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Originally Posted by Everett Adams
I don't see why each country has to buy the same dollar value from each other. Population should be considered when coming up with tariffs. If A country has ten times the population as B country, how is it possible for B to buy the same amount as A. A is going to consume ten times the amount that B will. So how can it balance. Don't make sense to me.

Population size, niche markets, overall relations, suicidal consequences...are all factored in. And it is highly subjective and uncertain as to outcome. These tariffs were somehow averaged and indexed against even currency manipulation.

Trump was presented with an overall economic condition of the US.
He saw a 1 trillion dollar trade deficit and went to work pounding it down on behalf of this country.
He has now disrupted the world in that effort.

I have no idea why he picked on Canada with all the 51st state crap, but he did. However, I still wonder about the Lysol thing.
All sorts of sh+t is flying, all sorts of heads are rattling, but the facts are also beginning to evolve a little.
And it appears that the US auto mfgs told Trump, that if your blast Canada and Mexico, you will shut us down, so he backed off.

He APPEARS to have thrown down the gauntlet on China and the EU. Who knows what is actually happening.

Everett,
From Trump's viewpoint, I think that you Canadians are the least of it.

Try to relax.

SIDENOTE: The shelves at Walmart may empty out. I dont know where that goes.

Marty

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Trump’s tariffs were pitched as “reciprocal,” matching what other countries charge the United States dollar for dollar, even taking into account non-tariff barriers like value-added taxes and other such measures. But the actual calculation Trump used is not reciprocal at all. Matching countries’ tariffs dollar for dollar is an incredibly difficult task, involving matching a complex array of products, each of which has a different charge for any variants. Instead, Trump used quite a simple calculation: the country’s trade deficit divided by its exports to the United States times 1/2. That’s it. For example, America’s trade deficit with China in 2024 was $295.4 billion, and the United States imported $439.9 billion worth of Chinese goods. That means China’s trade surplus with the United States was 67% of the value of its exports - a value Trump labeled as “tariff charged to USA.” It will be interesting to see how other countries react to this kind of calculation.

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Originally Posted by Rob B.
Trump’s tariffs were pitched as “reciprocal,” matching what other countries charge the United States dollar for dollar, even taking into account non-tariff barriers like value-added taxes and other such measures. But the actual calculation Trump used is not reciprocal at all. Matching countries’ tariffs dollar for dollar is an incredibly difficult task, involving matching a complex array of products, each of which has a different charge for any variants. Instead, Trump used quite a simple calculation: the country’s trade deficit divided by its exports to the United States times 1/2. That’s it. For example, America’s trade deficit with China in 2024 was $295.4 billion, and the United States imported $439.9 billion worth of Chinese goods. That means China’s trade surplus with the United States was 67% of the value of its exports - a value Trump labeled as “tariff charged to USA.” It will be interesting to see how other countries react to this kind of calculation.

It was my impression that they were purely reciprocal, category per category. They were not.
Then the WH puts out fact sheets in which the tariffs were said to be averaged-out equal to opposing tariffs and indexed to things such as currency manipulation when it is weaponized for advantage.
There is also the explanation in quotes.

At the moment, I'm going to wait for more information.

Whatever the calculations were, the trade imbalances appear to be there and need addressing. It is a question how and how much.
Google Gemini will usually cite reasonably reliable looking sources regarding the existing trade numbers.

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Trump claims the EU charges us 39%, therefore we're going to charge them 20%. If US whiskey is charged with a 39% tariff in Germany, why is Jack Daniels much cheaper over there despite the 19% value added tax on all goods. They have to ship it half way around the world too. I used to be pretty good in math, but this one ...

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Originally Posted by Rob B.
Trump claims the EU charges us 39%, therefore we're going to charge them 20%. If US whiskey is charged with a 39% tariff in Germany, why is Jack Daniels much cheaper over there despite the 19% value added tax on all goods. I used to be pretty good in math, but this one ...

Rob,
Who knows? It doesn't ring true that Jack is cheaper in Berlin than Lynchburg. Whether it's true or not...it's just Jack.
You keep cherry picking this and that details to make your points, but they give no real context and bring closure to nothing.

Here is a more realistic viewpoint...

The US has a trillion dollar deficit with various countries around the world. That is too much and needs addressing.
Per Gemini the US has a 235 billion dollar trade deficit with EU. That is too much and needs addressing.
Working that out to a more equitable arrangement is going to be complex and distorted by all parties.
When the negotiators get together, they will make claims and need supporting evidence.
It is unlikely that you or I will ever be allowed to fully understand the details of what they offer as arguments and evidence.

I can assure you that the Europeans DO NOT WANT YOU to know the real facts surrounding whatever arguments (LINE OF SH+t) that they are going to make justifying a 235 billion dollar deficit in EU's favor. They will prepare a separate narrative to feed their unquestioning believers.

If the smoke ever clears, you and I can go back to Gemini and asked them what the revised trade numbers are and how they were sourced.
Maybe we will get to know more, but I doubt it.

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MATH... Another cancelled thread lol...

If a country is taxing America for 10 different imports, but America only taxes that country for 1... how do you balance that equation, geniuses?

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Originally Posted by JAPOV
MATH... Another cancelled thread lol...

If a country is taxing America for 10 different imports, but America only taxes that country for 1... how do you balance that equation, geniuses?

This is lifted from a POLITICO article which is owned by a German company, so they will have bias.
What they present as hard facts are...

""""That approach meant Trump and his advisers simply took the U.S. trade deficit with the European Union — $235.6 billion in 2024 — and divided it by the bloc’s exports to the U.S., which totaled $605.8 billion.

The result was 39 percent, which the administration interpreted as the “unfair” trade advantage the EU holds over the U.S. From there, the White House proposed a 20 percent tariff, framing it as a corrective measure to level the playing field.""""

If true, can't help but wonder...
Had they gone category by category and matched EU tariffs, how close would that number come out to 39% and 20%.

At this point, unless Trump lifts or modifies this number, I guess we have to wait for year end to see how it compares to 2024.

Clearly, some tariff reciprocity was justified. Just a question of how much it should be.

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Here you go Tony,

I got this from a link supplied by the HUFF POST which is a foaming at the mouth liberal propaganda machine.
The link goes to a US TRADE COMMISSION WEBSITE.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-house-tariffs-formula_n_67eeae9ce4b0c989cefdfebb

The link to the formula is in the article.

It displays the alleged formula for the calculations.
IF IF IF this is the actual formula, then the formula presented by POLITICO was possibly dumbed down and misrepresented for the Libtardian Ministry of Truth narrative. Hard for me to say.

HUFF POST found some guy to say that the formula is idiocy. Big surprise there.

Maybe you can shed some light.
As for me, you will have to explain the formula to me Tony.

xoxo

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Lol... "Libtardian Ministry of Truth", Good one!

Originally Posted by JAPOV
An analogy;

I've worked hard all my life. I've got a nice house on a nice spread. I've got a nice garden and I tend to be quite generous.

However, my nearest neighbor is a trailer-trash pig farmer who has become far too "dependent" upon my generosity. In fact, he has become arrogantly demanding because his pigs need my corn!

So, I decide to actually make a little profit with my produce elsewhere. Screw him AND HIS STINKING BACON! I can raise my own damn pigs!

Explanation;
Figures lie and liars figure...

Big Picture;
Why should I fuk'n care if... "I CAN RAISE MY OWN DAMN PIGS!" grin

Trump is obviously playing the long game!
Saturating America with industry and product will obviously drive prices down at home.

Once we drain our own swamp, then we can set fair trade standards.

Will it be ugly for a while? Absolutely!

Why will America endure it and come out the other side a lot stronger?
Because, currently, the trade deficit and global debt scam only benefits foreign banks!

Screw'um!

This is potentially "The Great Reset" everyone has been anticipating smile

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Ok, I found some numbers for us. In 2023 the US collected approximately €7 billion of tariffs on EU products compared to the EU’s €3 billion on US goods. The average tariff rate on all US products entering the EU was around 4.8%. The average tariff rate on EU goods going to the US was slightly higher. Included in the averages are the tariffs on cars. The EU applies a 10% tariff on US car imports, while the US charges just 2.5%. The US charges 25% on EU-made pick-up trucks. As far as I can tell here, there was no need for any reciprocal tariffs against the EU. Just think how you would feel if your biggest trading partner would say that you’re not acting fair and then blast you with an additional 20% and claim you’re actually taking 39%. Not nice. His numbers are incorrect and he just wants the whole world to come crawling on their knees and beg him for exemptions. That’s why people from other countries don’t like him. This whole thing might just backfire on him because the longer these tariffs stay in place, the more they are going to feed inflation.
I assume Trump's team didn't understand Europe's value added tax (VAT) of around 20%. That is in place for all goods, domestic and foreign. But even if they did view that as a tariff, it doesn't add up to 39% and it has nothing to do with trade.

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Rob, Let's clear the smoke a bit, see the forest for the trees

Per Gemini for 2024

Total U.S.-EU Goods Trade:
According to the United States Trade Representative, the total U.S. goods trade with the European Union was estimated at $975.9 billion in 2024.  
This figure is comprised of:
U.S. goods exports to the EU: $370.2 billion.  
U.S. goods imports from the EU: $605.8 billion.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total trade 976 billion (Call it 1 trillion)
EU buys $370 billion from US
US buys $606 billion from EU

If you are a US citizen those numbers suck.

Rob says, yeah but people like German cars and Belgium chocolate, so that's just the way it works out. Just nature taking its course. And what about Jack Daniels?

US citizen says, No. That sux. I want those numbers coming a lot closer together. They're gonna squeal like pigs that are next in line at the slaughter house. Ignore em. Look into it. Fix it. And I drink Jack Daniels.

The forces against Trump have failed to keep these numbers hidden from the American public. That's a problem for them.
Fixing those numbers is going to be an 80-20 issue in this country.

Rob, Do you think that the Germans will prefer Fords or Chevys? wink GMC?



