Trump Moving Too Fast?

[Rockerduck]

OK, Ronald. I read through your post, and I understand your view. But I still don't know that it has been as well thought out as maybe they think it has. China is now waging a tariff WAR, and they could turn around and say the same thing, "We don't need you either." Most of what they buy from us a food commodities, which I'm guessing the Trump Administration assumes the Chinese simply cannot do without. But what if they play hardball and go into greater alliance with Ukraine and/ or the Russians for food commodities, while if necessary telling their populace to simply tighten their belts, and that it's all Trump's fault. That makes them all hate us even more, and become even more resolute.

Let me comment on the news of the day here.

WASHINGTON, April 4 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said China "played it wrong" after Beijing retaliated against new U.S. tariffs, unveiling countermeasures that included additional duties of 34% on U.S. goods.
"China played it wrong, they panicked - the one thing they cannot afford to do!," Trump wrote in all caps in post on his social media platform.

https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-china-played-it-wrong-retaliation-against-us-tariffs-2025-04-04/

Ok, that Trump would say "China played it wrong," suggests he wasn't planning on them doing what they did, and he interpreted it as "panicking." What if wasn't panicking but a rather ticked off deliberate move because they are not up for being bullied?

That appears to be their response, and they may not be bluffing.

China’s Ministry of Commerce urged the U.S. to “immediately cancel” its unilateral tariff measures and vowed to take “resolute counter-measures” to safeguard its own rights and interests, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced what analysts described as the steepest tariff hikes in a century.

The Chinese official described the Trump administration’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs as a “typical unilateral bullying practice,” adding that many countries have expressed “strong dissatisfaction and clear opposition.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/03/china-pledges-countermeasures-against-sweeping-us-tariffs-donald-trump.html

Most countries don't exactly know what to do yet, but Canada has also followed suit, and the general response so far has simply been to start raising prices, which will further undermine their own economies and affect the global economy.

Various countries are still deciding how to respond (or not), and companies have begun adjusting to the new reality — largely by raising prices. Some countries responded with new tariffs of their own: Canada announced new duties on certain vehicles imported from the US, and China announced that it will impose countermeasures against the US starting April 10, including a 34% tariff on US goods.

https://www.reuters.com/world/china-impose-tariffs-34-all-us-goods-april-10-2025-04-04/

And here is a statement that had me concerned as well, and why I started the thread:

"This is the single biggest trade action of our lifetime," Kelly Ann Shaw, a trade lawyer and former White House trade adviser during Trump's first term, told Reuters. Shaw added that while she expected the tariffs to evolve through negotiations, the new policy is "a pretty seismic and significant shift in the way that we trade with every country on earth."

https://www.reuters.com/world/china-impose-tariffs-34-all-us-goods-april-10-2025-04-04/

It could still work, but this is a MAJOR gamble. What if the nations don't back down, and they all start renegotiating with one another to stick it to us? Like a lot of the other moves Trump is making, this is playing hardball in the extreme, but he is playing with the entire world economy right now, and it's pretty darned amazing, LoL.

Don't read articles from talking heads that are just opinions. They are only guessing or guessers. Trump does have an uncanny gift to negotiate. Like I said before, the USA is a huge market in multiples ways that can hardly be brought down. China cannot feed their own people and must import. China has the largest older population in the world because of their blind policy of one child per family and a male was preferred. What happened? Chinese men seeking women outside the country, young population not having children. Chinese leaving China. All the smaller countries sell to the USA and tariff goods coming in. The list goes on.

 

[JohnDB]

If I was a manufacturing business owner and my biggest customer/consumer of my goods was in the USA.

I would have to look and see if I could still make my goods at affordable retail prices. If not...then I would have to move the business.

From 10% to 25% off of manufacturing margin profit can be a LOT for some goods like motor oil or candle oils.
Or if now the little universal electric motors in the power tools cost 25% more....time to find a new supplier. I could eat the price hike for a while....but not long. And if an American supplier could get me the same motor but 10% cheaper than my Asian supplier because no tarrifs PLUS I get to put a sticker on my tools "Made in USA with USA made parts" that's even better. Better for sales and future sales. I might even want to look at purchasing the universal motor company through a stock swap deal. Get an even bigger slice of the pie.

