Tariff Insanity

[LaineyAZ]

Looks like no one actually working at the ports is at all ready to start collecting the tariffs:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/um-it-turns-out-no-one-at-the-ports-is-collecting-trump-s-tariffs/ar-AA1CLzFL?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[scottish]

Import Chinese battery: 145% tariff
Import Chinese battery inside Chinese laptop: 20% tariff
Import Chinese battery inside Vietnamese laptop: 10% tariff

So we're gonna see laptops big enough to hold an EV battery?

[mtnrider]

Import Chinese battery: 145% tariff
Import Chinese battery inside Chinese laptop: 20% tariff
Import Chinese battery inside Vietnamese laptop: 10% tariff

So we're gonna see laptops big enough to hold an EV battery?

If we thought the chicken tax passenger vans with seats that turn into cargo vans without seats at arrival were ridiculous, I wouldn't be surprised to see car sized laptops with 20 years of battery power!  Ludicrous.

Maybe computers imported from Canada somehow powered by eggs and constructed of lumber?

All hail the mad king. 

[Poundwise]

Looks like no one actually working at the ports is at all ready to start collecting the tariffs:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/um-it-turns-out-no-one-at-the-ports-is-collecting-trump-s-tariffs/ar-AA1CLzFL?ocid=BingNewsSerp

I will be surprised if the tariffs are well enforced. I foresee an America where bribes and smuggling are how things are done. But it also means that since everyone will be forced to break the law, the government will have an excuse to swoop down and pick up anyone, at any time.

[NorCal]

Import Chinese battery: 145% tariff
Import Chinese battery inside Chinese laptop: 20% tariff
Import Chinese battery inside Vietnamese laptop: 10% tariff

So we're gonna see laptops big enough to hold an EV battery?

Assuming these tariffs are actually stable for a couple years, I know exactly what we'll see.

Some company will start making big grid-scale batteries, except they will magically use the exact same removable/replaceable battery backs that can slot into an EV. 

The pro-tariff crowd also isn't smart enough to understand that distributors for various products aren't necessarily in the same country of the manufacturer of a product.  Or that most manufacturing is a multi-layer process, with various activities happening in completely different geographies. 

[RetiredAt63]

Import Chinese battery: 145% tariff
Import Chinese battery inside Chinese laptop: 20% tariff
Import Chinese battery inside Vietnamese laptop: 10% tariff

So we're gonna see laptops big enough to hold an EV battery?

Assuming these tariffs are actually stable for a couple years, I know exactly what we'll see.

Some company will start making big grid-scale batteries, except they will magically use the exact same removable/replaceable battery backs that can slot into an EV. 

The pro-tariff crowd also isn't smart enough to understand that distributors for various products aren't necessarily in the same country of the manufacturer of a product. Or that most manufacturing is a multi-layer process, with various activities happening in completely different geographies.

That they do not understand this is pretty obvious, given the tariffs on cars.  Parts pop back and forth between Canada, the US and Mexico.  NAFTA and the USMCA (if I got the letters in the correct order) tariff agreements encouraged this.

[Financial.Velociraptor]

The God Page is reporting that there appears to be a WSJ Op-ed calling for Trump impeachment over tariffs.  That is a far right Murdoch owned property...

[Sibley]

The God Page is reporting that there appears to be a WSJ Op-ed calling for Trump impeachment over tariffs.  That is a far right Murdoch owned property...

Stability is good for business. Trump is bad for stability. Yes, there are businesses which thrive on instability, but most people are going to hunker down and decrease spending in times of instability, which is bad for consumer based business. And there's far more businesses which thrive in stability than there are that thrive on instability.

[Metalcat]

The God Page is reporting that there appears to be a WSJ Op-ed calling for Trump impeachment over tariffs.  That is a far right Murdoch owned property...

Murdoch has always hated Trump. He made a lot of money off of Fox promoting him, but he personally and politically despises him.

Michael Wolff wrote a great book about Fox News and Murdoch and his family

[41_swish]

Does Murdoch hate Trump because he is so anti swamp?

[Metalcat]

Does Murdoch hate Trump because he is so anti swamp?

Doubtful. Wolff covers it really well in the book, how Murdoch sees himself, how Fox News is in constant conflict with his self-image as a stately newsman, but it was also so profitable he couldn't not let it become what it became, and despite despising Trump, couldn't not let Fox make him gobs of cash by promoting him.

