Election Year or Fear!

[swaledale]

Hmmm?but we?re now talking about comparatively huge tariffs and it would seem the US$ has fallen to a six month low this morning on the back of yesterday?s announcements, but then I don?t claim any economic expertise beyond the personal. GP?Swale?

Firstly much as our Red Friend talks about a trade deal, Mexico, South Korea and indeed Canada have trade deals with the US, which have been ignored by Trump in imposing tariffs. So any thought that a trade deal would be a plus is hogwash. Plus what's being demanded by the US for any trade deal, basically involves allowing tech firs free rein on content and little to no tax and allowing the import of chlorinated chicken, hormone injected beef and other sub standard food products which would **** our farmers even more.

[swaledale]

I could have sworn else thread and some time ago that you indicated Mrs Swale was a younger Asiatic lady? Perhaps it's my poor memory

I've not to my knowledge made any comment on the ethnicity or *** of my current partner. Unlike a certain sad forest fan who if memory serves me well has supposedly had relationships with various foreign nationals despite his often xenophobic comments on here.

[swaledale]

So all those who voted brexit can say 'finally' a benefit we can shout about.

Nope, we still have 25% on steel, cars and aluminium despite having a trade surplus with the US and 10% might be less than the EU, but its a bit like saying burning ones hand at 75 degrees is better than burning at 120 degrees, they both do damage and ****ing hurt!!

[swaledale]

You sure about all that, Tricky? I understood that the South Koreans are seriously pissed off at having tariffs raised to 25%.
In my experience there are a huge number of Hyundais and Kia?s in the U.S. and its a part of the world that Trump should avoid alienating.

Of course he is not sure!

[swaledale]

So, after the two elections?any thoughts, especially from the more economically literate amongst us, about the reasoning behind and consequences of the orange ogre?s new tariffs?

The reasoning is clear, Trump likes power and attention and despite going bankrupt 5 times still believes he is a wheeler dealer and can in politics use the same mafia style tactics he used in his deals, which by the way often meant a lot of people and firms losing money!!

Even the way the so called tariffs have been calculated is bizarre, and incoherent and bear no relation to existing trade agreements (some signed by trump last time he was in power) and include things like VAT which isn't a tariff in any case.

To cut a long story short, the effect will be to spark a global trade war, unless the tariffs are withdrawn pretty soon, threaten the dollar's role as the worlds reserve currency, **** up the US's influence and trustworthiness and spark a recession in the US.

The impact on the rest of the world will be to undo decades of free trade agreements and indeed international respect for law and legal agreements and basically put a bomb under financial stability and adversely affect investments and economic growth.

The big question is how long until the negative impacts in the US turn opinion against Trump and his stupid incompetents in government?

Those good ole MAGA ****s are going to be might pissed off when prices rise, the economy slumps and those much promised jobs don't magically reappear in the US as promised. Much like trumps much vaunted promise to stop the war in Ukraine in a day is coming apart at the seams. This will to, its just a question of how much collateral damage there will be.

What's clear is its performative politics, there is no grand strategy, other than using the power of the US to bully and threaten other nations until they concede to his demands. IMO Canada has it right, appeasement is a no no, it will in the long run cost more than standing firm, because if Trump gets what he thinks he wants (its by no means clear if he actually knows what he wants apart from appearing powerful and having the worlds attention on him) then he will repeat the actions and come back for more.

The boycott of tesla by the way is how to defat these ****s, if you don't use or buy their services and products then they won't survive. I'm all for boycotting anything made in the US, I won't be going on holiday there (I know you have relatives so slightly different).

[ramAnag]

Word of advice, wipe your phone of any data that might be critical of the US, its president or any policy. remove apps if you have them such as WhatsApp if there are any discussion on there which is negative of Trump or his policies. I kid you not, people ahve been stopped, their phones interrogated and been refused entry despite having a valid visa, just because there is evidence on their phones of criticism of trump ad the current administration.

Sad to say I had been thinking along those lines too. Probably best not to invest in one of those ‘Know your parasites’ T-shirts either…dog tick (pictured), deer tick (pictured) lunatic (picture of Trump) or anything suggesting admiration for Robert DeNiro when entering the ‘land of the free’.

[ramAnag]

I quoted the BBC there is a difference
A man of your intelligence should know that

Glad your sources are improving. In this case however I believe one of you is mistaken.

[MadAmster]

So, Europe exports 256 USD per annum more to the US than the US exports to Europe. Trump has worked out that the difference is caused by tariffs. It's not. It's mainly because we make better stuff that US consumers want. The difference in value is the 39% Fartface mentioned. He also sees VAT as a tariff. It's not. It's simply Sales Tax. The US doesn't have a nationwide sales tax, the individual states do so he ignores it.

He's a simpleton. Or is that comment degrading to simpletons?

His own mother once said she hoped he never went into politics as it would be a disaster. Mam knew.

His niece, a clinical psychologist, has been scathing of his mentality and personality.

The man's a disaster looking for somewhere to happen.

[Trickytreesreds]

I've not to my knowledge made any comment on the ethnicity or *** of my current partner. Unlike a certain sad forest fan who if memory serves me well has supposedly had relationships with various foreign nationals despite his often xenophobic comments on here.

xenophobic?
xenophobe
noun [ C ]
uk /ˈzen.ə.fəʊb/ us /ˈzen.ə.foʊb/
Add to word list
a person who strongly dislikes or fears foreigners,

yearh, obviously I hate foreigners you plank

I think your attempte to link religion to foreigners are laughable

[Trickytreesreds]

Glad your sources are improving. In this case however I believe one of you is mistaken.

so the BBC are useless then? Brilliant, cheers.

