Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

They are meant to tax lower income people who spend a large percentage of their income on necessities.

In other words, they are a regressive tax --- pure and simple.





They are a little bit like a sales tax, except only for things not made in this country.

Like, at least 50% of the things you use every day, from phone and laptops to kitchen utensils.

For today, sure. People act like 365 days is long enough to change consumer spending habits, and onshore production facilities that took years to offshore.

If tariffs are held strong, there will be two possible outcomes:

1) Domestic production will be increased (via American businesses as well as onshoring foreign businesses), providing jobs and ultimately lower-cost products

2) International tariffs will be decreased across the board - resulting in a more level field for American businesses to compete in foreign nations

Few realize American goods have been tariffed internationally for decades, resulting in a difficult-or-impossible business climate for American businesses.

The situation is akin to Wall Street's infamous short-term outcome favorability. Tariffs are a long-term game, and people have to be willing to trade some short-term outcomes for the long-term economic health of America and it's businesses (and jobs, wages, etc).


> ultimately lower-cost products

When has reduced competition ever resulted in lower-cost products?

Even for goods we already mass produce, companies respond to tariffs of their competitor's goods by hiking their own prices up.


Reduced competition is a near-term affect. Demand will remain constant (or increase) for goods, so businesses will open and compete over the long-term. In the future it will be cheaper to purchase domestically produced goods vs. import them from half a world away...



Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: