Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete F.
You must have gone to Wharton with Trump
We pay not China
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Aha, so in this instance you want to talk about people rather than countries. In some instances, when you're in "the people, individuals, just can't do it" mode you want countries and governments to do stuff, like fix healthcare. In this instance, its not a country thing, its the people.
But that's OK, since in either instance, wittingly or unwittingly, he answered his own question. The tariff is not on the American taxpayer. It is on the product being imported from China. Obviously, the American buyer pays the price that the seller adds on. And the billions in tariff taxes are paid by the American buyers. In the meantime, the seller pays in loss of income due to less sales.
As far as the shorthand phrase "charging China" goes, tariffs are not on countries, they are on products. China is not selling itself. Ostensibly, it is not selling anything. The manufacturer is being charged a fee to sell his product here. In actuality, though, China is also "paying" in loss of any revenue it would have got through the sale of more product. It is losing some of its share in the overall balance of trade.
So, yes, Trump did answer his own question, whether he knew that he actually did or not.
All parties are "charged" when tariffs are imposed. But it may be worth it to a more static economy to protect its sellers on the world market. So loss of sales are, theoretically though perhaps not truly, better than no sales.
Or, as in this case, tariffs can be used as a counter against other tariffs, with the goal of eliminating them. If China loses enough due to the damage to its economy, then a more mutually beneficial agreement can be made.
But, of course, getting into the total weeds was not your intention. You just wanted to point out what a fool Trump is. If it all winds up in a better trade relation with China, is he a fool.