The Tariff Trick

Tariffs are taxes that a country places on import and exports.  Is this fair?  It depends.  Taxes can be no fair and no fun.  The real question is why do they happen?  Do they work?  What is the objective? Can a country take advantage of another with tariffs? You bet. Do countries take advantage of the US this way? Absolutely. Does Trump intend to abuse or tolerate abuse? He's not capable of either.

Presently United States is weak, vulnerable, owing 36 trillion in debt and has an Average Basic Cost of a Dozen Eggs and Furthermore Gas (ABCDEFG) of $4.15 per dozen (1/25- 40% higher than a year before) plus $3.43 per gallon (1/25- $1 more than 7 years ago).   The ABCDEFG is $7.58.

To solve this, among other things, Donald Trump is using tariffs.  But first: The President issued his America First Trade Policy on Day 1 in office.  This explains why and how he is conducting trade agreement which is a governor for using tariffs.  And every country should do this.  Of course the health and safety of our country - our family - is paramount.  Of course America First.  Anything else would be a disservice to our own.  Yes, we love other countries, but never more than our own; never at a critical cost to our own. 

Could a tariff back-fire?  Sure.  For that reason they have to be designed and maintained tactfully. The America First Trade Policy is a directive to government officials to fully analyze and remedy all international trade agreements for their effective impact and implications for American needs, safety, ultimate self-sufficiency, and to weed out unfair, imbalanced deals. It can even be worthwhile to our government to subsidize American business losses while maintaining a tariff, as was the case with midwestern farmers in Trump's first term.

With that, the tariff trick is engaged for service.  Every mechanism for economic health must be set in motion.  Sometimes just a threat of a tariff is effective in stopping illegal drugs and border crossings and the mounds of problems that come with those.  Since February 1st, 2025, Canada and Mexico have a 25% tariff on imports to U.S.  That’s nice because Canada owes us 328 billion.  That’s upside down.  And because Mexico tends to deliver their problems to us on foot.  At the border.  China has a 10% tariff.  China will be in check.

Here's the ultimate objective:  America, with our superabundance of resources should operate independently.  To begin with, that’s very safe.  We are then beholden to no one.  We encourage business here.  Not there.  This encourages our economic growth and life becomes cheaper here.  No tariffs. The sacrifice that companies will have to make, here, when they are used to saving money manufacturing abroad is temporary.  As long as a tariff is well-conceived, certain sacrifices are endured short term, businesses possibly compensated as necessary, the companies, the people who own them, the people who work there, the people who buy from them, ultimately win.

The aim is not to hurt another country (and certainly not ourselves) but to replenish our health and safety logically, fairly and agreeably.  Every country uses leverage if they need to and enters into deals if they have to. Like every handshook deal since the beginning of time.  US now is interested in taking an international moral stand on trade and of course, putting America first. This will probably set a trend across the world. Foreign leaders are listening.

Taking unfair advantage of any position of power which could cause backfire, is not the President's modus operandi. Trump's general guiding principle is to issue "fair and reciprocal tariffs." For years foreign countries have out-tariff'd us and now it is time to play fair, equalize and neutralize. Apples to Apples. If they charge 10%, we charge 10%. From there we stand back and watch what adjustments are made. It is Trump's intention to restore balance to trade and economic agreements and renew honor, safety and peace. And here’s the agenda:  First comes strength, then comes charity. Home first. America First.

It’s already working.  The following companies have announced opening up plants at home in the US: 

Fiat Chrysler          Illinois

Dodge Durango     Detroit

Samsung                 U.S. (moving back from Mexico)