[Andy_Faber]

The boycott of tesla by the way is how to defat these ****s, if you don't use or buy their services and products then they won't survive. I'm all for boycotting anything made in the US, I won't be going on holiday there (I know you have relatives so slightly different).

Not gonna work though is it, the hyper rich will prevail, and although I'm all for boycotting (in general, as a statement), the current inclination towards criminal damage is embarrassing for the political movement that is driving it, especially as most of the immediate 'hurt' is on their 'own' . You talk a lot about Brexit idiots, but Tesla idiots are on a different level

Pleased to see you're missing out USA, I'm just back from a holiday there and gotta say I was pleasantly surprised in a number of ways especially as I was in an environment where I expected to encounter a constant of loud, impolite folk pushing their politics on me, and I found just the opposite with NO exceptions - thoughtful, polite, more interested in sport, music, our personal backstory and the places we visited than in pushing any worldviews at us. We'll be back, and my guess is prices will be lower all round as it seems Canadians are intending to boycott the places we visit

Regarding phone checks, well yes its something USA border control can do but recent stats suggest only 1 in 10,000 travellers are subject to such checks and the vast majority of such checks are targetted or happen as a consequence of another border check, so I think you're sensationalising there, or rather The Guardian is and you're just repeating. It's also more likely you'd be stopped (and fined) for having an apple in your hand luggage

[MadAmster]

The hyper rich will prevail? The Czar thought so back in 1917. So did Louis XVI in 1789.

We are many. They are few. It's high time we reminded them of that.

Folk are starting to boycott US goods. That's good.

We should start boycotting newspapers to remind their billionaire owners that they need us.

We should all withdraw at least ?20 a week in cash from our bank accounts and spend it. That would be a good step towards ensuring cash remains a "thing" as, if we lose it, the banks and the government will know yet more about us and our spending and earnings. It would enable them to do things like taking VAT from 2nd hand things you sell. No more piggy banks for the fiver you give your niece/nephew at Christmas and birthdays. No more car boot sales. etc etc etc

Beggars would become a thing of the past as no cash would mean you've got nowt they want because, as we all know, offer to buy them a coffee or a burger and they're (most anyway) not interested. That's the one benefit I can think of for doing away with cash.

[Andy_Faber]

The hyper rich will prevail? The Czar thought so back in 1917. So did Louis XVI in 1789.

We are many. They are few. It's high time we reminded them of that.

Folk are starting to boycott US goods. That's good.

We should start boycotting newspapers to remind their billionaire owners that they need us.

We should all withdraw at least ?20 a week in cash from our bank accounts and spend it. That would be a good step towards ensuring cash remains a "thing" as, if we lose it, the banks and the government will know yet more about us and our spending and earnings. It would enable them to do things like taking VAT from 2nd hand things you sell. No more piggy banks for the fiver you give your niece/nephew at Christmas and birthdays. No more car boot sales. etc etc etc

Beggars would become a thing of the past as no cash would mean you've got nowt they want because, as we all know, offer to buy them a coffee or a burger and they're (most anyway) not interested. That's the one benefit I can think of for doing away with cash.

The difference between now and 1789 is that, in the developed world, even the poor aren't poor, that's why our countries are so attractive to those from the 'undeveloped world'. Yes there are hardships, but there aren't millions (again in the developed world) ****ting in buckets and throwing it into the street like 250 years ago. And the hyper rich are few, but the rich (therefore they'll side with the hyper rich) and the 'fat and happy' (who just want their easy life to tick along) are many so I don't think the melting pot has enough in it to cause revolution (in any direction)

Please make a list of US goods people are boycotting. I'm aware Canadians are boycotting USA as a holiday destination, the Americans I've spoken to are rather relieved, it eases the pressure on them! Not making a point, just interested

As for newspapers, does anyone still buy them apart from for the sports pages? I don't know anyone who buys one - I get a freeby with our groceries once in a while, that's about it. Tell a lie, the bloke next door buys one when he thinks he'll have one of his letters published! Ironically I'm helping a journalist to write a feature (for the Guardian!) at the mo (about music) and you came to mind wrt your interest in Northern Soul record collecting

The cash thing is simple convenience over tradition, although I am old school enough to still be using cash a lot and I think losing car boot sales with their illegally imported goods and stolen power tools would be a good thing.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Cash is also useful to ward off street chuggers who in my experience reject cash and demand card details. Take it or leave it usually sends them scuttling for cover

[MadAmster]

Over here, Tesla is tanking. Kellys Expat shops, who sell US and UK staple foods, are struggling to sell their American wares and are saying they will struggle even more if they have to put prices up. Thank God UK items are still selling, they say. I spent 110 in their Wassenaar store last week. Pies, sausages, Branston pickle, a dozen beers from Marston's to Greene King to Theakstones... cheddar, red lestah. Left the Cadbury fruit and nut as they are now part of the Mendelez group... Yanks. All the US owned multinationals are seeing sales decrease in store from Lays chips to Kelloggs, Quaker, Bud, Heinz. No huge amounts as yet but I suspect it will grow if Fartface doesn't reconsider.