It's how the game is played. Tariffs change the game. For some products there's no real hope of getting the manufacturing back. The labor is just too cheap overseas. A part could cost a range of prices here depending on size but overseas it's a flat same low price but I can sell them for what I used to because of what the market will bear. (Lightbulbs)

That's how it works.

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

OK, Ronald. I read through your post, and I understand your view. But I still don't know that it has been as well thought out as maybe they think it has. China is now waging a tariff WAR, and they could turn around and say the same thing, "We don't need you either." Most of what they buy from us a food commodities, which I'm guessing the Trump Administration assumes the Chinese simply cannot do without. But what if they play hardball and go into greater alliance with Ukraine and/ or the Russians for food commodities, while if necessary telling their populace to simply tighten their belts, and that it's all Trump's fault. That makes them all hate us even more, and become even more resolute.

Let me comment on the news of the day here.

WASHINGTON, April 4 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said China "played it wrong" after Beijing retaliated against new U.S. tariffs, unveiling countermeasures that included additional duties of 34% on U.S. goods.
"China played it wrong, they panicked - the one thing they cannot afford to do!," Trump wrote in all caps in post on his social media platform.

https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-china-played-it-wrong-retaliation-against-us-tariffs-2025-04-04/

Ok, that Trump would say "China played it wrong," suggests he wasn't planning on them doing what they did, and he interpreted it as "panicking." What if wasn't panicking but a rather ticked off deliberate move because they are not up for being bullied?

That appears to be their response, and they may not be bluffing.

China’s Ministry of Commerce urged the U.S. to “immediately cancel” its unilateral tariff measures and vowed to take “resolute counter-measures” to safeguard its own rights and interests, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced what analysts described as the steepest tariff hikes in a century.

The Chinese official described the Trump administration’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs as a “typical unilateral bullying practice,” adding that many countries have expressed “strong dissatisfaction and clear opposition.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/03/china-pledges-countermeasures-against-sweeping-us-tariffs-donald-trump.html

Most countries don't exactly know what to do yet, but Canada has also followed suit, and the general response so far has simply been to start raising prices, which will further undermine their own economies and affect the global economy.

Various countries are still deciding how to respond (or not), and companies have begun adjusting to the new reality — largely by raising prices. Some countries responded with new tariffs of their own: Canada announced new duties on certain vehicles imported from the US, and China announced that it will impose countermeasures against the US starting April 10, including a 34% tariff on US goods.

https://www.reuters.com/world/china-impose-tariffs-34-all-us-goods-april-10-2025-04-04/

And here is a statement that had me concerned as well, and why I started the thread:

"This is the single biggest trade action of our lifetime," Kelly Ann Shaw, a trade lawyer and former White House trade adviser during Trump's first term, told Reuters. Shaw added that while she expected the tariffs to evolve through negotiations, the new policy is "a pretty seismic and significant shift in the way that we trade with every country on earth."

https://www.reuters.com/world/china-impose-tariffs-34-all-us-goods-april-10-2025-04-04/

It could still work, but this is a MAJOR gamble. What if the nations don't back down, and they all start renegotiating with one another to stick it to us? Like a lot of the other moves Trump is making, this is playing hardball in the extreme, but he is playing with the entire world economy right now, and it's pretty darned amazing, LoL.

