Tariffs are simply taxes

It's deeper than that. It's a revenue generating mechanism that forces foreign companies to open factories in the US. This creates jobs and prosperty if applied within reason

I hope the concept is to replace more oppressive, onerous and inefficient taxes (income tax being the most obvious) with tariffs. Not to layer them and suffocate people.

And what was called free trade ended in de industrialization and poverty

America was doing free trade but everyone was charging us hence the loss of every industry.

Generally that's true. But this does not apply to most of Trumps tariffs, imo.

A small tariff is a tax and meant to raise revenue, as R. Paul says.

A large tax is meant to force change, and the tariff is removed when the desired change occurs.

Neither are good for the consumer. But large exceptionally large tariffs are generally temporary.

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This creates jobs and prosperty if applied within reason

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The times tariffs are reasonable is to combat unfair trade practices and to protect critical industries. Also, as a weapon to force other nations to behave the way we want. Two of those three result in the tariffs being removed when the result is achieved. Long term tariffs, except to protect critical industries, are always bad.

This idea that they can generate revenue, while true, is misleading because the revenue generated is almost completely at the expense of the American consumer.

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It's a revenue generating mechanism that forces foreign companies to open factories in the US. This creates jobs and prosperty if applied within reason

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It will take more than just tariffs for most industries to bring manufacturing back to the US. It’ll also take incentive packages to further offset the increased expenses.

Tariffs are not a tax on American citizens unless they buy the foreign product. Americans are uniquely immune to tariffs because we don't need any foreign products. We have more natural resources than any other nation.
The only foreign product I need is a Toyota. It's made in the U.S. so there is no tariff.

Yeah, right, let's keep doing what we've been doing. The $25 Mcdonals Meal is really working for me.

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He isn't wrong.

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So small minded of you. Tariffs/ Spend tax allow you to choose where your money is spent. More importantly, all money obtained “off the books” (drug money or simply unreported cash transactions) will apply in a tariff situation. You are therefore putting lots more dollars in play. If the illegal drug money is a much as it appears then lots more money will enter the equation. Those types love to flash what they have. Net those dollars and we’re looking good