The real reason for the tariffs

[Del.]

He has a history of deciding what he wants to believe you said vs what you actually said.  I wanted to make sure it was clear.

Good luck! We're all pulling for you!

[Incogneeto]

I wanted to make sure it was clear.
 

Who's being condescending?

[Incogneeto]

https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/aluminum

Check the 5 year stats.

Bottom of the graph.

You can also check steel.

[neurosis]

Good luck! We're all pulling for you!

Notice that he won't answer the question?  It's not a "gotcha" question. It was a simple yes or no question.

[neurosis]

Check the 5 year stats.

All that tells you is that there was a spike in prices due to the Russia Ukraine war.

It doesn't tell you what's going on NOW.

And look, it's too soon to know if prices are going to continue to rise. Predictions say they are. It also doesn't excuse the fact that US steel producers are using tariffs as an excuse to charge consumers more. Is it greed?  Probably. But it was predicted, and that's the point.

"About a fifth of the steel sold in the United States is imported. The steel tariffs, which were raised last month to 50 percent from 25 percent, have made imports of the metal much more expensive, giving American steel mills the leeway to increase their prices. And as imports have declined, American producers have more power to opportunistically increase their prices, buyers said."


https://www.cfr.org/article/trumps-new-aluminum-and-steel-tariffs-explained-six-charts

---------------------------------------------

And as far as tariffs affecting tooling prices - remember this?  We're not the only ones noticing it.

https://mastercamforums.com/forum/index.php?msg=88777

[beej]

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/teamsters-boss-obrien-lauds-trump-tariffs-says-attention-should-massive-ceo-compensation

I am not sharing this because I agree or disagree with Obrien. But I am fascinated by the fact that Trump has changed the entire political landscape.

Can anybody picture the Teamsters union embracing a republican policy from the Bush administration, not to mention the Reagan administration? So much of what he wants is straight out of the democratic party playbook from when I was a kid.
I remember democrats complaining about immigrants taking their jobs and accusing republicans of catering to big business who wanted illegal immigration for cheap labor and union busting purposes. From the time I started working, I have sat around lunch tables with guys who were union members complaining about the free trade agreements taking jobs away, and wanting tariffs.

I sometimes wonder if this is not the real reason democrats are so threatened by Trump. As for my own beliefs, I am union neutral. I understand why they are necessary but I have never wanted to belong to one, I prefer to work at a place where they treat employees well enough as to make them unnecessary, and it has been a blessing that I've been able to do that. And as far as tariffs go, I hear so much conflicting information, I have a hard time ascertaining whether they are helpful or not.

But this changed that is going on between the parties is fascinating to me. I've never really been a big Trump fan, I have voted for him twice, but not 3 times. But the wave he has created in the political landscape is crazy. I wonder how things will all shake out after he's out of the picture.

[SuperHoneyBadger]

So much of what he wants is straight out of the democratic party playbook from when I was a kid.

You hit on a huge point that I speak about often, and get major resistance on. I get accused of being a 'conservative' (nazi, problematic, genocidal lines of questioning, etc.) by progressives ±10 my age (34). In my heart and mind, I'm a 90s liberal - thanks to my parents/grandparents having active political discussions with me as a child and telling me that it was morally right to be left leaning. Plus being a teenager during GeoRge W. Bush's admin, it was VERY fashionable to shit on him - and that made me a leftist since he was a right-winger. But the goalposts have been moved so far out of the arena that we're left here on the pitch with nothing to aim for now, wondering how the hell it happened in half a generation.

The more I live, and read, and learn, the more disillusioned I feel with either side, honestly. And I agree with you – since 2016 it has been absolutely fascinating to see the decline of candor, respect and poise in the realm of American politics.

[neurosis]

I wonder how things will all shake out after he's out of the picture.

Hopefully something better than the last 8 years and 6 months.

[Incogneeto]

All that tells you is that there was a spike in prices due to the Russia Ukraine war.

No what it shows is escalating prices since 2020 two years before the spike.

and continued to current data.

Inflation.

Biden.

[neurosis]

Inflation.

Biden.

And that other guy who you won't say contributed.

[Incogneeto]

https://ycharts.com/indicators/us_inflation_rate

5Y

[Incogneeto]

And that other guy who you won't say contributed.

You yourself said to wait and see.

6 months to turn around 4 bad years.

You also said if it works "You would be The First to give Trump Credit"

[neurosis]

5Y

Inflation wasn't the main contributor to rising aluminum prices during that time 

[neurosis]

6 months to turn around 4 bad years.

You also said if it works "You would be The First to give Trump Credit"

I'm not better off than I was 6 months ago.

[beej]

I'm not better off than I was 6 months ago.

6 months is small window