[Unruly]

If you buy American goods instead of Chinese crap there's no tariff. Simple fix for tariffs...

[Normal]

Tariffs are a tax, there is no “if” and “or”, “but”. Companies (it does matter what language they speak) don’t operate for a loss. Where the costs are cast could be anywhere, but I assure you the bottom line of a business matters to manufacturers. The government gets the tariff’s money so yes, it’s a tax.

Like the post above mentioned, avoid it by giving the money directly to an American manufacturer and not the government. Either way though, you will pay more.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Unruly

If you buy American goods instead of Chinese crap there's no tariff. Simple fix for tariffs...

Simple fix? Unless you need something that is not made in the USA. That includes a lot of things.

[defrey12]

Originally Posted by PeteF

About a week ago, I had to replace (under warranty) the charger for my Lithium Ion Golf Cart Battery.

The Chinese company was great . They shipped me a new charger from China within two days, and it arrived 4 days after they shipped it ... Air express via UPS.

Surprise, when UPS delivered the charger there was a $15 Tariff due (20% of the $75 charger valuation) and UPS tacked on another $15 service charge.

Obviously I was a bit surprised by this, especially the $15 service charge from UPS on a $15 Tariff.

As the economist and financial people have been saying ... US people and companies pay the tariff when the goods land ... its not a paid by Chinese companies. Additional, nobody has talked about the service charges that the shipping companies are imposing.

Just a little heads up if you are expecting a shipment directly from China.

Please note: I am not saying that Tariffs are good or bad policy - that needs to be decided by people with a lot more Tariff knowledge and experience than I have. This post is meant as just a heads up on what you might experience should you order directly from China.

Simple solution: BUY AMERICAN. The pain we feel now will ensure our grandchildren have a future.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Unruly

If you buy American goods instead of Chinese crap there's no tariff. Simple fix for tariffs...

Unless those American goods use imported materials (steel, aluminum, avocados, etc).

Plus, even if the materials come from American producers, a tariff on a competing import is a free ticket for the American producer to increase prices. Sure, I don't pay the tariff, but my wallet is still lighter.

[defrey12]

Originally Posted by rustyp

What the - China was supposed to pay that tariff.

Thus the $75 charger now costs $105. Looks like instant 40% inflation to me.

I assume the UPS charge was to fill out the paperwork for the tariff filing.

No, not 40% inflation. Bad purchasing DECISIONS. If y’all haven’t figured it out yet, these moves are designed to get us to “buy American” as much as anything.

[RRGuyNJ]

Originally Posted by Kelevision

Lol… you’re joking right??? Please tell me you’re joking.

He said he was joking. But, in a way he's accurate. Last month the charger cost $75. Today the same charger cost $105 due to the Tarriff and fees. In the end, it is a 40% increase which is considered an inflation in price. Maybe not inflation by true definition but it really is.

[fdpaq0580]

Bottom line: BUYER BEWARE!

[MaryMS]

Buckle your seat belts, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by Blueblaze

Sounds like a very good reason to not import things directly from China.

Unfortunately, that is easier said than done. Try finding small electronic items not made in China. Even worse, some have an American name on them and item was made in China or assembled in the US with Chinese parts

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by Rocksnap

There’s a reason I buy made in American. And a reason why I don’t buy made in China. Regardless of tariffs.

Even great American companies, like Snap On Tools, do not make all of their tools in the US. Good luck buying an American made TV. At least most do not come from China

[bumpa]

Originally Posted by opinionist

If tariffs can replace the income tax, then I say bring it on.
If tariffs can help bring jobs back from overseas, I say bring it on.

I'm pretty sure neither of those will happen. As regards bringing back jobs to the USA, a small increase in hiring is likely but it's a lot cheaper for companies to simply move to other foreign sources. Adding jobs also means building the factories needed and that requires capital. Still cheaper to find other foreign sources.

The income tax issue is interesting. here's the breakdown.
The federal government collected about $2.2 trillion in individual income taxes in Fiscal Year 2023 — half of all government revenue. U.S. imports totaled about $3.8 trillion in 2023. Therefore, a tariff rate of 58% would have been required to offset income tax revenue that year — but only if imports remained at this level.

A more realistic scenario recognizes that high tariffs would cause companies and consumers to reduce their purchases of imported goods (as these tariffs would make goods more expensive).

History confirms this: when tariffs have increased in the past, import volumes have dropped as companies and consumers reduced their purchases of imported goods. Fewer import purchases means less tariff revenue.

An analysis by the nonpartisan Peterson Institute for International Economics found that 50% tariffs would maximize revenue. Even so, this would only raise about $780 billion in tariff revenues — far less than the amount raised by the income tax.

[bumpa]

Originally Posted by RoseyRed

I am not an expert on tariffs by no means, but am curious who benefits from the increased tariff income? Who has access to this income and what can it be used for?

Our government gets the tariff income. It's just another tax on Americans.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

The question: is your economic policy goal the cheapest cost of production wins? regardless of the location or the second / third order effects?

OR

is the economic policy locally mfg goods with better delivery times and less potential supply chain disruptions, with a stronger domestic money flows for financing?

If you pick the second, the only pain is the transition from the first to the second, and that can be temporary.

Can be temporary? Temporary is probably at least 2 years. American companies would need a huge cash investment, find and hire qualified workers, work out supply chains and logistics and hope they still can compete with slave labor countries. This has been going on after the affects of WW 2 ended and is not going to be fixed overnight

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by defrey12

Simple solution: BUY AMERICAN. The pain we feel now will ensure our grandchildren have a future.

Originally Posted by Unruly

If you buy American goods instead of Chinese crap there's no tariff. Simple fix for tariffs...

Originally Posted by GATORBILL66

Hope you learned you lesson. BUY AMERICAN!

Originally Posted by Rocksnap

There’s a reason I buy made in American. And a reason why I don’t buy made in China. Regardless of tariffs.

Originally Posted by defrey12

No, not 40% inflation. Bad purchasing DECISIONS. If y’all haven’t figured it out yet, these moves are designed to get us to “buy American” as much as anything.

Darn straight! He should have purchased an AMERICAN made cart, like EZGO which is built in Augusta, GA. Of course, the batteries for the EZGo are made in South Korea and the charger is made in Japan and who knows where the aluminum comes from, but THAT'S RIGHT, BUY AMERICAN!