 + €3,125 (25% VAT on €12,500) = €15,625.

Oh, and GUESS WHAT the additional local sales tax, if any, gets levied on? That's right...the new €15,625 base cost, not the €10,000 imported cost.

So if Trump can get the Eloi fucks to abolish their tariffs, THEN the lalala land of 'VATs apply to both domestic & imported' you two actually believe it is might actually come to be.

DeportLibtards says

VAT rates are applied AFTER the tariffs are.

And? It's their internal business. Whether they have VAT or not does not change how our goods compete on their market. Tariffs do.

personal

personal

HeadSet says

DeportLibtards says

Actually, cars are the UK's biggest export to the US, not just North America. Not sure how price sensitive the British cars are since they are prestige brands like Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Land Rover.

HeadSet says

DeportLibtards says

Actually, cars are the UK's biggest export to the US, not just North America. Not sure how price sensitive the British cars are since they are prestige brands like Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Land Rover.

Actually Jaguar (I’ve owned several) and Landrover are now owned by Tata Motors, based in India.

Interestingly there is no tariff on cheap whores, vodka and bears imported from the USSR. And we do have $2.5B trade deficit with them, believe it or not. Is Donnie a Soviet agent after all?

HeadSet says

British cars are since they are prestige brands like Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Land Rover.

Very few people buy those cars. Most likely is the Land Rover brand. And as another comment mentions they are piles of trash that need constant repair. Unless you're in CA or FL those types of cars are extremely expensive to get work done on anyway.

The other brands are all "status" for guys that are losers that fell into money somehow or their wives want one and they're out busting their ass to make a good 6 figure income or 7. There's no need for an expensive car ever.

I think before POTUS Trump drove himself around in an SUV that was American made. Probably a luxury model with all the bells and whistle, but likely under $100k.

From my standpoint I don't care if the prices of cars goes up. I buy one every 7-9 years, so it really doesn't influence me financially. Also it will be a big boost for the used car market for the Euro cars. More transfer of money amongst Americans instead of foreigners since that already happened.

The next problem people aren't seeing is state government. If more jobs come back and there are more local transactions, what is your state doing with that money? 5,000 more USA made cars were sold this month, what is that tax revenue doing? We all like to chat about the federal government but ultimately the rubber meets the road in your state for your personal life.

Expensive cars are fun and a great way to meet other people. Especially the classic car guys. I’m taking the grandkids to the Ocean City Cruise in this May. An almost week long yearly event where people show off cars they’ve spent ungodly amounts of money on. I’ve seen custom restomods that people have spent $2,000,000 on. Pieces of art they are.

It takes time to build a car manufacturing plant and get it going. Not sure how much, but my guess would be at least 6 months. In meantime there will be inflation similar to one caused by Covid shortages.

Why this wasn't rolled out with a proper lead time is a mystery to me. Long-term there is no difference but short-term there will be much unnecessary inflation. And the guy ran on the promise to lower prices "on the day one", for fuck's sake.

Glock-n-Load says

I’ve seen custom restomods that people have spent $2,000,000 on. Pieces of art they are.

I know you're a car guy. I don't like any art, car or otherwise. It's a limited market. I get what you are saying, I just don't think many people care. You have to spend a lot to potentially get a decent return. Shouldn't really use it except for shows or a weekend drive. So what's the point? I'd rather sit back and invest in something else.

I have a canned ham 1963 camper I got for $1k a while back. I could fix that up and sell it for $15-20k at $5k costs into it. So I do get the hobby of cars, I was more talking about people using them as daily drivers that are $100k or more. Not logical in my world. Driving isn't fun and it's all about utility for me. The less I'm in a car the better. No need for speed or style. Just a car that will destroy another car if they're driving like idiots around you.

RWSGFY says

Why this wasn't rolled out with a proper lead time is a mystery to me. Long-term there is no difference but short-term there will be much unnecessary inflation. And the guy ran on the promise to lower prices "on the day one", for fuck's sake.

Not wrong at all. But we all knew or at least I did, this was going to be a shit storm with tariffs. Trump is ripping the bandaid off. Yes it will hurt for 10 seconds (10 months in real time) but it needed to happen.

He talked tariffs for a while while campaigning. This isn't new. It's April and the election was Nov. 2024. We also just ended Q1 2025. Investors make adjustments. I know reports aren't out, but it's future looking.

Who knows what shorts, puts, covered calls and other investing lingo is happening. I don't know it. I don't buy German cars and don't care about Germans. People are going to lose jobs. A reset needs to happen.