 

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Some Americans blame Europe for "ripping off" the US. The only thing one can blame Europe for is for producing products Americans like and apparently can't manufacture themselves. Things like cool cars or tasty chocolate. If Americans don't buy American cars why should Europeans? America is not being ripped off. They pay money and in return they get the products they payed for. Nothing wrong with that. If they would just buy their own products they wouldn't have a trade deficit.

I'm just swifting through foreign media news. The world is laughing about the way Trump calculates his "fake" tariff rates. It looks like he lied to the American people again. This time to the whole world.

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Lol, I just took a look at this "Tariff Adjustment Calculator"...

("Consider an environment in which the U.S. levies a tariff of rate τ_i on country i and ∆τ_i reflects the change in the tariff rate. Let ε<0 represent the elasticity of imports with respect to import prices, let φ>0 represent the passthrough from tariffs to import prices, let m_i>0 represent total imports from country i, and let x_i>0 represent total exports. Then the decrease in imports due to a change in tariffs equals ∆τ_i*ε*φ*m_i<0. Assuming that offsetting exchange rate and general equilibrium effects are small enough to be ignored, the reciprocal tariff that results in a bilateral trade balance of zero satisfies:")

This doesn't define "elasticity" or "passthrough". And "assumptions about exchange rate equilibrium" leaves a lot to the imagination, especially if it can be ignored. But, the formula actually looks fairly basic;

{Total imports and costs/Total exports and costs} = Zero Difference

If the sum isn't zero, then an adjustment is necessary.

I'm sure the actual figures are much easier to understand lol;

(1 for you / 1 for me) = smile

Big Picture;
Bean counters always love complicated math.
For example: Calculating gas prices to the tenth of a cent...

International trade rules could certainly be simplified...
Trump knows that.

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It might be as simple as Americans consuming more per capita than other countries. Bring it down to families again. If my household income is $60,000.00 a year before taxes are taken off, and we continue spending $70,000.00 a year, we are soon going to be in trouble. The answer is in cutting back on spending. Make that car last a year or two longer, eat at home more often instead of at restaurants, buy less clothes, etc etc etc. and pretty soon you will pay down your debt. If every family did that the whole country would benefit with less imports. Sure, it would slow down the economy a bit but living within ones means would mean less credit card debt, less bank loans, etc. The population of a country is like a big family, each doing a little makes a big difference.

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Originally Posted by Rob B.
The only thing one can blame Europe for is for producing products Americans like and apparently can't manufacture themselves. Things like cool cars or tasty chocolate. If Americans don't buy American cars why should Europeans?
.

Rob,

Be fair to me and yourself. Say things that "hold water." AI makes it much harder to distort these days.

The EU tariffs American cars at 10%
The EU adds a value added tax of 19-27%
Each EU country has a registration tax.

Theoretically American car mfgs can get those paid and get the cars in, but that pushes up retail.
REMEMBER YOUR CONCERN WITH TARIFFS (TAXES) MAKING CONSUMERS PAY MORE.

And even if an American car gets into the EU, then it has to meet mandatory EU emission standards and other qualifying devices.

QUESTION: Are Europeans truly getting an opportunity to shop for American vehicles?
ANSWER: No.

So, it needs a look.

Originally Posted by Rob B.
I'm just swifting through foreign media news. The world is laughing about the way Trump calculates his "fake" tariff rates. It looks like he lied to the American people again. This time to the whole world.

Was that Rachel Maddow's lead in last night?

I'm not laughing. A lot of people arent.
A lot of people in the UNITED STATES are looking at that EU trade deficit and not liking it.
And as these things wear on, I suspect the laughing will die down.
And the whole world will need to review how they "TAX" American goods and, in some cases, come to more equitable arrangements.
Watching with interest.

As for the calculation, I am not sure that the world understands the tariff formula. I think that the formula has been dumbed down so that it can propagandized.

The net-of-it...regardless of how it was calculated, if the calc arrives at a tariff that is lower than tariffs a country has against American goods...that's not really relevant. The fact the the tariffs placed on American goods are higher by the squealing country is all that is relevant.

Martin owes Rob $10
Martin pays Rob $5 and calls it even because Martin says that Rob calculated the debt in an unsatisfactory manner.
Martin leaves keeping Rob's $5
Martin tells Rob that is completely fair because Rob eats too many blueberry pies.

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Originally Posted by Everett Adams
It might be as simple as Americans consuming more per capita than other countries. Bring it down to families again. If my household income is $60,000.00 a year before taxes are taken off, and we continue spending $70,000.00 a year, we are soon going to be in trouble. The answer is in cutting back on spending. Make that car last a year or two longer, eat at home more often instead of at restaurants, buy less clothes, etc etc etc. and pretty soon you will pay down your debt. If every family did that the whole country would benefit with less imports. Sure, it would slow down the economy a bit but living within ones means would mean less credit card debt, less bank loans, etc. The population of a country is like a big family, each doing a little makes a big difference.