Moving too.faat? The country is financially moving towards the edge of the cliff, bankruptcy. If we do not act quickly to reverse negative and destructive moves (or lack of responsible moves) that Obama and Biden made, we won't have a country.
Hannity played a recording of Obama in the past speaking in favor of reciprocal tariff agreements between all countries and that we have been taken advantage of by many. The Dems just never did anything about it. They are liars and hypocrites. Any move Trump makes is rejected by them regardless of how beneficial it is for the country. We have crazy people in government still ... judges defending a deported Venezuelan criminals, wanting us to bring them back? What kind of fool is that?
We need to look at The Big Picture! Where are we headed?
The Left/ Deep State wanted to destriy the sovereignty of the US in order to One World Government, the Great Reset (planned for 2030). Maybe Trump can't stop it and it's inevitable. It's prophesied that the Antichrist will rule. But we can try and maybe at least God's grace will shield us from extreme measures that will be suffered elsewhere?
Appease China? They are communists, they do many things wrong, they govern wrong, live wrong, believe wrong. There are over 100 million Christians there but most Chinese are lost including their leader and so we are dealing with an unwise, blind leader. His response is no surprise. Both Putin and Xi Jinping are led by Satan. Making deals with blind men led by Satan will always be difficult.
China is preparing to take over Taiwan. Trump will be tested. Should we stay out of that one ... let China get away with that too?
Good vs. Evil is the story of man since the Garden. We need to stand up for what is right, fair, our values and beliefs ... if it kills us.

 

[Scott Downey]

Moving too.faat? The country is financially moving towards the edge of the cliff, bankruptcy. If we do not act quickly to reverse negative and destructive moves (or lack of responsible moves) that Obama and Biden made, we won't have a country.
Hannity played a recording of Obama in the past speaking in favor of reciprocal tariff agreements between all countries and that we have been taken advantage of by many. The Dems just never did anything about it. They are liars and hypocrites. Any move Trump makes is rejected by them regardless of how beneficial it is for the country. We have crazy people in government still ... judges defending a deported Venezuelan criminals, wanting us to bring them back? What kind of fool is that?
We need to look at The Big Picture! Where are we headed?
The Left/ Deep State wanted to destriy the sovereignty of the US in order to One World Government, the Great Reset (planned for 2030). Maybe Trump can't stop it and it's inevitable. It's prophesied that the Antichrist will rule. But we can try and maybe at least God's grace will shield us from extreme measures that will be suffered elsewhere?
Appease China? They are communists, they do many things wrong, they govern wrong, live wrong, believe wrong. There are over 100 million Christians there but most Chinese are lost including their leader and so we are dealing with an unwise, blind leader. His response is no surprise. Both Putin and Xi Jinping are led by Satan. Making deals with blind men led by Satan will always be difficult.
China is preparing to take over Taiwan. Trump will be tested. Should we stay out of that one ... let China get away with that too?
Good vs. Evil is the story of man since the Garden. We need to stand up for what is right, fair, our values and beliefs ... if it kills us.

Taiwan is a big concern but mostly over economic interests and technologies, otherwise who cares much elsewhere what happens to Taiwan. TSM is making unusual moves in building semiconductor production now in Arizona fabs, something they said would never do. Trump may not have liked the Chips Act, but it got this ball rolling faster than it would have. And China makes lots of semiconductors you use every day.

One thing Trump excluded from tariffs are semiconductor chips.

 

[Scott Downey]

Don't forget what politicians who oppose Trump are about.

And Even Obama and Pelosi in the past complained about trade imbalances but never did a thing about it.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Don't read articles from talking heads that are just opinions.

Thanks, but I already addressed this in the opening posts. I don't accept every argument of a Leftist piece as holding water, and certain sections are clearly just hit piece comments. But some of the arguments being presented are legitimate, and people on the Right could be making a terrible mistake by blindly assuming that everything counter to the Trump Administration line has no basis in reality.

Not sure if you believe in prophetic visions and dreams, but they were the real impetus for this thread. I never pay attention to the news unless the Spirit of God alerts me to something, and I stop paying attention the minute something has run its course. But there's something extremely significant going on here, and I wouldn't pass it off as little more than Liberal hysteria. There's a guy on my home forum who's trying to make that argument right now, but he's kind of a faithless Presbyterian, Lol.

 

[Hidden In Him]

The Dems just never did anything about it.

That's correct.

Any move Trump makes is rejected by them regardless of how beneficial it is for the country.

That's also correct (IMO).

The Left/ Deep State wanted to destriy the sovereignty of the US in order to One World Government, the Great Reset (planned for 2030). Maybe Trump can't stop it and it's inevitable. It's prophesied that the Antichrist will rule. But we can try and maybe at least God's grace will shield us from extreme measures that will be suffered elsewhere?