We can't protect other nations and then get butt fucked with tariffs on our exports. We're really the worlds bitch right now. We'll ultimately have to save the day again at some point and the world knows that. They have no leverage. We don't need imports from anyone outside of this hemisphere and we generally get along with most nations here. Does anyone actually "need" a Mercedes? Nope. Walk around your house for 10 minutes. Most the shit is trash anyway.

Nobody builds factories on just talk. Businesses need to know the specifics, which were not provided until yesterday. The bandaid analogy is stupid. Absolutely unnecessary unforced error IMO. But hey, enjoy your inflation. Apparently it's a good thing now. 🤡

RWSGFY says

Nobody builds factories on just talk. Businesses need to know the specifics, which were not provided until yesterday. The bandaid analogy is stupid. Absolutely unnecessary unforced error IMO. But hey, enjoy your inflation. Apparently it's a good thing now. 🤡

I'm biased. Inflation doesn't hurt me. I'm pissed my beer is up $4 a case over the last 5 years. But that's $4 two to three times a month. Oh my god I'm poor now. I don't buy cars. Groceries my wife is amazing at getting deals. We have a stand up freezer and grab expiration date sale meat and freeze it.

Poor people are going to have to suffer for a bit. Hell most of them are on food stamps so it doesn't matter. If you're middle class this is a big nothing burger. Housing will go down. Cars might go up. All of this is not a big deal if you have a job. The problem is everyone bitching about it doesn't have one. Sorry?

Ford seizes the day by offering Employee discount to all consumers

https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/ford-motor-company-offer-employee-pricing-all-u-s-shoppers-handshake-deal-every-american

Volvo (now owned by CHYna) announces expansion of US Domestic Car Production
https://insiderpaper.com/carmaker-volvo-to-step-up-us-production-after-tariffs/

The Founding Father's very first Congress imposed the All-American Tariff, signed into law by President George Washington!

Tariffs far higher than Trump's turned America into an industrial powerhouse, while no/low tariff South America languished undeveloped for 150 years as they imported finished goods from Europe. Every Latin American train engine was made overseas, almost from day one the USA was making it's own.

Broaden the tax base not by taxing the working poor and middle class, but foreign imports! Why tax ourselves? Charge the foreign vendors to enter the City's Market Fair!

We love our BBTs!

RWSGFY says

And? It's their internal business. Whether they have VAT or not does not change how our goods compete on their market. Tariffs do.

I just demonstrated that is not the case. Are you just trolling to avoid not admitting you are wrong or is it because you can't follow the math?

They've been using the Robotics excuse for 30 years. It's all about lowest wages.

If Robotics was the reason, the huge supply of skilled engineers and some of the cheapest electric IN THE WORLD $/kwh (esp. vs. China, Mexico, Vietnam as well as the EU) would mean MOAR, not less, US Factories.

SharkyP says

Actually Jaguar (I’ve owned several) and Landrover are now owned by Tata Motors, based in India.

Yes, and Rolls Royce is owned by BMW. But both are still built in Britain and exported to the US. Ownership of the companies does not affect the cars as prestige brands that are less sensitive to increased prices.

I love Jaguars, especially the XJS. I had one friend restore a 63 XKE and another friend restore a 67 XKE. A guy where I used to work had a later model Jaguar non-convertible with a Ford engine.

HeadSet says

I love Jaguars, especially the XJS. I had one friend restore a 63 XKE and another friend restore a 67 XKE. A guy where I used to work had a later model Jaguar non-convertible with a Ford engine.

Those were beautiful looking cars. Inevitably, an engine swap would be necessary. That XKE hood was a mile long to accommodate the 12- cylinder engine.

AmericanKulak says

They've been using the Robotics excuse for 30 years. It's all about lowest wages.

If Robotics was the reason, the huge supply of skilled engineers and some of the cheapest electric IN THE WORLD $/kwh (esp. vs. China, Mexico, Vietnam as well as the EU) would mean MOAR, not less, US Factories.

Yup.

Oh, it's going to happen. Is happening. But this whole globalization thing was about fucking over American workers for cheaper foreign workers, not robots.

So 900 Chrysler workers just lost their jobs. Why? Because nobody can built a plant missing from the supply chain in one day. You need 5-6-7. Were the tariffs implemented with a reasonable lead time these people would still be employed during the transition period. But hey, their discomfort means it's working, right? Where did I hear that?... "Your Bells palsy means vaccine is working", that's where.

RWSGFY says

So 900 Chrysler workers just lost their jobs.

In Canada, right?

HeadSet says

RWSGFY says

So 900 Chrysler workers just lost their jobs.

In Canada, right?

Yep, in Canada. It's part of their 4500 reduction in personnel throughout the Stellantis. - Mostly was going on before tariffs.