Everett

Predictably every country on the advantageous side of the imbalances has all sorts of reasons why they are just fine to leave in place.
At the moment, a lot of us see that as noise to be expected. The trade deficits have been going on too long and have become too one sided in some cases.

There are too many people in the United States named Jones and Smith, and that is why there is a trade imbalance with Canada. And there is also the poutine factor that must be accounted for. Americans don't eat much poutine. I don't really believe any of that.

I believe that the imbalance is there.

And whatever the actual reasons, it needs scrutiny by both parties.

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Marty, article says it better than I can. Hope you can get in.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/inv...cal-tariffs-are-a-con-and-investors-are/

Tony
Elasticity is a measure of what effect a price change has on demand. Inelastic means the price can easily go up because the consumer has no choice....gas, cigarettes, aluminum
Passthrough measures what price increase can be passed to the buyer



Globe and Mail Opinion writer likened today's White House behaviour as like the goon instigating fights in the hockey game; when he’s on your team, you cheer. When he’s playing for the other guys, you’re incensed at the unsportsmanlike behaviour. But this isn’t hockey, and it isn’t a game. It’s the White House. And it’s an embarrassment. (Marsha Lederman G&M Vancouver)
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opi...from-the-trump-white-house-is-repulsive/


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Marty,
I’ll give it one last try because you’re slowly but surely making a fool of yourself. I gave you the numbers. In 2023, the tariffs on EU goods going to the US were higher than US goods going to Europe. I gave you the formula Trump used to calculate his reciprocal tariffs. The calculation works but it’s too simple for you to believe. Don’t blame me for that. The tariffs he presented are not reciprocal. He is starting a trade war and isolating the US. It’s the US against the rest of the world. Americans will pay the price.

The EU tariffs American cars at 10% - Correct
The US tariffs EU pickups at 25%
The EU adds a value added tax of 19-27% on water, toilet paper, cars, no matter what and where the goods or services come from. In the US these taxes are called State Taxes. Is that an issue? I don’t get the point.

Each EU country has a car registration tax.
Every EU car owner pays taxes for their cars every year. Is that an issue? I don’t get the point.

REMEMBER YOUR CONCERN WITH TARIFFS (TAXES) MAKING CONSUMERS PAY MORE
Germans pay higher taxes than Americans do. I’m affected by that, not you. Germans also pay higher tariffs on US goods than Americans do for German goods. I gave you the numbers.

And even if an American car gets into the EU, then it has to meet mandatory EU emission standards and other qualifying devices.
Yes, all cars sold in the EU need to fulfill regulatory requirements (airbags, blinker colors, seatbelts, emissions, etc.). That’s the same here too. I don’t get the point you’re making.

QUESTION: Are Europeans truly getting an opportunity to shop for American vehicles?
ANSWER: No.

Right, you can’t buy cars if there are no dealers. I’ve never seen a Buick, Dodge, Chevy dealer in Germany. And even if you did import one of those cars, which is possible, you can’t get it serviced. The US manufacturers would have to build a service net first.

Martin owes Rob $10
Martin pays Rob $5 and calls it even

Dumb example. That is what Trump is trying to do.

This is the reality:
Martin’s wife buys a Mercedes for 50,000$. The dealer ships the German car to Texas and pays the US government the 2.5% tariff (1,250$). Martin’s wife hands over the check and gets the car keys and the Certificate of Title. To keep things simple, I left out the State Taxes. Germany didn’t rip off Marty’s wife nor the country. Had she bought a Mercedes pickup, Mercedes would have had to pay the US government the 12,500$ tariff costs. It’s actually very easy to understand.

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Originally Posted by Rob B.
Marty,
I’ll give it one last try because you’re slowly but surely making a fool of yourself.
.

Am I Rob? Or am I just refusing to follow into your rabbit holes?

I'll try one more time to cut to the core...

Total trade 976 billion (Call it 1 trillion)
EU buys $370 billion from US
US buys $606 billion from EU

Going forward lets call these numbers "THE BROAD STROKE."

I expect for people who want this status quo to remain in place unchallenged, to squeal like the pig that is next in line at a slaughterhouse, and to throw anything that they can think of... about chocolates, cars or anything else ..."at the wall." But I am never going to stop seeing those three numbers. Unfortunately for you Europeans, neither is Trump.

Originally Posted by Rob B.
I gave you the numbers. In 2023, the tariffs on EU goods going to the US were higher than US goods going to Europe. I gave you the formula Trump used to calculate his reciprocal tariffs. The calculation works but it’s too simple for you to believe.
.

Rob
I don't think that your emotions allow you to read and comprehend what I write.
I challenged your simple formula. I showed a link to what the Trump Admin is displaying as the actual formula. I think that your version is possibly just a dumbed down version of the actual formula that was easier to propagandize. I'm still hoping for clarity on that from some reliable source, but am not willing to accept your version of events as accurate.

I also explained to you why ranting about the formula is a side-show.

Believe what you will. We get to watch this play out.

HERE IS WHAT I PROPOSE!

The total trade is 1 trillion.
Let's set the EU minimum purchase of American goods by the EU at 520 billion
and the minimum AMERICAN purchase of EU goods at 480 billion.