The deeper argument here is will Nationalism and attempting to achieve economic independence help the situation now or hurt it. I'm saying I think we waited too long, and now may actually not be the time to do it anymore. Better to keep the economy up in its compromised state then dismantle it in hopes of rebuilding it again in the aftermath.

China is preparing to take over Taiwan. Trump will be tested. Should we stay out of that one ... let China get away with that too?
Good vs. Evil is the story of man since the Garden. We need to stand up for what is right, fair, our values and beliefs ... if it kills us.

Not sure that argument applies here, Ronald. In the trade war at least, it's a question of will we be shooting ourselves in the foot.

 

[soberxp]

The Punitive Tariff Act of 1828,

McKinley Tariff Act of 1890,

Smoot-hawley Tariff Act of 1929,

If you're interested, you can look up the history of this period yourself, and it's very similar to the current situation.

 

[Rockerduck]

Thanks, but I already addressed this in the opening posts. I don't accept every argument of a Leftist piece as holding water, and certain sections are clearly just hit piece comments. But some of the arguments being presented are legitimate, and people on the Right could be making a terrible mistake by blindly assuming that everything counter to the Trump Administration line has no basis in reality.

Not sure if you believe in prophetic visions and dreams, but they were the real impetus for this thread. I never pay attention to the news unless the Spirit of God alerts me to something, and I stop paying attention the minute something has run its course. But there's something extremely significant going on here, and I wouldn't pass it off as little more than Liberal hysteria. There's a guy on my home forum who's trying to make that argument right now, but he's kind of a faithless Presbyterian, Lol.

I have visions and dreams, so yes, I am a witness for Christ everywhere. I left the news, during covid, when I found out that CNN, and MSNBC hired paid liars for their shows. So, they hired devils to lie.

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

Taiwan is a big concern but mostly over economic interests and technologies, otherwise who cares much elsewhere what happens to Taiwan. TSM is making unusual moves in building semiconductor production now in Arizona fabs, something they said would never do. Trump may not have liked the Chips Act, but it got this ball rolling faster than it would have. And China makes lots of semiconductors you use every day.

One thing Trump excluded from tariffs are semiconductor chips.

I don't think the US should be the police of the world. The US offersTaiwan assistance, weapons, etc. Why are we obligated to them?
"The Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of China ( Taiwan) was a defense pact signed and effective from 1955 to 1980".
That expired and was replaced with the Taiwan Relations Act: The TRA does not guarantee or relinquish the U.S. intervening militarily if the PRC attacks or invades Taiwan, as its primary purpose is to ensure that the Taiwan policy will not be changed unilaterally by the U.S. president and ensure any decision to defend Taiwan will be made with the consent of the Congress. The act states that "the United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability" and "shall maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan".
I guess we did not promise to fight their war! We can't be sending them over a hundred billion worth in weapons like Biden did with Ukraine. Each country needs to fend for itself now, we are broke and it's America First and frankly there is no money for Second place.

 

[Triumph1300]

China is the world's enemy #1 and they must be cut off immediately

That's so wrong!

Free trade is the only way a Christian should promote and conduct business.
Trade wars only hurt the working man and only benefits the rich when it's all over with.
Christians should conduct their affairs differently.

But of course there are no Christian nations involved in this.
There might be a few running around, but most politicians don't give a hoot about acting in a Christian way.

And by observing this, the conclusion is, the US (and Canada) are not Christian nations.
There are none. All nations are run by evil people.

And the way it is going, the US is on a path towards civil war.
When that happens there is no need to worry about tariffs or free trade, it will be all OFF the table.
It will be total chaos.
Hopefully the Lord return soon.

 

[Rockerduck]

That's so wrong!

Free trade is the only way a Christian should promote and conduct business.
Trade wars only hurt the working man and only benefits the rich when it's all over with.
Christians should conduct their affairs differently.

But of course there are no Christian nations involved in this.
There might be a few running around, but most politicians don't give a hoot about acting in a Christian way.

And by observing this, the conclusion is, the US (and Canada) are not Christian nations.
There are none. All nations are run by evil people.

