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Trump reacts to EU trade reprisals with threat of steep auto tariff

62 Comments
By David Shepardson

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62 Comments
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psst. Europe... Hit him hard. He folds when smacked. Like all blow-hard carnival barkers.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

It’s so nice to have a President with a backbone. The remaining 7 years of his reign will be great.

-23 ( +4 / -27 )

BMWs are manufactured in South Carolina; Mercedes in Alabama, VWs in Tennessee.  

German car companies are giving jobs to Americans.  

What's up here?  Trump doesn't know this? ??

18 ( +19 / -1 )

It looks like the Republicans aren't going to be satisfied until there's a repeat of 2008.

Then take a guess who gets to clean up the mess.

17 ( +18 / -1 )

when you are billions of dollars in debt, we can only win a trade war. nothing to lose I love it

-16 ( +4 / -20 )

when you are billions of dollars in debt, we can only win a trade war. nothing to lose I love it

A trade deficit isn't debt to repay. Lawd.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

Trump has already erased the stock gains for 2018. Looks like he has his eye on 2017 next.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

trade war = they will stop ripping us off. sounds good to me

-21 ( +1 / -22 )

trade war = they will stop ripping us off. sounds good to me

No one is ripping "us" off. The US consumes more than we can produce.

This is why trade deficits contract when the economy tanks. Be careful what you wish for.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

It’s so nice to have a President with a backbone.

It's as if you think he personally has a lot to lose. Get real. It's not him who is on the front line here.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Economists all predict it will end badly.

Now, who knows who of these experts or Trump is right ?

(It's the experts)

12 ( +12 / -0 )

It’s so nice to have a President with a backbone. The remaining 7 years of his reign will be great.

Within 7 yrs T clowns will realise that they were worshipping a week animal :)

9 ( +9 / -0 )

trade war = they will stop ripping us off. sounds good to me

Some mix up the big world out there with the supplier of their beer trays :)

8 ( +8 / -0 )

He has threatened duties on up to $450 billion of imports from China. Such a move could raise prices for American consumers and businesses and hit global supply chains for industries like carmakers and electronics. Chinese reprisals have hit American farmers already.

Joe can't afford to pay many products at Walmart anymore and may lose his job because of supply chain problems with a tent camp as possible destination.

His Chinese counterpart will go back to his village, go after the pigs again and feed the chickens.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Searching the net to find manufacturers of trailer homes in the USA to buy shares in. Methinks it will be a massive big market in the coming years. Only problem is they are made from steel and aluminum....

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Searching the net to find manufacturers of trailer homes in the USA to buy shares in. Methinks it will be a massive big market in the coming years. Only problem is they are made from steel and aluminum....

For a tent you don't need that much aluminium or steel and one can replace it by wood :)

6 ( +6 / -0 )

This is one area where Trump is out of his league. As an American living in Japan I see his thoughts on Japanese auto makers (who now manufacture extensively in the U.S.) as indicative that he is not necessarily up to speed on modern trade. As the article points out, European automakers are also manufacturing in the U.S.

He had good points that the U.S. past trade deals were not all good for the United States however his approach to the problem and his execution are woefully inadequate and may end up doing more damage than good.

Finally the use of Twitter for this kind of discussion is infantile and demonstrates a lack of self restraint. These traits are not becoming of a President.

I was no fan of Obama (I am no fan of either mainstream party these days) but at least Obama showed the ability to exercise self control.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Tuscaloosa, Alabama:

"In 2017, the plant produced more than 286,000 vehicles, which are exported to more than 135 markets. In 2017, the plant also announced plans for a $1 billion investment to start production of electric passenger cars by the beginning of the next decade, to build a new battery plant and to expand the plant’s logistics activities. Mercedes-Benz Cars has invested more than $6 billion in the Alabama plant. MBUSI currently employs more than 3,700 Team Members and is responsible for more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region. More than 70% of the plant’s SUV’s are exported, making MBUSI the second largest automotive exporter in the U.S."

Trump has repeatedly criticized German auto imports. He reportedly told French President Emmanuel Macron he wanted to halt Mercedes-Benz models from driving down Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Comedy gold. And yet, a sizable percentage of those listening actually believe Trump's nonsense as we can see from some comments here. It's unbelievable, as though some people actually want to be fooled.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

@Burning Bush - I am left of center and I am not a Trump supporter. Personally, my issue with Trump is the way he is going about this. It is counterproductive and the use of Twitter for this type of dialog is really inappropriate. He had a good point when he was campaigning and he was right on some of these issues. There were some pretty poor trade deals that were negotiated in the past. He seems to be a bit out of touch with reality.