I think that is real fair and wonderful...cars, chocolates and all. Do you agree?

THE BROAD STROKE is the elephant that IS the room.

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Originally Posted by Rob B.
The EU adds a value added tax of 19-27% on water, toilet paper, cars, no matter what and where the goods or services come from. In the US these taxes are called State Taxes. Is that an issue? I don’t get the point.

Rob,
Stop and think about that.

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Rob, Marty just wants them to have a looksee and in the meantime, the tariff wall is up

Yes he does not understand that things go differently in other countries. Our VAT is the HST which has an Ontario and Federal rate of 8 and 5 percent respectively
And the US has no system like this at all and would probably be able to tackle their deficit remarkably well with a national VAT
I as someone who provides services as a semi retired CPA, and as an artist selling art, have to collect HST which I net against the HST I pay, and remit the difference to Revenue Canada
Threshold is 30k in revenue per year. If you are not registered you eat the HST you pay...normally paid by ultimate user....and it becomes an income tax deduction.
Note this is never "my money" but money I collect in trust for the government. Like payroll remittances. It is a national and provincial sales tax

Great national revenue raiser but it is decidedly not a tariff or trade barrier. Importers pay on import, then on their value add sell and collect HST and subtract what they paid as "Input Tax Credits" and remit the difference.
US taxation is complex and awful by fed, state, county, city, special project levies etc etc and every state is different.

And emmission standards yuk yuk....European in Europe, Californian in the US. Not sure what Marty's point is there either.
Fun fact, we must of course register our cars and do so annually on line but no fees to renew anymore.

Political and cultural differences in tastes and preferences and simply economic regulation (In Canada Provincial authority and Federal authority as defined in our constituting documents.
Trump is dismantling the Federal Education bureaucracy to devolve all back to the states who...like in our provinces, regulate education within their borders..
At the same time the US does not like our provincial oversight over the trade in alcohol....incidentally the same way they oversee the growth and distribution of Cannabis....and they feel Quebec's French language laws and labeling requirements are too stringent and need input from US producers.


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Originally Posted by John Voorpostel
Rob, Marty just wants them to have a looksee and in the meantime, the tariff wall is up

Yes he does not understand that things go differently in other countries.

The first statement is true.
The second is not.

I fully understand that there are different governmental and tax structures in various countries.

But at this point, I am looking at the broad stroke and consider chocolates, cars and talks about specific goods and VATs a distraction to be dismissed...FOR NOW.

In the case of Canada, the discrepancy is "relatively" small and yet needs a look,
Aluminum and steel are factors that need to be considered. Seems like Trump may have struck first on that. It appears the steel trade was balanced prior to his tariff.
Trump threw on the breaks with regard to Canada because something presented to him, caused him to. I don't know what it was. And no one here does. (My guess is Ford and GM) But I do know that the breaks went on. Waiting to see if we get to find out the reason.

As far as the EU BROAD STROKE, it's huge and it is ridiculous to try to persuade any adult American with mental clarity that it should be accepted as is. Pointless to try. Whether or not you all think that the orange man is bad, that deficit needs scrutiny.

As John pointed out, Trump has thrown up a wall, based on some formula. Doesnt really matter to me how he arrived at the wall, just that the wall is up and scrutiny is going on.

You all are pro your countries. I am pro the United States.
You all have a desired result and you are engineering your arguments from that beginning.

I do to. My desired result is scrutiny and then fairness.

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Marty, you challenge my simple formula?
The ∆τ_i is the calculated tariff rate on a country. The”i” is just an extra symbol that doesn’t affect the calculation. It just makes it look sophisticated. The minimum tariff is 10% - even on countries with which the US runs a surplus. This explains why Trump is also taxing the pinguins.
X_i is a country's total exports to the US
m_i is a country's total imports from the US
m_i is subtracted from x_i. That gives you trade deficit or surplus
ε and φ are multiplied with each other and defined as 1 to make it simple. 1 is then multiplied with the total imports (m_i). One multiplied with a number always gives you that number.
So in plain language, the reciprocal tariff is calculated by dividing the trade deficit by the imports. They made an easy calculation look so complicated.
Try it. It works every time. It’s simple math


Reciprocal tariff =

Trade deficit
____________
Imports

You tell me to stop and think about VAT (value added tax) in Germany. Why? Let’s stay on the original subject. I’m sure you don’t know much about the German tax system. That would be a waste of time.

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Originally Posted by Rob B.
Marty, you challenge my simple formula?
The ∆τ_i is the calculated tariff rate on a country. The”i” is just an extra symbol that doesn’t affect the calculation. It just makes it look sophisticated. The minimum tariff is 10% - even on countries with which the US runs a surplus. This explains why Trump is also taxing the pinguins.
X_i is a country's total exports to the US
m_i is a country's total imports from the US
m_i is subtracted from x_i. That gives you trade deficit or surplus
ε and φ are multiplied with each other and defined as 1 to make it simple. 1 is then multiplied with the total imports (m_i). One multiplied with a number always gives you that number.
So in plain language, the reciprocal tariff is calculated by dividing the trade deficit by the imports. They made an easy calculation look so complicated.
Try it. It works every time. It’s simple math


Reciprocal tariff =

Trade deficit
____________
Imports

You tell me to stop and think about VAT (value added tax) in Germany. Why? Let’s stay on the original subject. I’m sure you don’t know much about the German tax system. That would be a waste of time.

