Spain unveils 14.1 billion euro plan to protect economy from U.S. tariffs

Clearly the strategy behind the infamous "tariffs" have little to do with trade. Most economists, businesspeople, stock traders... are wondering what the real purpose is. Some have assumed it's a negotiation tactic, but Trump continues to let the markets go in free fall while the tactic "bakes". Yet there's a point where the damage will be too great to recover from quickly. Are they giving Trump a bit too much credit? Many are beginning to believe he actually thinks that tariffs will improve the economy (as he keeps asserting). Just plain old arrogant ignorance. It's not exactly unheard of: https://www.wsj.com/economy/what-lies-ahead-for-the-u-s-economy-brexit-offers-clues-52176697 But in the end, everybody will lose this war. Especially the Americans. Ironically, the Chinese however, stand to gain handsomely from the chaos. And you can be sure they'll use it to their max advantage.

I think it was Paul Krugman who said a couple of days ago that the average EU tariff on US products is 2.7%.

NilocFrom Digbysblog.com Author James Surowiecki was among the first to unravel their provenance: Just brilliant. Because Indonesia has a high tax on coffee imports, Trump’s going to put a 32% tax on coffee imports from Indonesia – even though the US exports no coffee to Indonesia (or most anywhere else). He literally does not understand the concept of comparative advantage. And: It’s also important to understand that the tariff rates that foreign countries are supposedly charging us are just made-up numbers. South Korea, with which we have a trade agreement, is not charging a 50% tariff on U.S. exports. Nor is the EU charging a 39% tariff. An hour later, Surowiecki had an ‘aha’ moment: Just figured out where these fake tariff rates come from. They didn’t actually calculate tariff rates + non-tariff barriers, as they say they did. Instead, for every country, they just took our trade deficit with that country and divided it by the country’s exports to us. So we have a $17.9 billion trade deficit with Indonesia. Its exports to us are $28 billion. $17.9/$28 = 64%, which Trump claims is the tariff rate Indonesia charges us. What extraordinary nonsense this is.

#Reuters already #@reuters.com now · 5m BREAKING: China to impose 34% rates on all US goods from April 10, finance ministry says.

The maths are simple, whatever tariffs the EU charges the US, the US charges the EU. For those who still don’t understand, if the EU wish to continue with Zero tariffs while supplying to the US, then reduce the tariffs you charge to zero too. It’s called FREE TRADE.

David HollandThey're all at it. Corporations and their politician cheerleaders are the first to lecture poor people about welfare, but they don't want anyone talking about corporate welfare.

Zoltan TeglasWell airbus hardly is hardly without sin. As for subsidies the CAP distorts agricultural prices and crushes 3rd world production, undermining local production . Those without sin cast the first stone.

Borrow BORROW until there is no Tomorrow this will leave a BILL for the next generation to PAY which will be enormous interest rate´s will sky rocket and anyone who owe´s $$$$$$$ will owe more have less to spend and face a future of Debt and not being really ever able to pay what they owe .

This would actually make products cheaper domestically (increase supply relative to demand). However, creating more money (even via loans) and handing it out without productivity is inflationary. Not an economically wise way to respond, but these industries must have a big voice.

David Holland'illegal state support subsidies' Like the US giving billions to Boing, Elon Musk etc ?