More than 50 countries have reached out to the President to begin tariff negotiations

[RickyD]

Its the collateral damage a collapse would cause, in terms of human suffering, financial concerns, and who would control and maintain their nuclear stockpile. thats just off the top of my head


the devil you do know...

I get that completely...its not something you pull the rug out from under and 180° change direction over night. What gets me is it seems like all those against these tariffs seem to be happy to be reliant on China and think the sky will fall if we take steps to change that. There are other countries full of poor people who would do just about any type of job for much less than someone living here would. I know a good handful of clothes I have are produced in Thailand and Vietnam. India also comes to mind when it regards large workforces and a need for more income. I would also be happy to pay 20-30% or so more for things if it means we make stuff of vital importance here in the US. These days most of the factory jobs in the US are machine watchers anyway...robots do most of the actual work. Other countries not so much because they have very cheap labor in droves.

I guess it all boils down to me not understanding why our tariffs are bad but all the ones everyone had on us are important for them to have...and why bringing the manufacturers back to the US for especially things like steel and computer chips and pharmaceutical chemicals and medicine. If China does ever make a move on Taiwan we would be screwed lacking basically all the important shit we need. China would cut us off and we would do what?!? No medicine, steel, chips, and I am sure many other things I am not thinking of. I don't worry about clothes and cheap temu crap...we can live without that.

[putnam6]

I get that completely...its not something you pull the rug out from under and 180° change direction over night. What gets me is it seems like all those against these tariffs seem to be happy to be reliant on China and think the sky will fall if we take steps to change that. There are other countries full of poor people who would do just about any type of job for much less than someone living here would. I know a good handful of clothes I have are produced in Thailand and Vietnam. India also comes to mind when it regards large workforces and a need for more income. I would also be happy to pay 20-30% or so more for things if it means we make stuff of vital importance here in the US. These days most of the factory jobs in the US are machine watchers anyway...robots do most of the actual work. Other countries not so much because they have very cheap labor in droves.

I guess it all boils down to me not understanding why our tariffs are bad but all the ones everyone had on us are important for them to have...and why bringing the manufacturers back to the US for especially things like steel and computer chips and pharmaceutical chemicals and medicine. If China does ever make a move on Taiwan we would be screwed lacking basically all the important shit we need. China would cut us off and we would do what?!? No medicine, steel, chips, and I am sure many other things I am not thinking of. I don't worry about clothes and cheap temu crap...we can live without that.

Let's face it 40%, if not more, of the flak is SOLELY because it's Trump trying to do this. Tariffs aren't bad for the economy. India and China both impose loads of tariffs and other trade restrictions 

I agree 100%, clothes and Temu aren't big needle movers in the tariff wars FOR Uncle Sam, but for China, they employ hundreds of millions of Chinese. One reason, that it's one job a little old 80-year-old lady can do as well as a young adult, but also because textiles and apparel were one of the first sectors to move large portions of their manufacturing there. 

I only talk about apparel because it's where my limited knowledge comes from, and yes, consensus is that August is approaching DEFCON one. 

August through September is when the bulk of Spring 26 orders are placed. If retailers are skittish for any reason, we will spend the rest of the year chasing those missed orders on time-sensitive merchandise.

[RickyD]

Let's face it 40%, if not more, of the flak is SOLELY because it's Trump trying to do this. Tariffs aren't bad for the economy. India and China both impose loads of tariffs and other trade restrictions 

I agree 100%, clothes and Temu aren't big needle movers in the tariff wars FOR Uncle Sam, but for China, they employ hundreds of millions of Chinese. One reason, that it's one job a little old 80-year-old lady can do as well as a young adult, but also because textiles and apparel were one of the first sectors to move large portions of their manufacturing there. 

I only talk about apparel because it's where my limited knowledge comes from, and yes, consensus is that August is approaching DEFCON one. 

August through September is when the bulk of Spring 26 orders are placed. If retailers are skittish for any reason, we will spend the rest of the year chasing those missed orders on time-sensitive merchandise.

I totally get why your posts tend to be about the clothing angle. I also think what you said about that being huge in china is exactly why we will get the deal we want once they are done saving face and trying to look tough. The stuff we don't need is where the bulk of their jobs come from because as you say anyone can do those jobs without needing a degree or a lot of experience. 16 or 60 makes no difference there. Its also those sectors that we don't need to move back to the US anyway. They make a real good pressure point for getting things like pharmaceutical precursor chemicals and steel or auto manufacturing back to the US which we do desperately need indepedence on.

Hopefully whinny the poo decides that looking tough and saving face isn't the way to go before you need your orders filled. I don't want to see anyone lose a business here...but sadly we ignored this for too long for it not to be painful.

[putnam6]

I totally get why your posts tend to be about the clothing angle. I also think what you said about that being huge in china is exactly why we will get the deal we want once they are done saving face and trying to look tough. The stuff we don't need is where the bulk of their jobs come from because as you say anyone can do those jobs without needing a degree or a lot of experience. 16 or 60 makes no difference there. Its also those sectors that we don't need to move back to the US anyway. They make a real good pressure point for getting things like pharmaceutical precursor chemicals and steel or auto manufacturing back to the US which we do desperately need indepedence on.

Hopefully whinny the poo decides that looking tough and saving face isn't the way to go before you need your orders filled. I don't want to see anyone lose a business here...but sadly we ignored this for too long for it not to be painful.