And the way it is going, the US is on a path towards civil war.
When that happens there is no need to worry about tariffs or free trade, it will be all OFF the table.
It will be total chaos.
Hopefully the Lord return soon.

Impossible for a civil war in the USA. The media already tried and Soros has tried but nobody is following their devil bait. When Jesus Christ comes for His elect, His wrath will follow.

 

[Hidden In Him]

The Punitive Tariff Act of 1828,

McKinley Tariff Act of 1890,

Smoot-hawley Tariff Act of 1929,

If you're interested, you can look up the history of this period yourself, and it's very similar to the current situation.

No, no, soberxp. What's highly different is the interconnectedness of the global economy today. It's MUCH more interdependent now than in 1828, or even 1929.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I have visions and dreams, so yes, I am a witness for Christ everywhere.

Good. That's what this thread is based on. I wouldn't have posted it otherwise because I quite honestly never watch the news, Left or Right. I only pay attention when the Spirit of God is speaking something through visions and dreams and I need to start connecting dots. And the problem with getting all your information from either the Left OR the Right alone is that it will always be slanted. Always. If this turns out to be a pig, the Right will continue painting lipstick on it till their dying breath, at least in the States anyway. It's unfortunately the way the media works here now.

 

[Triumph1300]

Impossible for a civil war in the USA.

Really?
Why not?

 

[Truth7t7]

That's so wrong!

Free trade is the only way a Christian should promote and conduct business.
Trade wars only hurt the working man and only benefits the rich when it's all over with.
Christians should conduct their affairs differently.

But of course there are no Christian nations involved in this.
There might be a few running around, but most politicians don't give a hoot about acting in a Christian way.

And by observing this, the conclusion is, the US (and Canada) are not Christian nations.
There are none. All nations are run by evil people.

And the way it is going, the US is on a path towards civil war.
When that happens there is no need to worry about tariffs or free trade, it will be all OFF the table.
It will be total chaos.
Hopefully the Lord return soon.

Notice you live in Canada

Yes Canada has been on the American free ride way to long, glad to see President Trump is cutting it off

Dictator Justin Trudeau should have been gone long ago, what a tyrant and to think America was helping his regime

 

[ScottA]

That may end up advantageous for people who buy stocks. But the subject at hand here is people buying cars, and it's about to get a lot more expensive, domestic, foreign, parts, repairs, and insurance.

That certainly is a short-term possibility. But that is not what Trump is addressing. He is looking at, and taking action, toward the greater long-term benefits. The problem is, in the past the long-term benefit did not favor America, but worked against us. Trump is simply acting on the idea that fair tariff practices favor all parties without anyone--namely America, suffering the abuses of the past.

@Triumph1300

 

[Truth7t7]

The deeper argument here is will Nationalism and attempting to achieve economic independence help the situation now or hurt it. I'm saying I think we waited too long, and now may actually not be the time to do it anymore. Better to keep the economy up in its compromised state then dismantle it in hopes of rebuilding it again in the aftermath.

I Disagree

America needs to cut China off immediately, it's a matter of National security just as President Trump has stated several times

To think China is in control of America's pharmaceutical's is "Scary" just to mention one, the drug epidemic killing the world that they are causing is added weight

To think China uses profits made in foreign trade, to build their military and agenda to expand for dominance and control of the world is "Scary"

China is the world's enemy #1 and must be stopped, if it takes America suffering pain in the transition to do this so be it, China must be stopped, there's no other alternative

 

[Wrangler]

No, no, soberxp. What's highly different is the interconnectedness of the global economy today. It's MUCH more interdependent now than in 1828, or even 1929.

Interconnected doesn’t address the underlying problem of employment when so many countries produce more than they consume.

‘Growth’ via exports, ‘strengthening interconnectedness’ is said to be the Holy Grail which is a bizarre departure from the ‘sustainability’ mantra of energy and birth rate.

 

[Truth7t7]

Really?
Why not?

No need for a civil war Trump and the Republicans are in power, the MAGA supporters own 80% of the weapons in the US, and this consists of MAGA local law enforcement, the military in a vast majority, and 2nd amendment MAGA patriots