Hear me out here, because in a nutty way it makes sense. We all know that Traitor Tot is maniacally devoted to tariffs as one of the most effective and efficient ways of increasing American GDP. We also know that the imbecile doesn’t have a clue as to how tariffs actually work. This idjit actually thinks that when Chinese goods are shipped to the US, the Chinese government actually cuts a check for that extra 25% and mails it to the US Treasury.
We can all tie our own shoes, so we all know that we pay that 25% in higher prices at the stores. And we’re all painfully aware that the soybean farmers, beef and poultry producers, Atlantic coast and Pacidic northwest seafood suppliers still haven’t recouped their losses from Emperor Numbus Nuttis’s first disastrous round of tariffs against China. And they never will. The Chinese companies found alternate suppliers for those products, and they’re not about to switch back and risk further disruption to their supply chain.
But the first time was different from this time, and here’s how. His Lowness got into a pissing contest with Xi, and kind of did a Pearl Harbor on everybody from China to US producers and suppliers with his tariffs. This led to expected Chinese retaliation, and a counterproductive result for all sides concerned.
This time around, Mar-A-Lago Fats has been telegraphing his punches ever since the campaign. He’s gone so far as to threaten to double the tariffs on China as one of his first acts after being inaugurated. And you all know the old saying, forewarned is forearmed.
As early as last month, it was reported that Columbia, the largest US manufacturer and retailer of outdoor apparel had already ordered enough Chinese fabrics and materials to last them through their spring, summer, and fall production lineups next year. This means that Columbia will be able to hold the line prices of their US products at least until next winter, if they don’t hoard more over the next 60 days to see them through next winter and spring in case Traitor Tot follows through on his threats.
And Columbia isn’t the only one with its sh*t firmly together. Reporting is showing that other major US retailers are also hoarding products for next year as full as they can stuff their warehouses. And even other US manufacturers who use Chinese products as components in their products are also jamming their warehouses with those parts and components to be able to hold the line short term at least on US prices. I saw one report in FT that indicated that some US retailers and manufacturers are even exploring expanding their warehouse capacity to stock up before the tariff wars get here.
This poses the possibility of an interesting conundrum for the Chinese government. I spent nine years at Zappos, the online retailer, working in fraud prevention. But even I know enough to know that there is normally a six month lag between purchasing and production and sales, and that the shipments are staggered. But in this case, the products have already been ordered and paid for before the tariffs were announced, they should be exempt. And if not, then the US companies will just expedite delivery to get them here before any tariffs kick in.
Here’s the problem for China. Their manufacturers have already received a huge windfall in pre-ordered shipments. If the threatened tariffs go into effect, there’s no reason for American companies to create any new orders for at least 6-12 months. And if they don’t, that just leaves the Chinese manufacturers sitting there holding stuff they can’t sell. And what’s to say that American companies won’t find alternate suppliers in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines? After all, what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, and togs are togs.
Now granted, that last part is all speculative, but what’s not speculative is that, thanks to the early warning, US companies have been able to take preemptive steps to protect not only their supply chains, but their consumer prices as well. That’s damn good business.
And here’s a semi related freebie for you. It isn’t just tariffs that Traitor Tot boned the bow-wow on. Late last month, retail behemoth Walmart announced that it is taking steps to beef up its diversity and inclusivity policies, and I expect more large companies and corporations to do the same. It’s also damn good business to show your workforce that you will stand by them in the face of possibly racist and anti LGBTQ policies coming out of the Trump regime.
I thank you for the privilege of your time.
Walmart announced they were pulling back DEI last Monday as many others are doing now.
Pulling back? What does that mean? So are they “beefing up” or “pulling back””
Wal-Mart is pulling back. See this AP story from November 26:
https://apnews.com/article/walmart-dei-inclusion-diversity-f2fc1ab086186ec6600c38950d8d2c74
Trump has let slip on several occasions that he does know how tarrifs work, or at least who pays them. I like Ursula idea that it’s a protection racket
as for zappos, last month I ordered size 10 work shoes and insoles. they sent 7.5 and 5. since they were ordered through my employer’s footwear program I won’t be able to reorder till next month. not your fault but I’m just saying.
The best part is that all this booming spending and related employment needs will be during Biden’s administration not during The Rump’s
I don’t believe for a second that T doesn’t understand how tariffs work. These people aren’t all idiots and we shouldn’t call them that, instead the truth is they’re evil bastards who will screw all of the rest of us because it’s fun for them. I’ve been thinking about this and am wondering if this is their way to tax all of us and add some revenue back into the government coffers after the extension of his tax cuts. It’s not taxing those of us below the mega wealthy technically yet it is a tax with a high % base of increase. We should call it what it is, a tax on the lower and middle class not a tariff. Another option is that he will somehow get the money himself in some diabolical way. Start by increasing his pay for the hardest job in the world.
Was recently discovered that 45’s grade school IQ was tested at 73. Ignorance is not bliss & 45’s ignorance is not going to help us much at all from all his damage.
What will help more is 45 not wanting to listen & follow anyone else’s commands. He is like a spoiled child that has been elevated to King. Anthony Fremont in this Twilight Zone episode comes to mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxTMbIxEj-E
Must have his own way all the time. And unless he gets to take credit anyone’s ideas around him will get rejected. He has surrounded with mostly timid loyalists who will shield him from the truth rather than get stabbed in the back. The entire new Administration is about to consist of mostly dysfunctional suck-ups and a few multi-millionaires & billionaires. The billionaires like Elon he appoints to high positions will be secretly working to undermine him behind his back.
Those are the things that may slow down 45’s attempts to create chaos, crash the economy, dismantle the federal govt., drain the US treasury, and order the arrest or assassination of his listed enemies.
Steve, those are the things that may hasten a crash in the economy. Janeto, no rule that says they can’t be stupid and evil at the same time. true, they’re not all entirely stupid but many of them are. as to how Trump uses this to enrich himself, ursula’s theory is that it’s a protection racket (like the mob because Trump loves those mob guys). so Trump calls bezos and says pay me a billion dollars or Amazon is going to be paying a 200 percent tariff on everything they import (which is pretty much everything they sell). bezos pays up and gets a waiver on the tariff. he could do this with every major company including manufacturers who import raw materials or components. smaller companies that can’t afford to pay would be screwed. it’s really the only way the tariffs make sense. floating them as a means to boost gdp or to pay everyone’s taxes (he’s suggested that as well) are just cover.