The book covers interestingly how Fox News hasn't really been governed by any clear leadership. How the news personalities have more or less run their own mini-kingdoms within that ecosystem in constant tension with Murdoch/his sons, and why and how those personalities do what they do.

Getting a view inside of how Fox News has functioned over the past few decades was extremely eye opening, I strongly recommend the book. Any time I've seen anything about Fox News since reading it a few years ago, it all just makes more sense now.

[ChpBstrd]

Does Murdoch hate Trump because he is so anti swamp?

Doubtful. Wolff covers it really well in the book, how Murdoch sees himself, how Fox News is in constant conflict with his self-image as a stately newsman, but it was also so profitable he couldn't not let it become what it became, and despite despising Trump, couldn't not let Fox make him gobs of cash by promoting him.

The book covers interestingly how Fox News hasn't really been governed by any clear leadership. How the news personalities have more or less run their own mini-kingdoms within that ecosystem in constant tension with Murdoch/his sons, and why and how those personalities do what they do.

Getting a view inside of how Fox News has functioned over the past few decades was extremely eye opening, I strongly recommend the book. Any time I've seen anything about Fox News since reading it a few years ago, it all just makes more sense now.

Sounds like it contradicts the hopeful narrative that the Trump administration will fail because they lack centralized leadership and internal discipline.

[Metalcat]

Does Murdoch hate Trump because he is so anti swamp?

Doubtful. Wolff covers it really well in the book, how Murdoch sees himself, how Fox News is in constant conflict with his self-image as a stately newsman, but it was also so profitable he couldn't not let it become what it became, and despite despising Trump, couldn't not let Fox make him gobs of cash by promoting him.

The book covers interestingly how Fox News hasn't really been governed by any clear leadership. How the news personalities have more or less run their own mini-kingdoms within that ecosystem in constant tension with Murdoch/his sons, and why and how those personalities do what they do.

Getting a view inside of how Fox News has functioned over the past few decades was extremely eye opening, I strongly recommend the book. Any time I've seen anything about Fox News since reading it a few years ago, it all just makes more sense now.

Sounds like it contradicts the hopeful narrative that the Trump administration will fail because they lack centralized leadership and internal discipline.

It all depends on the he definition of "fail."

I think they will definitely fail to run the country effectively. Does that mean the outcome will be that they get replaced with a government that runs it better? Not necessarily.

Fox lost clear guiding leadership and absolutely failed to be reputable news agency, but that doesn't mean that someone who is a better leader came along and fixed it.

Failing at democracy is often extremely adventageous for people looking to exploit that failure, so I don't see a ton of reason to be optimistic that the party will fail.

Fail at what exactly? And who will benefit??

[RetiredAt63]

Does Murdoch hate Trump because he is so anti swamp?

Doubtful. Wolff covers it really well in the book, how Murdoch sees himself, how Fox News is in constant conflict with his self-image as a stately newsman, but it was also so profitable he couldn't not let it become what it became, and despite despising Trump, couldn't not let Fox make him gobs of cash by promoting him.

The book covers interestingly how Fox News hasn't really been governed by any clear leadership. How the news personalities have more or less run their own mini-kingdoms within that ecosystem in constant tension with Murdoch/his sons, and why and how those personalities do what they do.

Getting a view inside of how Fox News has functioned over the past few decades was extremely eye opening, I strongly recommend the book. Any time I've seen anything about Fox News since reading it a few years ago, it all just makes more sense now.

Sounds like it contradicts the hopeful narrative that the Trump administration will fail because they lack centralized leadership and internal discipline.

It all depends on the he definition of "fail."

I think they will definitely fail to run the country effectively. Does that mean the outcome will be that they get replaced with a government that runs it better? Not necessarily.

Fox lost clear guiding leadership and absolutely failed to be reputable news agency, but that doesn't mean that someone who is a better leader came along and fixed it.

Failing at democracy is often extremely adventageous for people looking to exploit that failure, so I don't see a ton of reason to be optimistic that the party will fail.

Fail at what exactly? And who will benefit??

If Trump is truly Krasnov, then the loss of American overseas power may be very advantageous to Russia.  Also to China, which may not be what Putin wanted.   /s

[rocketpj]

Does Murdoch hate Trump because he is so anti swamp?