Rob,
Sorry. You start most statements hating Trump and working backwards from there.
To truly understand that formula and how it plays out across all imports and exports is beyond your comprehension and mine.
Yeah, I know, you think that it is only beyond mine.

Ultimately, as John perceived, I'm unconcerned with what rough estimate Trump used to arrive at the tariff formula. That's a distraction.
It only matters that the counter-tariffs are there.

Looking down 10 pages of country's tariffs and Trump counter-tariffs, nothing jumps off the page as all that out of line.
So, it really doesnt matter if he got the formula from the Oracle of Delphi or Merlin the Wizard.

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Originally Posted by Sunset Poet
So, it really doesnt matter if he got the formula from the Oracle of Delphi or Merlin the Wizard.

Oh, now I got it. Nothing matters. You're brainwashed. He can say anything and you'll believe it. Am I right or am I right?

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Originally Posted by Rob B.
Originally Posted by Sunset Poet
So, it really doesnt matter if he got the formula from the Oracle of Delphi or Merlin the Wizard.

Oh, now I got it. Nothing matters. You're brainwashed. He can say anything and you'll believe it. Am I right or am I right?

Rob,
Your emotions make my words hard for you to settle down and concentrate on and comprehend.

I am brainwashed by no one. Are you also going to call me ...fascist, nazi, authoritarian also. That usually comes in the same package as brainwashed.

I don't believe anything that I see or read these days. Everything is biased.

Trump said that dogs and cats were being eaten. They were not.
Kamala Harris said that Biden was sharp as a tack. They should have invoked the 25th. He was lost.
Rob says orange man bad. Sometimes he is.
Rob says Marty brainwashed by orange man. That's what you need to believe to try to keep your view of the world appearing to be right-side-up.

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I think what bothers people is that it's hard to get behind and cheer for a known criminal, convicted criminal who still owes 450 million for sexual assault? And business practices? Is that right it is that already forgotten?

fir a guy who lies every day and says he never said stuff that's on film.

It's like we're not used to that from a president

it bothers people that people seemingly like Trump no matter what kind a person he is. So much so that maybe they think he's a good person

I don't know if it's brain washing orr just believing their own validations.

So when Marty says Orange man good, it makes people wonder what kind of person Marty is,
When he can support him.

Now, in other countries this is not unusual, you have always had maniacal leaders at the helm, and many didn't care, s o long as some good was done for them.

I recently spoke to a Mexican girl she says she wished el chapo was still running the cartel cause he did so much for the people....this is a murderer, a brutal, lunatic of a man she's talking about.

But we don't normally have those kinds in America , we have always had liars and money makers, but not that type.

I think Trump reminds people of other nations.

So it hurts when somebody says they like Trump,when s more sensitive type can't handle that.

Me, I dont know. I know he's not a good human being, but maybe knows how to be one if needed.

But thats where the fight comes from.

People like Marty are able to compartmentalize what Trump does good, whereas people like John and Rob are not.

Or I may have no clue what I'm talking about

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Dom

You dont ever have full clue when you state things. Doesn't stop you.

Is Trump guilty of a crime that anyone else would have been charged with?
Was the crime "constructed" from piecing together NY and federal statutes and then assuming a bridge?
Or was it, a party machine hell bent on figuring out a way to destroy him?

Whatever it was? It elected him. People were more concerned with what they saw trying to destroy Trump...than Trump.

Did he sexually assault the woman in NYC.?
I dont know. I wasnt there.
The victim claimed that it occurred somewhere between the fall of 1995 and Spring of 1996. Almost 3 decades later, all of a sudden, a billionaire who hates Trump is financing her lawsuit.
I wish that she had gone to the police on the day that the alleged assault occurred.

Foggy? Primarily politically motivated? .....A big part of it for sure. Consider Rob, he will believe anything bad said about Trump.
Was all of that disqualifying? Apparently not.

For you DOM, for what it's worth.
The philosophical doctrine that I try to live by is "consequentialism." It's imperfect when applied to real life sometimes, but I try start there.

Trump and Harris were the only viable names on the ballot. I had no control over that.
The border was a mess. One candidate would truly try to fix it. One would say it could not be fixed.
One is in favor of inmates and servicemen getting govt bought sex change operations, one said bullsh+t.
One was in favor of DEI being prioritized over all other concerns, one said bullsh+t
One was endorsed by most if not all the LEO agencies in the country and the other was considered a de facto criminal advocate.

You dont like me Dom.
This afternoon you dont like me worse than you dont like Rob.
So you're piling on me here with your usual Phumduck nonsense.
You think that you are going to offer the clear, boiled down, view of events and personalities...not reality.
Different day, same Domb.