As an interesting side note: My cousin is a union electrician in the U.S. He and many of the guys in the hall actually voted for Trump. They are not all white either. They had their reasons and they are not stupid people by any means. I respectfully disagreed with them but we were able to be civil about things.

Most (all) of the factories in the south operated by Japanese, Korean, and European auto-makers are non union. Toyota has had labor issues which were discussed here on Japan Today maybe 2 years ago.

Trade is really complex and there are many sides to all of the associated arguments. If Trump wants to champion this I really wish he would stop using Twitter and let those with expertise in international trade take the front and center on this one. This is far more complicated than his real estate dealings.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

psst. Europe... Hit him hard. He folds when smacked. Like all blow-hard carnival barkers.

While he has folded on the border issue with family seperations, his rhetoric and plans regarding tariffs on China, E.U etc have not softened at all. The opposite is true. So what exactly has he "folded on"?

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

America has been had for many years, with targeted and protectionist unfair trade. If it takes tariffs to achieve truly fair trade, so let it be. In a trade war, EU has much more to lose than the US.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Trade is really complex and there are many sides to all of the associated arguments. If Trump wants to champion this I really wish he would stop using Twitter and let those with expertise in international trade take the front and center on this one. This is far more complicated than his real estate dealings.

The problem is that Trump and the right have been claiming for years that the solutions to all problems are simple, and just require drastic action X, which will solve the problem immediately. The push actions like 'repeal Obamacare', or 'just tear kids away from their parents, and immigrants will stop coming', and because the world exists in a binary vaccum in their minds, they think they can do these things without any repercussions anywhere else. Trump is disrupting the trade policies of the US, and thinks he can do this without there being any negative repercussions anywhere else. Remember Trump's comment about 'Nobody knew healthcare would be this complicated'? Um, actually everyone who wasn't living in a binary world of hatred knew it was difficult. Just like anyone not living in that binary mindset saw, and can still see, that separating kids from their parents was a bad idea. And as the world starts adjusting to an aggressive America by reducing their interactions with America so as to provide stability to their own economies, in effect making sure that few of their eggs are in the America basket, it will become very apparent that you cannot offend your trading partners and cast off your agreements and not face any ill effects from it.

Some people will think my comments are unproven hypothesis, and they are correct. Maybe I'm wrong, and Trump's binary mindset will work. But I'm pretty sure that I will be proven right in time, and I feel for all those who will suffer from the effects of this simplistic way of thinking.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

America has been had for many years, with targeted and protectionist unfair trade.

America: Biggest economy in the world, biggest victim complex in the world.

America's rich have sold them the lie that they are getting screwed by the rest of the world, even though they have the largest economy. No, it's not the world that has ripped you off America, it's your own. And when you believe their lies and propaganda, you support them in screwing you further.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Last month, Evercore ISI said in a research note that a 25 percent import tariff on auto imports "would pretty much destroy the business of importing cars from Europe/China" to America.

Aside from the economics, couldn't you make an environmental argument that this would actually be a good outcome?

When you have a country that clearly has the ability to make and sell cars due to the sophistication of their industry and the size of the domestic market, as opposed to Australia for example, why would you import cars from thousands of kilometers away, spewing out CO2 from the transport of those vehicles the entire time? Even better if you don't have to import to many of the components and make them domestically.

Nobody has talked about the environmental dimension of this trade war situation if it all goes ahead...

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Fox News’ #1 story is about media coverage, and the injustice to Trump when compared with Obama. That means they are going with the hypocrisy angle, the go-to when things get bad.

Look to right-wing media focus on “outrage for the lack of outrage” angle with false equivalency playing a heavy part. If they go on the offense with a unified message, they can ignore the fact that they supported hurting children.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Hollywood stuff.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

His action calls more enemies to retaliation with a lance but no shield.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

If I had to make a guess and assume Trump knew what he was doing....I would conclude that he wants all imports to be so expensive that it actually becomes cheaper to manufacture things in America. While it means bad news in that prices will be much higher, it may mean bringing back manufacturing of things big and small to American shores and allow people like him to invest in new factories to hire poor Americans at slave wages so he can say look at all the jobs I have created. Ninety percent of which are low paying jobs. While the destitute may become a little better off, they will move up to the working poor, it would generate a economy thats buying more and spending more on US goods and services.

