this post was submitted on 26 Feb 2025
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Summary

Donald Trump has announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on the European Union, claiming the bloc was “formed to screw the United States.”

While details are pending, he suggested the levies would target cars and other imports. The EU, a major U.S. trading partner, has vowed immediate retaliation, with potential tariffs impacting $29.3 billion in exports.

French President Emmanuel Macron had attempted to dissuade Trump, urging focus on China instead.

Critics, including economists and conservative media, warn the tariffs could harm the U.S. economy.

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[–] yournamehere@lemm.ee 10 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

yeah american tourists are going to have a hard time in the next 50 years.

[–] whoisearth@lemmy.ca 2 points 10 minutes ago

Studies show the majority of Americans don't have a passport let alone have left their own state. 3rd world country.

[–] TinkeringTitan@programming.dev 7 points 4 hours ago

Classic aim high and make the second offer seem like a win tactic?

[–] turnip@lemm.ee 2 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

Can someone explain to me why this is worse than Europes VAT tax?

According to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) study, any nation that switches to VAT initially feels the negative impact of reduced tax revenues. In the long run, however, the study concluded that VAT adoption has in the majority of cases increased government revenue and proved effective.

It seems to be proven quite effective, and Europe still has them, so why is Trumps worse/better than a VAT?

[–] sushibowl@feddit.nl 2 points 42 minutes ago (1 children)

VAT is a universal tax on goods. A tariff is basically a tax that applies only to imported goods. So a tariff distorts the market, making imports from a region more expensive relative to other regions, or domestic goods.

Note that basically any tax is bad from an economic perspective. However for the government to function revenues must be raised. It is considered better for market efficiency to raise revenues in such a way as to least distort the market. Tariffs are a very distorting instrument, VAT is generally considered less distorting because it affects all parts of the market equally.

[–] adavis@lemmy.world 1 points 30 minutes ago

To add another example to your great post.

And when there are exceptions, they are based on the type of good. Eg in Australia GST isn't charged on fresh fruit and vegetables in a grocery store. It doesn't matter whether an orange was grown in Australia or internationally it will be tax free.

Whereas with a tariff, a orange grown locally will be tax exempt whereas the imported one (from a tariff applied country) will.

[–] KeenFlame@feddit.nu 2 points 2 hours ago

We pay tax. For imported goods. That isn't tariffs

[–] fritobugger2017@lemmy.world 11 points 8 hours ago

Putin's puppet

[–] Jumi@lemmy.world 20 points 12 hours ago

Fucking do it then, cunt!

[–] DozensOfDonner@mander.xyz 21 points 12 hours ago (6 children)

Wtf kinda drug are the elite in the US on?

[–] tenacioustardigrade@lemmy.world 3 points 17 minutes ago

Money and power the name of that drog

[–] hOrni@lemmy.world 1 points 2 minutes ago

Money. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP2EKTCngiM Being rich is a mental disease. You don't think straight when you are rich. The best solution is to not let people bi rich, ever.

[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world 12 points 7 hours ago

Cocaine, I remember hearing about Elon Musk's supplier a while back. Most of the Republican Party is cranked, too, according to a historically young GOP congressman Madison Cawthorn.

[–] SGG@lemmy.world 7 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Capitalism.

Side effects include electing a complete moron and his piss baby groupies to the presidency

[–] turnip@lemm.ee 1 points 4 hours ago

We need a dictator then?

[–] alkbch@lemmy.ml 11 points 11 hours ago

Ketamine, or so I heard.

[–] Darkhoof@lemmy.world 14 points 12 hours ago

Russian psy-ops boosted by algos from coked up tech bros.

[–] AidsKitty@lemmy.world 7 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

Not an untrue statement. The EU was formed to make them more financially competitive and stop the endless internal warfare.

[–] ne0n@lemmy.world 3 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

That’s a long way from “to screw the US”

[–] AidsKitty@lemmy.world 1 points 2 minutes ago

Not really, that is what "being more competitive" actually means. Using leverage to secure the best deal possible.

[–] Eatspancakes84@lemmy.world 10 points 7 hours ago

Are you kidding? The major achievement of the pact has been to stop wars among its members, something that the US highly appreciated after the WW. All presidents up to Trump have been in strong favour of the EU, and EU expansion. Obama campaigned against Brexit. Bush junior strongly pushed for expansion into Eastern Europe. They all realised how much they benefited from having strong allies. Incredible how quickly that lesson has been forgotten.

[–] ehpolitical@lemmy.ca 14 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

Would love to be in the guy's head for just 5 minutes, to see if he's high or crazy or what.

[–] samus12345@lemm.ee 5 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Multiple different personality disorders combined with just being an asshole, I'm thinking.

[–] ehpolitical@lemmy.ca 3 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

Multiple would make sense, but seems like just one personality🤪👀

[–] samus12345@lemm.ee 8 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Multiple disorders, not personalities.

[–] ehpolitical@lemmy.ca 4 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Hmm, yes, maybe. Antisocial, avoidant/hyper sensitive to criticism, dependency disorder/on musk, histrionic/attention seeking, obsessive compulsive, narcissistic. Crap, he's got 'em all.

[–] samus12345@lemm.ee 3 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

Don't forget sociopathic!

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 8 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

see if he's high or crazy or what

Either compromised, or bought and paid for, is what he is.

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[–] roserose56@lemmy.ca 37 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (12 children)
[–] samus12345@lemm.ee 4 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

The bat needs to bounce back and also hit the fascist ball in the face. Making things worse for everybody for no reason!

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[–] fieryhamster007@lemmy.world 35 points 19 hours ago

The EU was setup to help protect Europe and enable them to have better control over overly enthusiastic capitalist companies such as those found in the US.

But what do we expect from a low intelligence puppet of Russia?

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