Agree 100%, it's a band-aid that needed to be ripped off, our economy will be better off in the long run 

it will be difficult to transfer back medium to high-end apparel manufacturing to the US anyway, it would take advancements in robotics and automation. We just don't have enough skilled workers, and hand-sewn, hand-beaded still carries some cachet in the biz.

Just a 10-15% reduction in the landed cost means a lot, as most companies operate on razor-thin margins as it is. I can see smaller firms challenging the old guard, which is a good thing, too.  

We should be OK on the home front, LOL I can live cheaper than I used to when I was younger.

[putnam6]

The US and the way it works just don't meld well with how China is and the it works. India might be a better partner in certain sectors 

See new posts
U.S.-India Trade Agreement Terms Finalized
Last updated 1 hour ago
Vice President JD Vance announced that the United States and India have finalized the terms of reference for trade negotiations, marking a significant step in their economic partnership. This follows a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where both leaders expressed optimism about enhancing trade relations. The focus of these negotiations includes job creation, strengthening supply chains, and promoting worker prosperity, aiming to align with the visions of both President Trump and Prime Minister Modi for a comprehensive trade deal. The discussions also covered cooperation in defense, technology, and energy sectors, indicating a shift towards viewing India as a major economic partner rather than just a source of low-cost labor.


This story is a summary of posts on X and may evolve over time. Grok can make mistakes, verify its outputs.

[putnam6]

China slams 'appeasement' of US as nations rush to secure trade dealsSam DAVIES
Mon, April 21, 2025 at 3:22 AM EDT
4 min read

While the rest of the world has been slapped with a blanket 10 percent tariff, China faces levies of up to 145 percent on many products (STR)
STR/AFP/AFPMoreChina on Monday hit out at other countries making trade deals with the United States at Beijing's expense, vowing countermeasures against those who "appease" Washington in the blistering tariff war as its neighbours rush to secure favourable terms from the White House.
While the rest of the world has been hit with a blanket 10 percent tariff, China faces levies of up to 145 percent on many products. Beijing has responded with duties of 125 percent on US goods.
Parallel to Washington's full trade war against top economic rival China, a number of countries are now engaged in negotiations with the United States to lower tariffs.
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The finance and trade ministers from South Korea -- a major exporter to the United States -- will hold high-level trade talks in Washington this week, Seoul said.
South Korean giants such as Samsung Electronics and auto maker Hyundai stand to take a hefty hit if the White House goes ahead with its threatened levies.
Japan's prime minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Saturday that talks between Japan and the United States could be a "model for the world", after Tokyo's tariffs envoy Ryosei Akazawa visited Washington and met President Donald Trump last week.
"The fact that President Trump came out (to negotiate with Japan's envoy)... shows he sees talks with Japan as important," he told the country's parliament on Monda

[xuenchen]

Vice-President JD Vance announces India is the first country to finalize trade agreement negotiation terms with the United States:

"We are especially excited to formally announce that America and India have officially finalized the terms of reference for the trade negotiation. I think this is a vital step."

[SomeStupidName]

Vice-President JD Vance announces India is the first country to finalize trade agreement negotiation terms with the United States:

That's great news don't we get a lot of textiles from them.

[putnam6]

That's great news don't we get a lot of textiles from them.

Yes, we do, and we should be getting lots more. I'd expect upticks in all categories, especially categories where they compete with China.

 

In 2024, the United States imported approximately $91.23 billion worth of goods from India, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database. The major imports from India to the US, based on recent trade data, include the following key categories:

• Precious Stones and Metals: Notably diamonds, cut and polished, valued at around $10.2 billion. India's expertise in diamond processing makes it a significant supplier to the US market.
  
• Pharmaceuticals: Drugs and pharmaceutical products, worth approximately $6.34 billion from April to November 2024, reflecting India’s role as a major global supplier of generic medicines.
  
• Electrical and Electronic Equipment: Including telecom instruments and electronics, with exports valued at significant portions of the trade, contributing to over 30% of some Indian industries' turnover linked to the US.
  
• Textiles and Apparel: Including cotton ready-made garments and accessories, valued at $3.32 billion from April to November 2024, with traditional and sustainable fabrics being popular.
  
• Engineering Goods: Valued at $12.33 billion from April to November 2024, encompassing a range of machinery and mechanical appliances.
  
• Gems and Jewellery: Beyond diamonds, other gems and jewellery exports were valued at $6.28 billion in the same period.
  
• Automotive Components: Including engine parts and transmission components, valued at around $800 million, with companies like Bharat Forge and Bosch India playing key roles.
  
• Medical Appliances: A significant category, though specific values vary, included in the top imports due to India’s growing medical device exports.
  
• Agricultural Products: Such as rice and processed foods, part of the broader import basket, though less dominant than other categories.
  
• Refined Petroleum: A notable export, contributing to the diverse range of goods India supplies to the US.
  

These categories highlight India’s diverse export portfolio, driven by its strengths in manufacturing, processing, and skilled labor. The US-India trade relationship has grown significantly, with India’s exports to the US increasing steadily, supported by a trade surplus of $36.8 billion in FY24. For more detailed insights, you can explore trade data from sources like the US Bureau of Economic Analysis or India’s Ministry of Commerce. 

[xuenchen]

That's great news don't we get a lot of textiles from them.

...yet.
A good bargaining chip has just been created when The U.S. starts talking with Chyyna