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Trump’s Tariffs: A Chaotic Dream within a Lost Era
Trump’s sweeping tariffs, now standing at 20% on most imports and up to 145% on Chinese goods, are meant to revive American manufacturing by making foreign products costlier and enticing firms to build factories in the US. But this plan is flawed and already buckling under economic pressure, cultural shifts, and Trump’s unpredictable leadership. Instead of bringing jobs and growth, it looks set to punish consumers and drive away investment. Prices are rising for basics like coffee, clothing, and many electronics, adding anywhere from $1,300 to $3,800 average a year to household budgets. By 2026, inflation could jump up another 1.5% from these tariffs, while tariff retaliation from China and Canada threatens 740,000 US jobs and could shave 1.3% off American GDP. Farmers are already taking a hit, too. China’s 125% tariffs on US soybean and pork exports to China are crushing rural exporters and pushing grocery prices even higher. Yet Trump still banks on a fantasy that Americans will return to factory floors and companies will risk investing billions on building plants in the US. But the economy has moved on. Services now make up 80% of American GDP, and manufacturing jobs, once 30% of employment in 1970, are down to just 8%. These jobs offer low wages, tough conditions, and little growth potential. Most workers who would be filling those types of jobs now lean toward tech, retail, or gig jobs. Automation cuts factory worker roles even further, weakening Trump’s nostalgic vision. And a new factory can cost up to $10 billion to build, a bet most CEOs will not take lightly. His constant policy reversals only add to the confusion. In 2018, tariff uncertainty froze $40 billion in new project investments. Now, US investment could drop another 15%-20%, with companies eyeing more stable countries like Singapore or Mexico. Corruption rumors make it worse. Exemptions may favor Trump donors or his international real estate partners, tilting the market. Small importers get crushed. Big firms may shift billions to fairer systems in the EU or India. Voters expected jobs and cheaper goods, but rising prices and favoritism have left many already feeling burned. So what happens if Trump's dream of American manufacturing glory just no longer fits the reality of a modern economy?- 1
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Best beach near Pattaya?
Hire a boat, cross the bay, land at Cha Am ad you will be with ylike minded people and can discuss the virtues of pre-arranging your funeral and the best support hose for varicose veins. -
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Half of US soldiers to potentially pull out of Europe.
Is that because Sarah Palin can see Russia from her back porch and will sound the alarm if she sees anything suspicious, which scares off the Russians? -
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Triple pricing for BTS/MRT from September
I use BTS and MRT in Bangkok. Regularly. Judging from the fares you quote, maybe these are the rail lines in your fishing village in Prachuap? Interesting observation, though, that the BTS will be even more crowded. -
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Half of US soldiers to potentially pull out of Europe.
Tell us you have limited education and limited business skills without telling us. You did not speak to the points that were provided. Instead you have responded with a childish insults. The USA was in large part responsible for the structure of militaries post WWII. Who imposed a constitution on Germany that had the restrictions on military spending? (Not that the USA was wrong, but one should be honest in recognizing the historical basis.) The reality is that the EU is at risk to Russia because it was backing the USA's foreign policy. It supported US political positions and the result is that it is now betrayed because a new President is an isolationist. The USA would be singing a different tune tomorrow, if the EU said F it, and cut a deal with both Russia and China to the USA's detriment. Today, the USA is expecting other Nations to rally to its initiated confrontation with China. Your arguments about Russia and the EU can be reversed when it comes to China and the USA. The fact is that the USA does have a valid point in asking the EU to take on more responsibility, but it is dishonest to ignore the reasons why it ended up like this. You accuse me of lying, because you are incapable of making an accurate comparison of data. When comparing data conclusions, one must ensure that the data parameters are similar. The EU defines poverty differently. It sets a more encompassing threshold and it includes those who are at risk of poverty. The EU poverty threshold is set at 60% of the national median equivalised disposable income. The USA uses a threshold of approx. 40% of national median income. That difference is significant. Adjust for 40% in the EU, or 60% in the USA and a much different result is obtained. The same applies for the calculation of child poverty. I don't know whether to laugh or to feel sorry for you. Maybe you truly believe the number of 21.4%, but you have misinterpreted the number. From the actual EU report; In 2023, there were around 94.6 million people in the EU at risk of poverty or social exclusion, which was equivalent to 21.4 % of the total population. This is not the same as how the USA views poverty. It reflects social policy attitudes. The USA concentrates on the most extreme type of poverty, The EU includes lack of opportunity to thrive. It also includes a large number of people who are excluded in the USA such as classes of refugees and migrants. The presence of millions of people in the EU who are given access to social benefits also inflates the EU numbers. And once again you misinterpret data. Yes the GDP for MS is high. However it is still one of the lowest in the USA and you miss that the number is artificially inflated because the Government (sector) contributed the most to GDP in Mississippi. Compare that to the top states where government spending is a much small components. Government spending is why DC has the largest GDP in the USA. And yet poverty is invasive and visible everywhere in DC. Anyway, the issue was one of poverty and the fact remains that poverty is intense in MS. There is a segment of the population that does very well, but there is a larger segment of the population that doesn't. It is about quality of life. Having access to medical care, good education, social services, elder care and living in peace and security costs. The people of MS don't want to invest in that, whereas the people of Germany do.
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