Friday, June 1, 2018

Navarro explains the Trump steel and aluminum tariff policy


Jobs and Defense...





17 comments:

Andrew Anderson said...

Foreigners would be far less likely to want US dollars if those dollars could no longer buy the inherently risk-free debt of the US at positive yields; i.e. if foreigners could no longer buy welfare proportional to account balance in said debt.

So no need for tariffs; just ethical policies wrt to fiat creation?

Matt Franko said...

Yo the record US trade deficits of the last 8 years happened under ZIRP....

In what zombie flick have you ever seen the zombies express concern about the yield of normies????

Zombie-ism doesnt work that way....

Andrew Anderson said...

That's not to say that EXISTING positive yeilding US debt should not be honored by the US Government; just that no NEW US debt at positive yields be issued.

Andrew Anderson said...

Yo the record US trade deficits of the last 8 years happened under ZIRP.... Franko

Looking at 10 US Treasury Bond rates, the lowest yield I see is +1.47% in May, 2012, not zero.

Andrew Anderson said...

And 0% is the MOST the inherently risk-free debt of a monetary sovereign should return and that's for the longest maturity debt (e.g. 30 year US Treasury Bonds); shorter maturity debt should have NEGATIVE yields with on-demand (zero maturity wait) account balances at the Central Bank costing the most (most negative interest).

Andrew Anderson said...

And not only does ethics dictate negative yields/interest on the inherently risk-free debt of monetary sovereigns but recent history has demonstrated that investors will buy even the debt of non-monetary sovereigns like Germany at negative yields.

Matt Franko said...

“ethics dictate”

Anthropomorphism much???

Andrew Anderson said...

Is Man made in God's image or not, Franko?

Matt Franko said...

“Genesis 1:26 - Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, ”

“Our”: Man is made in the image of more than what is currently remaining in God... we get EVERYTHING...

Greg said...

Heres the thing about these tariffs and their supposed role in augmenting US jobs, they are unnecessary. Yopu dont need to make Chinese steel more expensive to re build steel mills in US. It might make them relatively cheaper but the only thing thast matters is absolute cost. Its not lowering the cost of investment.

If the govt uses steel/aluminum and chooses to pay a higher price for US steel so be it. Just do it! The theatrics of punishing China or whoever is stupid and agianst everything the "freedom" loving GOP is supposed to stand for.

I pay more for good local craft beer because 1) I like it better than Bud 2) It supports local people.... period. Im not swayed by cheaper beer, but some people cant afford to pay 10$ for a four pack of the craft beer I like and Bud should not have a fee added to it so the craft is less expensive looking.

If you, as the decision maker in govt contracts, want to pay more for US produced steel ... go right ahead. Do it and say you want to support the US, but dont punish other users of steel whose business model might be more price sensitive and therefore benefit by having a cheaper option available.
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Matt Franko said...

“theatrics of punishing China or whoever ”

It’s not punishing them if you believe exports are a cost... with tariffs you are trying to get them to reduce their costs... :p

But back to the real world Another thing is these tariffs are retaliatory/punitive (not trying to solve anything) because the foreign countries (USD zombies) have been given time to come up with a solution to their perennial trade surpluses and have come up with nothing...

Andrew Anderson said...

have been given time to come up with a solution to their perennial trade surpluses and have come up with nothing... Franko

While abolishing (over time) welfare proportional to account balance in the inherently risk-free debt of the US could solve quite a few problems by:

1) Reducing the trade deficit by reducing the incentive of foreigners to acquire US dollars.
2) Providing a means to finance a Citizen's Dividend via negative interest on large private sector account balances at the Central Bank (Federal Reserve).
3) Eliminating the concern about the US National Debt by changing it (over time) from a revenue CONSUMER to a revenue PRODUCER.

Tom Hickey said...

@ Greg

Can a country show preference for domestic goods at a higher cost than imports under WTO rules?

Tariff are also against WTO without an excuse like dumping or national security.

The US wants international rules followed with they benefit the US, otherwise not.

The US should just be honest about this and withdraw from WTO if it wants to go back to the previous system of sovereign policy.

Then Trump could negotiate a new trade policy with the ROW that places American first.

Tom Hickey said...

BTW, DJT is already doing this de facto in negotiating bilateral trade deals instead of just going with "free trade" as the WTO, NAFTA, etc, are set up to do.

He knows that this is the only way that the US can gain advantage owing to its economic power.

Matt Franko said...

“Reducing the trade deficit by reducing the incentive of foreigners to acquire US dollars.“

Oh it’s that simple!?!?

What zombie show have you ever seen where the normies just go “hey! I got it! Let’s just reduce the zombies desire for human flesh !”

“Brilliant! How come we never thought of that before?!?!?”

Andrew Anderson said...

“Brilliant! How come we never thought of that before?!?!?” Franko

Blinded by the god of this world (Satan) is one possibility - a very distinct one, I've come to believe after years of trying to communicate simple principles like equal protection under the law wrt fiat and credit creation.

Andrew Anderson said...

A similar concept wrt to hostile takeovers is called "a poison pill."