Thanks, Dave. Interesting.........
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Thanks, Dave. Interesting.........
From today's WSJ, you all might get your turn in the bucket:
Quote:
By William Mauldin in Washington and
Mike Colias in Detroit
Feb. 15, 2019 8:08 a.m. ET
American car buyers are facing sticker shock as President Trump weighs new tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts.
The Commerce Department is concluding its investigation into whether imported cars and parts pose a national-security threat under Section 232 of U.S. trade law, with a deadline of Sunday to submit its findings to the president.
Mr. Trump has already voiced support for levies of 20%. If the tariffs are imposed, then prices of cars from Japan, Germany, South Korea would rise sharply, assuming those countries don’t receive exemptions.
But buyers of domestically produced cars could be shelling out more too if tariffs are imposed on components, since between 40% and 50% of the average U.S.-built vehicle is assembled with foreign-made components, the Center for Automotive Research estimates.
Half of the story. What are the foreign tariffs on cars and parts we produce and want to sell there?
Do you think the poor sap trying to buy a Kia really gives a damn?
Time to fight back, Dave. You respond when you are at the top of your game, as we are now. Foreign markets have been taking us to the cleaners for decades. Try buying an American Chevy in Korea. As you, above others, must know that. Cars are merely the top of the list. We cannot get to parity without responding in kind.
I am not arguing that point--but I also know there are two sides to this sword.
So Trump is doing what should have been done decades ago and he's right for doing it but it's a lot more important to hate him than it is to have parity. So instead of yea, we have a president that is looking out for our own interests for a change the haters are going to turn it into Trump is trying to bankrupt us.
And I agree with you. We have tried less persuasive methods in the past with no impact other than to make us look like wimps.
My issue with trump's moves is not the move but the how of it. We were heavily impacted by the tariffs on Al and while I had limited opportunity to plan I knew it was coming, when it was coming, and how much it was going to be. That has not been the case with many of these following tariffs---the timing and amount is fluid as is the specifics of what the tariffs will be applied to.
Just for the record, we have paid import duties on European woodworking machines for longer than I have been in the business. Those tariffs have nothing to do with protecting US producers---there are none---it is nothing more than another revenue source for the Treasury. Why not simply call it a tax--for that is exactly what it is.