For those curious about where the “Tariffs Charged” came from

Posted by Styvorama

38 comments

  1. For anyone curious about the numbers listed as “Tariffs Charged” following the new Tariff announcement—especially noticing that many are exactly 10%—here’s a bit of clarification:

    These figures aren’t actually tariffs being charged by those other countries. Instead, they closely reflect the trade deficit percentages the U.S. has with each of those nations. In other words, the numbers represent how much more we import from them than we export to them. For example, China’s 67% means that 67% of our total trade with China is at a deficit—not that there’s a 67% tariff involved.

    So, just to be clear: these are not tariffs.

    Oh, and those countries that show 10% “Tariff Charged”? The numbers show that we have a TRADE SURPLUS with those countries. That is a fine thank you for doing business.

    Personally, I can’t imagine that implementing broad, punitive tariffs is the most effective way to encourage other countries to buy more from us.

  2. I’ve been looking all over for this! Apart from the fact that the math lines up, has there been any official acknowledgement that this is how the numbers were calculated?

  3. this shit is fucking hilarious… in the worst way possible

  4. If the GOP leadership are not meeting to discuss the 25th Amendment right now then everything is fucked.

    It’s crazy to think that if closed door voting was actually an option the GOP probably would have impeached Trump by now.

  5. “How do we precisely apply tariffs?”

    “Oh just hit the people who sell us the most stuff with the highest tariffs, that will help our economy!”

  6. Yiiiiiiikes you have to be kidding me. 

    So it’s trade deficit rounded to the nearest whole number. 

    These people think like children. 

  7. It’s been an absurd 10 years since he first began running and this is still the most unbelievably stupid thing I have ever seen. This is what a kid who doesn’t go to class does on a test when he doesn’t know what the terms mean so he just makes things up, how is this reality…

  8. So, who is ok with the whitehouse blatantly lying? Because I’m not. Who approved this to be released. I’m gonna get set to call over and over again to get their reason to think this is ok at all.

  10. These people are genuine idiots. They confused a trade deficit with a tariff. Literally can’t even use Wikipedia right.

  11. This can not possibly real. This is so utterly beyond dumb if this is what they are calling a tariff.

  14. Anyone have any idea how long it takes to internationally move or create a new whole factory setup and get up and running to manufacture stuff? I’m guessing it’s not like, a week….

  17. The idea is to wreck the economy even worse, just another way to allow those with money to increase their influence and control over the rest.

  18. Israel has a free trade agreement with the US and yesterday eliminated tariffs on the remaining US products that weren’t included in the agreement.

    Even so, they were slapped with a 17% tariff just because the US has a trade deficit with them.

  19. I don’t know what’s worse..

    – making up a “tariff on us” by not understanding trade deficits
    – making countries where the US has surplus trade with and just slapping them with 10% just for fun
    – them not just winging it and making up numbers

  21. Trade deficits are self-inflicted. If you buy more from China than China buys from you, why do you blame the country that sells you what you want to buy? They’re not imposing a tariff on you, you’re the one who wants their stuff. It’s not a subsidy either, by the way. It’s *all* on you, not on them.

  22. I have to say I’m genuinely surprised that these numbers were not just pulled directly out of someone’s ass.

    It seems like a lot of work to do for a result that is still transparently bullshit for anyone who isn’t already chugging the kool-aid.

  23. Holy fk is this real? How fking stupid is the trump administration? Do they not realize most of these countries will have trade surplus with the USA?

  24. so Mexico and Canada didn’t show up here, despite having a trade deficit with the US because of USMCA (CUSMA) right?

    I’m surprised some of that agreement is still being respected…

  26. It’s really cool how our government and institutions are just letting this fucking dipshit destroy America. What a stupid country.

  27. So…going after the relationships we depend on the _most_??

  30. What’s wild is that put Tarrifs on countries which they have a surplus with.

    I’m in Australia and really really was confused about why the hell we are getting 10%. We have extremely low farming subsidy and don’t really control our currency in any meaningful way.

    What’s also nuts is that despite what people scream, Tarrifs can be used effectively and positively but it needs to be very careful. If he had put a .5% Tarrif on all Chinese goods per month and it rose by .5% per month, then yeah, a gradual weakening of China would occur. And US allies only get say .1% per month until you’re in trade deficit.

  32. But if this is true then that means Trump lied and he wouldn’t do something so awful.

  33. We are so goddamn fucked. How can we stop this? Is there anything we can do?

  36. Holy shit we live in the most moronic possible timeline

  37. Nothing has much basis or forethought, Trump is known to be incapable of reading due to dyslexia. But yeah, that tracks. Worst available method, ✅

  38. Just fucking pulled out of a hat. Hey! Look, amazingly it happens to equal our trade deficit!

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