Donald Trump’s decision to impose sweeping tariffs on US trade partners — including close security allies — has triggered a rush to find ways of placating Washington in the brief window before the radical measures take effect.
The US president’s executive order on the tariffs extended an olive branch to countries taking “significant steps” to remedy trade surpluses with the US and address tax, regulatory and licensing practices deemed unfair.
But capitals have less than a week to haggle. Trump on Wednesday said higher so-called “reciprocal” tariff rates would apply from April 9, after his basic tariff of 10 per cent on almost all countries takes effect on April 5.
Important figures in the Trump firmament, including his son Eric in a post on social media, encouraged nations to offer the US concessions. “I wouldn’t want to be the last country that tries to negotiate a trade deal with @realDonaldTrump,” he said on X.
About 60 nations that run the largest trade surpluses with the US — including key strategic allies such as the EU, Japan and South Korea — face extra tariffs higher than 10 per cent, with some extending to 50 per cent or more in total.
backfromthed34d on
Two thoughts: is this entire exercise simply a way for Trump to make countries grovel before him? Further, what even bother? Just tell Trump to go fuck himself and tell your citizens things are going to suck for a while but that America is no longer a friend.
TF_dia on
Honestly Trump is the definition of a paper tiger.
The moment he feels the slightest pressure he folds. While I understand why countries don’t want their economies to go to the shitter. Showing Trump which countries are the fastest to debase themselves may not be the smartest idea.
deepad9 on
Chris Murphy: [“The tariffs don’t make sense as economic policy because they aren’t economic policy. They are a tool to undermine our democracy. A means to force every major company and industry in America to pledge loyalty to Trump in return for tariff relief.”](https://xcancel.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1907926925235962322)
nowiseeyou22 on
For someone who loves tariffs he spends a lot of time and energy trying to not put them in place as he puts them in place
TheloniousMonk15 on
I think he really believes in the power of tariffs as it relates to them bringing back American manufacturing jobs. He was advocating for them in the 80s on these grounds back when he was a registered Democrat. He also said in an interview today that he wants multinational companies to build their factories in the US and that is the only way other countries will get relief from these tariffs.
So these EU countries trying to kiss his ass should realize that he’s not even looking for trade concessions when he does these tariffs.
Some leaders just have really irrational world views and Trump with the tariffs is one such example.
6 Comments
Donald Trump’s decision to impose sweeping tariffs on US trade partners — including close security allies — has triggered a rush to find ways of placating Washington in the brief window before the radical measures take effect.
The US president’s executive order on the tariffs extended an olive branch to countries taking “significant steps” to remedy trade surpluses with the US and address tax, regulatory and licensing practices deemed unfair.
But capitals have less than a week to haggle. Trump on Wednesday said higher so-called “reciprocal” tariff rates would apply from April 9, after his basic tariff of 10 per cent on almost all countries takes effect on April 5.
Important figures in the Trump firmament, including his son Eric in a post on social media, encouraged nations to offer the US concessions. “I wouldn’t want to be the last country that tries to negotiate a trade deal with @realDonaldTrump,” he said on X.
About 60 nations that run the largest trade surpluses with the US — including key strategic allies such as the EU, Japan and South Korea — face extra tariffs higher than 10 per cent, with some extending to 50 per cent or more in total.
Two thoughts: is this entire exercise simply a way for Trump to make countries grovel before him? Further, what even bother? Just tell Trump to go fuck himself and tell your citizens things are going to suck for a while but that America is no longer a friend.
Honestly Trump is the definition of a paper tiger.
The moment he feels the slightest pressure he folds. While I understand why countries don’t want their economies to go to the shitter. Showing Trump which countries are the fastest to debase themselves may not be the smartest idea.
Chris Murphy: [“The tariffs don’t make sense as economic policy because they aren’t economic policy. They are a tool to undermine our democracy. A means to force every major company and industry in America to pledge loyalty to Trump in return for tariff relief.”](https://xcancel.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1907926925235962322)
For someone who loves tariffs he spends a lot of time and energy trying to not put them in place as he puts them in place
I think he really believes in the power of tariffs as it relates to them bringing back American manufacturing jobs. He was advocating for them in the 80s on these grounds back when he was a registered Democrat. He also said in an interview today that he wants multinational companies to build their factories in the US and that is the only way other countries will get relief from these tariffs.
So these EU countries trying to kiss his ass should realize that he’s not even looking for trade concessions when he does these tariffs.
Some leaders just have really irrational world views and Trump with the tariffs is one such example.