SonicFlyer

Tariffs = taxation.

Taxation = theft.

BobZ

Yup. And places like china the EU, mexico, and even canada have been stealing from the US for decades.

Its time to steal back.

BobZ

Omg. We might offend the communist chinese???

We may as well surrender now.

They are educated in our schools. They steal our technology. They are gross polluters of the environment. And their human rights abuses are horrendous.

And you are worried about hurting their feelings?

WHACKMASTER

Thank you! Well said. Yeah, let’s just keep appeasing them and let them further run all over us. What a spineless mentality to have. Thank goodness that poster is not running for president. He’d be another weak-d!ck Obama.

Peacock

It’s interesting to contrast some people’s opinions about trade negotiations and their opinions on contract negotiations. Don’t dare risk standing up to China, but damn it the airline fat cats better pay up, right?

2StgTurbine

For those that think America will "out last" China during a trade war because our economy is bigger, you are failing to account for the difference in what Americans & Chinese consider acceptable living standards.

The upper middle class in China thinks it is normal to pay $5,000 for the chance to get a licensee plate that will then allow them to spend $80,000 on an entry level econo-o-box car. Mean while in the US, consumers will start a twitter campaign against Wholefoods if the price of milk goes up 25 cents. Most Americans have zero savings & won't stand for the slightest downgrade in their living standards.

When China raises its tariffs on soybeans, the Chinese eat more rice instead. But when Chinese stop buying our soybeans, American farmers have to consider a million dollar crop loss. The Chinese are being forced to find an alternative to soybeans. They have lived most of their lives on subsistence farming. Their Chinese dream is owning a bike. They grew up in a society that taught them that life was hard and don't expect anything.

American farmers can take a loss for a couple of years, but they will start complaining to Congress if this trade war threatens their retirement plans. I see the American middle class breaking way before the billions of Chinese who are OK with their government openly spying on them & putting a million people in "re-education" camps.

Don't forget that the Chinese government supported the entire Chinese steel industry for a decade in order to push the US out of the market. I don't see Congress ever spending that kind of money.

captjns

Negative... Chinese can avail themselves of soybeans from other parts of the planet. As for the US farmers... well for the time being, they’re being subsidized for their losses... at least for the present. Will the Ompah Loompah man be able to farmers happy in the long run???

With all the tax cuts and increasing deficit... where’s the money for farm subsidies to come from. Military Appropriation? Oh wait... the Great Wall. So far one billion dollars for about 1 mile border wall rehabilitation.

2StgTurbine

They WERE subsidized. With today's Congress, there is no guarantee that they will be in the future. Farmers are being forced to take a big gamble. If they switch crops, they can try to minimize their losses or they can plant soybeans now & hope that the government bails them out. How much will each farmer get? Will they qualify for the subsidy? Would you trust the government to purchase your house in the future for a fair price?

The real issue isn't year to year loss in crop sales, but loss of markets. The Chinese importers are ending long term relationships with American farmers in order to find tariff free soybeans. When this trade war is over, will those importers go back to their original suppliers? Probably not.

crxpilot

Sooooo, we are just supposed roll over and have our tummies rubbed or what? I think not. Besides, I see the new China coming from Vietnam/Cambodia area. The sandbox will just move a little farther south.

ItnStln

Indeed taxation is theft.