Hard luck though for the exporters and those hired by exporters. Maybe it will balance out and maybe it wont.

Time will tell one way or another.

Personally I dont think Trump is smart enough to have a plan other than McDonald's for lunch.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

psst. Europe... Hit him hard.

Europe will definitely fold when sucker punched back.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Uncle Trump believes after bullying Japanese automakers to make more investment in U.S., the same strategy will work in bullying European automakers !

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Uncle Trump is too stupid to realize that both Japanese and German car manufacturers have been building cars in US factories years before he somehow got voted into office.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

trade war = they will stop ripping us off. sounds good to me no it means red state jobs will be no more and when the stock markets start to tank, prices start to rise, thatll all be on Trumps hands, he wont and his supporters wont have anything to crow about then. Trump is just alienating America and pushing America allies closer to China, when the dust settles America will be far worse off , believe it.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

when the dust settles America will be far worse off , believe it.

I’m not really so sure about that.

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

bass4funk: "I’m not really so sure about that."

That's called "denial", bud. The rest of the world is sure, and that is why they're sick of it and have agreed to work together to fight back. Trump is destroying your nation while also hurting others. But I guess this is why he's gone bankrupt a few times and lost three wives (well, the third is pretty much out the door). No good will come of what he's doing... NONE, and a whole lot of bad will come instead, for the US in particular.

Let every tariff he imposes be met with equal tariffs and the ante upped. When the US is isolated but the other countries trading amongst themselves, it'll be the US begging to be let back in. THey can negotiate to keep tariffs on US products to a higher level than before, while theirs get dropped.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

I’m not really so sure about that.

You don't really sound not really so sure about that. Protectionism & isolationism won't solve America's problems, I'm really so sure about that.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

10 years ago, all the lefties were against free trade and free markets.

Now they're pro free trade all because Trump is against it.

The unions and anti-WTO hooligans must be in a real bind. Are they with Trump or against him.

I'm on the left and I've been against free trade since before NAFTA. Every other committed person I know on the left, which is pretty much my entire circle of family and friends, feels the same way. And it doesn't matter what party is trying to push undemocratic trade agreements down the nation's throat. Obama's back door deal making with corporations on TPP was widely condemned on the left. And Trump's nixing of the deal is one of the few good things he's done over the past 2 years. But this doesn't mean this administrations is going to make anything better. As Matt Stoller put it:

Trump's understanding of tariffs is bad, but it's no worse than much of the 'foreign policy community' that destroyed our sovereignty by handing our industrial base to Xi Jinping. Trump's moves are likely to worsen things, but that's because the mess Larry Summers made is so big.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

It is unfortunate that many do not understand the meaning of fair trade.

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

It is unfortunate that many do not understand the meaning of fair trade. you stated this before so Ill answer it again. fair trade is just what is means, no unfair tariffs or subsidies to support industries that make prices artificially low, making it unfair for competing countries/ industries or companies. America is the most heavily subsidies agriculture and automaker in the world, unless they address that then nothing will change.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

I’m not really so sure about that. well history has taught us that nothing good comes from trade wars and almost everybody suffers, if you cant learn from the past then your doomed to repeat it.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Yet nations deserve to defend themselves from predator nations like the USA. The only way to fight fire is with fire. If the US places an additional tariff on EU cars, then the EU needs to place a additional 20 percent tariff on USA cars.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

I notice none of Trump supporters provide any concrete, logical explanation for their support in Trump action.

Boy, how I love Trump and his supporters. At the end of his terms (hopefully 2 terms) when the dust have settled, how much damage Trump has done to US and they still have no idea what hit them.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

GDP up 4+%! Black and Hispanic unemployment at an all time low. North Korea denuclearizing, no longer an enemy. The national debt issue is being addressed. Experimental medicine is now available to the terminally sick. Unfair trade tariffs are being addressed. Veteran care is being addressed. Medical plans are being addressed via lower insurance through the free market. Taxes are lower. Illegal immigration is being addressed and in progress (Don't go screaming your low info, Obama separated kids!). Pedophiles are being busted at a rate that is dizzying.

Trump just hosted a televised event showing victim families of illegal immigration, something CNN and MSNBC bailed on, since they backed up MS 13 for a few weeks last month!

JT has not posted one positive story about Trump! Take your pick from all the good news I wrote above!

