November 4th, 2024

Trump to raise tariffs to 60% on all Chinese goods if elected

Donald Trump's proposed tariffs, potentially reaching 60% on Chinese goods, could raise electronics prices, harm lower-income consumers, lead to job losses, and reduce GDP while increasing inflation.

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Trump to raise tariffs to 60% on all Chinese goods if elected

Donald Trump's proposed tariffs, if he wins the election, could significantly impact the technology sector. He plans to impose a 10-20% tax on imports, escalating to 60% on Chinese goods, which he argues would boost American manufacturing and generate tax revenue. Critics, including Kamala Harris, label this as a detrimental sales tax on Americans. The Consumer Technology Association warns that such tariffs could lead to a 46% increase in laptop prices, 40% for gaming consoles, and 26% for smartphones, resulting in a drastic drop in demand. The tariffs are expected to disproportionately affect consumers, particularly those in lower-income brackets, as manufacturers are likely to pass on the increased costs. The report suggests that the tariffs could lead to a loss of 684,000 jobs and a reduction in GDP by 0.8% annually. While Trump supporters believe these tariffs will bring jobs back to the U.S., experts argue that the lack of domestic manufacturing capabilities means that companies will simply raise prices rather than relocate production. The overall sentiment is that the proposed tariffs could create economic instability and worsen inflation, with the burden falling primarily on American consumers.

- Trump's proposed tariffs could reach 60% on Chinese goods, impacting the tech sector significantly.

- The Consumer Technology Association predicts substantial price increases for electronics, leading to decreased demand.

- Critics argue that the tariffs will primarily burden lower-income Americans and may lead to job losses.

- Experts warn that the lack of U.S. manufacturing capabilities means companies will raise prices instead of relocating production.

- The overall economic impact could include a reduction in GDP and increased inflation.

Link Icon 4 comments
By @jqpabc123 - 6 months
Tariffs are effectively a consumption tax --- paid first by importers but inevitably passed on to consumers.

Since virtually everyone (individuals as well as businesses) in the USA is a consumer of imported goods, everyone will be subjected to a massive tax increase.

The only clear winner in this 19th century approach to economics is government --- and even this is questionable over time. Simple minded solutions for simple minded folks.

By @more_corn - 5 months
Which would result in 1) higher prices for consumers 2) retaliatory tariffs on American exports
By @h2odragon - 6 months
Trumps "promised" tariffs are always worse than Biden's extant ones.

> During his first presidency Trump instituted a limited number of extra tariffs, chiefly against China. Upon taking office, President Joe Biden kept them in place and even extended them. But what's different about these new proposals is that they are rising across the board by up to 20 percent, or so it has been said on the campaign trail.

and also: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/10/us/politics/us-biden-chin...

By @chiefalchemist - 6 months
These critiques are disheartening. "We can't do this. Bad things will happen..." oblivious to the fact that the status quo isn't working to the point that such things get proposed.

At some point the cycle needs to be broken. I'm not advocating such proposals (as Trump's). I am championing the idea that the current status quo is sociopolitically unsustainable and that critics need to do better than "no" as the answer to any change. We can't keep doing insanity.