There’s One For You, Nineteen For Me

With the implementation of his illogical 25% tariff on automobiles and automobile parts, Donald Trump has now become one of the worst tax raising presidents in modern history.

The list is as stunning as it is unbelievable:

25% on all Canadian and Mexican goods that aren’t USMCA compliant or have other exemptions.

10% on Canadian energy imports (mostly oil, but might apply to electricity from Ontario and British Columbia).

10% on Canadian potash (a water soluble potassium salt used as a fertilizer).

20% on all Chinese imports.

25% on all steel and aluminum imports, regardless of source, no exceptions.

These are just the ones that are in effect. There are others, mostly retaliatory escalations or off the top of the head random numbers thrown out in a fit of pique (the 200% on European Union wine is a prime example) that have either been rescinded or never implemented.

Trump supporters claim that this is in an attempt to, “bring jobs back to America”. To that, we ask one simple thing. Look around your home. Check labels. For every product that you find that is not made here, ask yourself this one simple question. Is it possible to make this item in the US and still have it cost what I paid for it?

Remember, in this trade war, supply chains matter. Some of those auto parts tariffed cross borders multiple times. That potash used as a fertilizer could be used on food that ends up in steel cans. The US steel industry is a shadow of its former self. That is not solved overnight. Tariffs are taxes. Taxes that will be paid by American consumers. That also has no exceptions.

For more on the Libertarian Party of Wisconsin, please visit www.lpwi.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.