Tariffs - the most beautiful word in the dictionary

So, just to ensure that the US businesses have confidence as to what the status is... Trump has put a 90-day pause on some of the reciprocal tariffs.

My guess is that he has insiders who have bought the dip, and now's the time to let them bounce back up a bit. But for those businesses hoping for some confidence in what the future might hold... nah.
Of course, with 75 countries (so he says) wanting to "negotiate", he's now on the lookout for anything that he can spin as validation. "Oh, look, the EU is going to buy an extra cow! Told you that my approach would work!"

And at the same time, in response to the 84% tariffs by China on US goods, Trump has upped the tariff on Chinese imports to a mere 125%. So I hope you didn't want that Lenovo laptop! Expect China to add another 20% to their tariffs on US goods.
Южная Корея вам в помощь. Их товары гораздо качественней китайских. Китай тоже может иногда делать что то неплохо, но качественное китайское не намного дешевле европейского, и не дешевле южнокорейского.
 
So, just to ensure that the US businesses have confidence as to what the status is... Trump has put a 90-day pause on some of the reciprocal tariffs.

My guess is that he has insiders who have bought the dip, and now's the time to let them bounce back up a bit.
Also, he paused the tariffs on Mexico and Canada to reward them for sending illicit fentanyl across the border. Apparently. Makes perfect sense.
 
Нефть тоже дешевеет. Цена ниже 50$ за барелль, прекратит все военные действия уже к осени. Хорошая "многоходовка".
Oil is also getting cheaper. The price is below $50 per barrel, will stop all hostilities by the autumn. It's a good "multiple".

Um
NO
OPEC basket is $63.40 (as I type)

..............................................................................
Imagine a world where people ain't hostile.................................
 
Oil is also getting cheaper. The price is below $50 per barrel, will stop all hostilities by the autumn. It's a good "multiple".

Um
NO
OPEC basket is $63.40 (as I type)

..............................................................................
Imagine a world where people ain't hostile.................................
Это после того, как Трамп "пошёл на попятную", она снова подорожала. А до этого падала до 58$ за марку Брент, и ещё ниже за российскую Юралс.
 
Oil is also getting cheaper. The price is below $50 per barrel, will stop all hostilities by the autumn. It's a good "multiple".

Um
NO
OPEC basket is $63.40 (as I type)

..............................................................................
Imagine a world where people ain't hostile.................................
The fall in the oil price is a consequence of the expected economic damage, to the USA and elsewhere, from Trump’s tariff policy. Only a real fool would think it a good plan to bring about a recession just in order to bring down the price of oil.
 
Oil is also getting cheaper. The price is below $50 per barrel, will stop all hostilities by the autumn. It's a good "multiple".
People having their savings destroyed, leaving them unable to buy cars, will result in lower oil prices.

That is not, however, a good thing. (Unless you're rich of course.)
 
The fall in the oil price is a consequence of the expected economic damage, to the USA and elsewhere, from Trump’s tariff policy. Only a real fool would think it a good plan to bring about a recession just in order to bring down the price of oil.
IF we are headed into a global recession, then going long on oil futures would be foolish.
Who knows?
as/re the stock market
It has been said that the stock market has accurately predicted fifteen of the last ten recessions.
 
The fall in the oil price is a consequence of the expected economic damage, to the USA and elsewhere, from Trump’s tariff policy. Only a real fool would think it a good plan to bring about a recession just in order to bring down the price of oil.
Падение цен на нефть ослабит экономику России и Ирана. Можно было бы считать это случайным побочным эффектом, но нет - ОПЕК увеличивает добычу в несколько раз, не смотря на падающий спрос.
 
IF we are headed into a global recession, then going long on oil futures would be foolish.
Who knows?
as/re the stock market
It has been said that the stock market has accurately predicted fifteen of the last ten recessions.
I sold the last of my late wife's Shell shares yesterday.

I think a worldwide economic slowdown, and a recession in the USA, are quite likely, thanks to Trump. Energy and oil-derived product demand would drop, as would demand for gas, which underpins most of Shell's business these days. Since renewable energy is now cheaper than fossil fuel, my guess is the fossil fuel demand would be hit first, amplifying the effect.

The silver lining to all this is that Trump and the Trumpies are being exposed as economically incompetent, in a way that Main Street can see very plainly. So there is hope they may get thrown out before they can complete their soft coup.
 
Last edited:
Unfortunately, it may be a hard coup is required to get them out.
Presumably though, a lot hinges on the Mid-term elections. They may now have an uphill struggle to bend the electoral system enough to prevent loss of control of Congress. If Congress ceases to be supine, that makes things a lot harder for the Trumpies, doesn't it?
 