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

stocktrader - No, no, no, the good news is irrelevant! We have to remain focused on bringing down President Trump! lol

-14 ( +0 / -14 )

Trump just hosted a televised event showing victim families of illegal immigration, something CNN and MSNBC bailed on

Really? Because I don't think they ever intended to show it in the first place, much less bailed on it.

JT has not posted one positive story about Trump!

There's a very logical reason why JT does not post many positive stories regarding Trump. The key word being 'logical'.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

JT has not posted one positive story about Trump! Take your pick from all the good news I wrote above!

There are many positive stories about Trump, however, the MSM focuses on the negative stories and let’s face it, negative stories get more clicks, cha-Ching!

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

It is unfortunate that many do not understand the meaning of fair trade.

Obvious many people 'in business' have no clue about trade and globalisation :)

3 ( +3 / -0 )

either ...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

GDP up 4+%!

https://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/gdpnewsrelease.htm

The US economy is thriving thanks to globalisation.

Black and Hispanic unemployment at an all time low.

True but, but take a look at the chart where the decline started.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/apr/26/donald-trump/donald-trump-target-remarks-unemployment-kanye/

North Korea denuclearizing, no longer an enemy.

A simple misrepresentation of the fact that nothing is accomplished yet besides a pretty empty letter of intent :)

> The national debt issue is being addressed. Experimental medicine is now available to the terminally sick. Unfair trade tariffs are being addressed. Vet Bleran care is being addressed. Medical plans are being addressed via lower insurance through the free market. Taxes are lower. Illegal immigration is being addressed and in progress (Don't go screaming your low info, Obama separated kids!). Pedophiles are being busted at a rate that is dizzying.

'Being addressed' doesn't say anything about the final outcome...

'Obama separated kids' is pretty dumb, laughing stock really :)

That 'traders' should control their emotions as part of demanded skills is addressed here :)

4 ( +4 / -0 )

There's a very logical reason why JT does not post many positive stories regarding Trump. The key word being 'logical'.

You made a typo here stranglerland, ideological. There, now it's fixed!

'Obama separated kids' is pretty dumb, laughing stock really :)

Not following you netgrump? Those photos blasted on the mainstream news last week were all Obama era. Of course Obama was separating families. This is not a new policy. Please try to keep up!

This seems like bad version of the Matrix where all the bule pillers will fight to defend their enslavement system.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

You made a typo here stranglerland, ideological. There, now it's fixed!

That works too. JT is not ideological, and therefore does not post Trump propaganda.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

'Obama separated kids' is pretty dumb, laughing stock really :)

Not following you netgrump? Those photos blasted on the mainstream news last week were all Obama era. Of course Obama was separating families. This is not a new policy. Please try to keep up!

Yep, you're right, 'try to keep up' so enlighten yourself here with some facts:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/06/19/the-facts-about-trumps-policy-of-separating-families-at-the-border/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.d6b46a1b011a

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This seems like bad version of the Matrix where all the bule pillers will fight to defend their enslavement system.

People who can't divide the fantasy world of the real world are part of the 'enslavement system' :)

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"EU trade reprisals"

The EU still can't believe they can't do business as usual and the free ride is over.

EU slaps new tariffs on US goods

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvYSm3G1bGE

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

I wonder how many people making comments about trade, have ever been in trade.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Here's Trump talking about trade a few hours ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn7hZHKomJA

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Not following you netgrump? Those photos blasted on the mainstream news last week were all Obama era. Of course Obama was separating families. This is not a new policy. Please try to keep up!

Bingo! Exactly.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

@stocktrader

When Americans return Trump for another 4 years his record will show why.

Your comments are spot on!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Concerning the Angel Families:

’At the White House event, Trump shared statistics on the human toll of illegal immigration in the US, citing a 2011 government report. At the time, those numbers included an estimated 25,000 arrests for homicide, 42,000 for robbery, nearly 70,000 for sex offenses, and nearly 15,000 for kidnapping.’

All of which the msm conveniently ignores.....

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

wtfjapan " America is the most heavily subsidies agriculture and automaker in the world, unless they address that then nothing will change."

Thank you wtfjapan, now tell us about Japan's and other countries heavy subsides over the years.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Thank you wtfjapan, now tell us about Japan's and other countries heavy subsides over the years.

Only if you tell us where USA's economy ranks in comparison to the other economies in the world.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

when the dust settles America will be far worse off , believe it.

I’m not really so sure about that.

So true, 'not really so sure' :)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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