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So you KNOW he's not even a decent human being, but you don't care cause your mad at a gang for damaging a building.

Funny how you Know it all, but I don't

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Alien Abduction sightings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_abduction

Who's to say?
When were the other trials?
What evidence was presented?
What were the verdicts?

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Originally Posted by Sunset Poet

Alien Abduction sightings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_abduction

Who's to say?
When were the other trials?
What evidence was presented?
What were the verdicts?
I see so everybody is lying cause they don't like him. One two three maybe ..26?

https://www.vox.com/2016/6/1/11827596/trump-university-scam

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You also weren't there when they counted the election, and Trump lost, but you believed it might have been rigged...

With no evidence

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...-republican-president-laswuits/85297274/

Same guy running the country.

Look just admit you don't care as long as he dies something for you. There would be no arguments.

He does have good points, no question. I don't buy he's honest and all others are not. That's obviously not true.

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Originally Posted by Fdemetrio
So you KNOW he's not even a decent human being, but you don't care cause your mad at a gang for damaging a building.

Funny how you Know it all, but I don't

I saw Biden sniffing a child's hair and forcing a kiss on a woman. He also has a sexual misconduct accuser.
Teddy Kennedy drove a car of a bridge and left a woman for dead in it. He should have been stood trial for intoxicated manslaughter, yet went on to be the "lion of the senate" and dumped sh+t all over Clarence Thomas because he might have referenced a pubic hair on a coke can.

So DOMMY, the world is not a perfect place.


The "gang" was MS13.
How do I know? because a Harris County Deputy lived next door to their party house.
When did I realize how serious that was? When he called me up and asked me to call in a complaint to HPD.

I turned to my wife and said, Rather than calling out constables from the Sheriffs dept, a Harris County deputy is asking me to call HPD. This gang has him intimidated. That was when I learned how dangerous MS 13 was.

So yes Dom, it affected my vote.

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Originally Posted by Sunset Poet
Originally Posted by Fdemetrio
So you KNOW he's not even a decent human being, but you don't care cause your mad at a gang for damaging a building.

Funny how you Know it all, but I don't

I saw Biden sniffing a child's hair and forcing a kiss on a woman. He also has a sexual misconduct accuser.
Teddy Kennedy drove a car of a bridge and left a woman for dead in it. He should have been stood trial for intoxicated manslaughter, yet went on to be the "lion of the senate" and dumped sh+t all over Clarence Thomas because he might have referenced a pubic hair on a coke can.

So DOMMY, the world is not a perfect place.


The "gang" was MS13.
How do I know? because a Harris County Deputy lived next door to their party house.
When did I realize how serious that was? When he called me up and asked me to call in a complaint to HPD.

I turned to my wife and said, Rather than calling out constables from the Sheriffs dept, a Harris County deputy is asking me to call HPD. This gang has him intimidated. That was when I learned how dangerous MS 13 was.

So yes Dom, it affected my vote.

That's the usual rhetort.... But Biden, but Clinton, but but but.

No [naughty word removed]?????

Is anybody defending them a holes?

But mom joey is allowed to stay out till ten

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Originally Posted by Fdemetrio
You also weren't there when they counted the election, and Trump lost, but you believed it might have been rigged...

With no evidence

Dom
You never actually win an argument with me or anyone. So this is not going to go on and on today.

last point and then I'm done with you,

I wondered if the election was rigged.
In particular I wanted them to look at Pennsylvania.
But then, when both repub candidates lost in GA and no one came up with any tangible evidence of broad voter fraud...I did not see any realistic reason to believe that Biden lost.

I still wanted PA looked at to see what might be there, but then a giant gang of Tonys and Doms ran amuck in the Capitol building and destroyed any prospect for that. Case closed.

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Originally Posted by Sunset Poet
Originally Posted by Fdemetrio
You also weren't there when they counted the election, and Trump lost, but you believed it might have been rigged...

With no evidence

Dom
You never actually win an argument with me or anyone. So this is not going to go on and on today.

last point and then I'm done with you,

I wondered if the election was rigged.
In particular I wanted them to look at Pennsylvania.
But then, when both repub candidates lost in GA and no one came up with any tangible evidence of broad voter fraud...I did not see any realistic reason to believe that Biden lost.

I still wanted PA looked at to see what might be there, but then a giant gang of Tonys and Doms ran amuck in the Capitol build and destroyed any prospect for that. Case closed.

See here we go, it's my fault Trump is all these things, so let's disniss Dom.

I have won every argument with you, spanked again

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LOL.
Time to eat.

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Lol, I just took a look at this "Tariff Adjustment Calculator"...