Presumably though, a lot hinges on the Mid-term elections. They may now have an uphill struggle to bend the electoral system enough to prevent loss of control of Congress. If Congress ceases to be supine, that makes things a lot harder for the Trumpies, doesn't it?
They're making considerable progress in that regard:
The US House approved a bill on Thursday that would require people to prove they are citizens when they register to vote, which opponents claim could disenfranchise millions of Americans.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or the Save Act, which was approved on a 220-208 vote, is aimed at eliminating rare instances of noncitizens voting in US elections based on the false belief that large numbers of noncitizens are voting.

This, of course, will also adversely affect those who changed their names in marriage.
 
They're making considerable progress in that regard:


This, of course, will also adversely affect those who changed their names in marriage.
Yes I had seen something about this. The Democrats will need to mount a major effort to help people get the necessary paperwork, at least in the marginal constituencies. That must be possible, when you look at all the money sloshing around in the American political system.
 
Presumably though, a lot hinges on the Mid-term elections. They may now have an uphill struggle to bend the electoral system enough to prevent loss of control of Congress. If Congress ceases to be supine, that makes things a lot harder for the Trumpies, doesn't it?
Not sure about that, Republicans purged millions of legal votes in the last election so that Trump could win. I don't see how this is going to change, ever.
 
The Democrats will need to mount a major effort to help people get the necessary paperwork, at least in the marginal constituencies. That must be possible . . .
Why do you say that? All DOGE needs to do is fire all the people who provide that paperwork in predominantly democratic areas. All in the name of saving money of course. DOGE has already fired the people in the NHTSA responsible for regulating Tesla.
 
Why do you say that? All DOGE needs to do is fire all the people who provide that paperwork in predominantly democratic areas. All in the name of saving money of course. DOGE has already fired the people in the NHTSA responsible for regulating Tesla.
They should start now then.
 
Tax the most beautiful word in the dictionary . In other words .

In the end trump has no idea what he is doing .

I get the US being self sufficient . But trump is going to fast . The infrastructure that needs to be built to see trumps vision is long term . 5yrs to 10yrs , and longer . But its expansion into the future is limited .
Eventually the growth of the economy , within the country of the USA will stagnate . In yrs time .
the productivity of the US will decrease .
Earnings will slowly decrease . Over time .
 
Last edited:
Why do you say that? All DOGE needs to do is fire all the people who provide that paperwork in predominantly democratic areas. All in the name of saving money of course. DOGE has already fired the people in the NHTSA responsible for regulating Tesla.
Well, it may a false dawn of course, but it starts to look as if reality is starting to intrude on this bunch of malevolent lunatics.

I read that Muskie is scaling back his involvement in DOGE to one day/week, in order to look after his ailing (doomed?) Swasticar business. He's declaring victory and retreating, having achieved nowhere near the touted level of government savings.

Also I see Trump is now saying he has no intention of attempting to fire Jerome Powell, in a 180deg about face. Basically, Mr. Market has said "No" and he's having to listen.

And, moreover, I see he is now talking in terms of finding an accommodation with China. Very different from his stupid previous demand that China should pick up the phone and grovel to him, something obviously quite out of the question, above all for a Chinese leader in whose culture "face" is so important. So he seems to be preparing his climbdown.

Trump is going to look such a dick after this. And other countries - and maybe also domestic organisations he is attacking - will learn the lesson that he's a bit of a blowhard who backs down if resisted forcefully.
 
He's declaring victory and retreating, having achieved nowhere near the touted level of government savings.
It quickly went from $2tn to $1tn, and then recently to $150bn, of which only $60bn or so has receipts, and which is itself still full of mistakes, and counting of things actually done by Biden.
And, moreover, I see he is now talking in terms of finding an accommodation with China. Very different from his stupid previous demand that China should pick up the phone and grovel to him, something obviously quite out of the question, above all for a Chinese leader in whose culture "face" is so important. So he seems to be preparing his climbdown.
Market manipulation, plain and simple. He has a private meeting with major market investors, behind closed doors, no public presence, no media, after which the market rallies significantly. Those who weren't the insiders wondered what was going on, and then Trump announces, later in the day, that he thinks the tariffs on China (that he implemented) are too high and will end up lower etc.
So anyone not part of his group of insiders had to wait for the official announcement, by which time the insiders had already benefitted.
Market manipulation. Trump rocking the market up and down for his already-rich chums to benefit.
Trump is going to look such a dick after this. And other countries - and maybe also domestic organisations he is attacking - will learn the lesson that he's a bit of a blowhard who backs down if resisted forcefully.
As said previously, he's dug a huge hole for himself. The only question is whether any Republicans will assist the Dems in burying him in it.
By reducing tariffs he is scuppering his own budget, and risking the ballooning of the anticipated increase in national debt of c.$4-5tn by that shortfall in tariff receipts. Not to mention the lack of cuts in spending thus far, although I note that while the House bill mentioned $1.5tn in cuts to spending, the budget passed by the Senate only stipulated $4bn as a minimum. The "reconciliation" that Trump eventually signs will, I'm sure, need to be closer to the $1.5tn... which so far DOGE have laughingly been inept at finding, despite all their bluster at the start.
 
Back
Top