("Consider an environment in which the U.S. levies a tariff of rate τ_i on country i and ∆τ_i reflects the change in the tariff rate. Let ε<0 represent the elasticity of imports with respect to import prices, let φ>0 represent the passthrough from tariffs to import prices, let m_i>0 represent total imports from country i, and let x_i>0 represent total exports. Then the decrease in imports due to a change in tariffs equals ∆τ_i*ε*φ*m_i<0. Assuming that offsetting exchange rate and general equilibrium effects are small enough to be ignored, the reciprocal tariff that results in a bilateral trade balance of zero satisfies:")

This doesn't define "elasticity" or "passthrough". And "assumptions about exchange rate equilibrium" leaves a lot to the imagination, especially if it can be ignored. But, the formula actually looks fairly basic;

{Total imports and costs/Total exports and costs} = Zero Difference

If the sum isn't zero, then an adjustment is necessary.

I'm sure the actual figures are much easier to understand lol;

(1 for you / 1 for me) = smile

Big Picture;
Bean counters always love complicated math.
For example: Calculating gas prices to the tenth of a cent...

International trade rules could certainly be simplified...
Trump knows that.
======================================

I simplified this equation so that even Dom-n-Rob could understand it...

Pffftth, wasted effort.
YA'LL ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN ARGUING AND AGGRAVATING EACH OTHER!

Then you castigate me for my Christian, conservative, white, privileged, male, heterosexual, Constitutional Patriot bias!

Everett may be right. It may start with all of us, as individuals, doing our small part in our own homes.
Problem is, all my neighbors seem to be blathering idiots!

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Tony,

If JPF can be compared to a "village."
YOU are the village idiot.

For you to come around here or anywhere else on earth pontificating about decorum and "arguing" is comedic hypocrisy.
But because you are the village idiot....of course that's what you do.

Carry on

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Originally Posted by Sunset Poet
Tony,

If JPF can be compared to a "village."
YOU are the village idiot.

For you to come around here or anywhere else on earth pontificating about decorum and "arguing" is comedic hypocrisy.
But because you are the village idiot....of course that's what you do.

Carry on

Pffftth...

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How do you pronounce that?

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And I don't dislike anyone. Except maybe Tony.

It's only a website but it's one reason politics can ruin it. It's ruined families, friendships, marriages, why we think it works here...

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Originally Posted by Fdemetrio
And I don't dislike anyone. Except maybe Tony.

It's only a website but it's one reason politics can ruin it. It's ruined families, friendships, marriages, why we think it works here...

Even when Brian banns "politics", you have proven that there's NOTHING YOU WON'T B!TCH ABOUT! NOBODY YOU WON'T INSULT! NO SUBJECT YOU WON'T STUPIDIZE! AND NO MUSIC YOU WON'T COMPARE TO THAT PUSSY SPRINGSTEEN!

"The Rant Arena" was intended for =YOU=

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Originally Posted by JAPOV
Originally Posted by Fdemetrio
And I don't dislike anyone. Except maybe Tony.

It's only a website but it's one reason politics can ruin it. It's ruined families, friendships, marriages, why we think it works here...

Even when Brian banns "politics", you have proven that there's NOTHING YOU WON'T B!TCH ABOUT! NOBODY YOU WON'T INSULT! NO SUBJECT YOU WON'T STUPIDIZE! AND NO MUSIC YOU WON'T COMPARE TO THAT PUSSY SPRINGSTEEN!

"The Rant Arena" was intended for =YOU=
Nazi Jesus Archie Bunker opines.

Let's delete the stupid prophecy anyone thread, and watch Tony melt like the wicked Bitch

The only person right with prophecy has been me.

Only God has nothing to do with it, he may have something to do with loses

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Hilarious! A bunch of old coots arguing politics. All day long...

John laugh

Last edited by John Lawrence Schick; 04/04/25 05:29 PM.
1 member likes this: JAPOV
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Originally Posted by Fdemetrio
Originally Posted by JAPOV
Originally Posted by Fdemetrio
And I don't dislike anyone. Except maybe Tony.

It's only a website but it's one reason politics can ruin it. It's ruined families, friendships, marriages, why we think it works here...

Even when Brian banns "politics", you have proven that there's NOTHING YOU WON'T B!TCH ABOUT! NOBODY YOU WON'T INSULT! NO SUBJECT YOU WON'T STUPIDIZE! AND NO MUSIC YOU WON'T COMPARE TO THAT PUSSY SPRINGSTEEN!

"The Rant Arena" was intended for =YOU=
Nazi Jesus Archie Bunker opines.

Let's delete the stupid prophecy anyone thread, and watch Tony melt like the wicked Bitch

The only person right with prophecy has been me.

Only God has nothing to do with it, he may have something to do with loses

The future will be full of ignorant, tattooed, pierced, purple haired, sexually ambiguous, globalist freaks named DOM!

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Notice how he's turning the other cheek, and loving his enemies...

Kick Tony hard, with both feet, from this site.

Last edited by Fdemetrio; 04/04/25 05:45 PM.
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Originally Posted by John Lawrence Schick
Hilarious! A bunch of old coots arguing politics. All day long...

John laugh

This isn't politics, John... It's just argument for the sake of argument.

Logic doesn't apply. MATH doesn't even seem to apply... They're just putting on a show and wishing death upon this site because I refuse to allow them to propagate their socialist/anti-Christian slant.

If that makes me the enemy, so be it!

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