Doubtful. Wolff covers it really well in the book, how Murdoch sees himself, how Fox News is in constant conflict with his self-image as a stately newsman, but it was also so profitable he couldn't not let it become what it became, and despite despising Trump, couldn't not let Fox make him gobs of cash by promoting him.

The book covers interestingly how Fox News hasn't really been governed by any clear leadership. How the news personalities have more or less run their own mini-kingdoms within that ecosystem in constant tension with Murdoch/his sons, and why and how those personalities do what they do.

Getting a view inside of how Fox News has functioned over the past few decades was extremely eye opening, I strongly recommend the book. Any time I've seen anything about Fox News since reading it a few years ago, it all just makes more sense now.

Sounds like it contradicts the hopeful narrative that the Trump administration will fail because they lack centralized leadership and internal discipline.

It all depends on the he definition of "fail."

I think they will definitely fail to run the country effectively. Does that mean the outcome will be that they get replaced with a government that runs it better? Not necessarily.

Fox lost clear guiding leadership and absolutely failed to be reputable news agency, but that doesn't mean that someone who is a better leader came along and fixed it.

Failing at democracy is often extremely adventageous for people looking to exploit that failure, so I don't see a ton of reason to be optimistic that the party will fail.

Fail at what exactly? And who will benefit??

If Trump is truly Krasnov, then the loss of American overseas power may be very advantageous to Russia.  Also to China, which may not be what Putin wanted.   /s

If Trump is Krasnov then it will have been the most successful intelligence operation in human history. 

Imagine being a KGB agent setting up a deal with a mobbed up New York real estate developer to launder some money and pull some other shenanigans.  30 years later that semi-competent developer manages to fail upwards into the Presidency.  He then massively undermines faith in democracy and government in his own country - the two biggest strengths of the US being a stable democratic system and the rule of law. 

After 4 years of the biggest intelligence coup in history the asset leaves, almost torching the place on the way out.  Then, four years later and an unforgivable number of failed attempts to hold him accountable for his crimes, he manages to fail himself into the White House AGAIN.  This time with feeling, and he immediately sets about dismantling everything that was good about the US.  The very foundation of its success as a country - rule of law, diplomacy, international trade, democratic stability. 

I think Putin is a dark and dangerous man, but if Krasnov is a real thing then he will have the intelligence coup of all time in his record book.

[41_swish]

Oh god what have I started.... From my point of view, he just seems like a shake up to the status quo that both parties have a vested interest in keeping alive.

[Kris]

Oh god what have I started.... From my point of view, he just seems like a shake up to the status quo that both parties have a vested interest in keeping alive.

I think it is much, more than this, my friend.

[RetiredAt63]

Oh god what have I started.... From my point of view, he just seems like a shake up to the status quo that both parties have a vested interest in keeping alive.

I think it is much, more than this, my friend.

Maybe non-Americans, having the outside view, have a better perspective?

When I watch American news clips on YouTube they seem so short-sighted and tunnel-vision. 

Find news from CBC (Canada), ABC (Australia), any of the British or European news.  I haven't hunted out Al-Jezheera yet, but when I was in New Zealand just before Covid went crazy they were one of my best news sources.

Hell, it is really all here on Off Topic.

And put it together: loss of the international community (tariffs, expansionist threats, ICE, horrible foreign policy), economic instability (tariffs, loss of tourism, loss of trade, loss of all sorts of contracts not being renewed or being cancelled), loss of rule of law (ICE, flouting of court decisions). 

The US is in a downward spiral, no end in sight, and the rest of the world with ties to the US is trying hard not to be sucked down with it.

[41_swish]

I swear you hate me

[LennStar]

Maybe non-Americans, having the outside view, have a better perspective?

When I watch American news clips on YouTube they seem so short-sighted and tunnel-vision. 

Find news from CBC (Canada), ABC (Australia), any of the British or European news.  I haven't hunted out Al-Jezheera yet, but when I was in New Zealand just before Covid went crazy they were one of my best news sources.

Here is the video you want to watch, from one of the best chanels on YT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI7b9UcgQjw

[RetiredAt63]

I swear you hate me

????? Hate you????

No.

Just pointing out the obvious.  Which may not be so obvious where you are.

[Stasher]

More American winning on tariffs, this will hit the very red cattle ranching States hard.

CHICAGO, March 27 (Reuters) - U.S. beef sales to China have taken a dive, U.S. government data showed on Thursday, after Beijing allowed the expiration of registrations that had permitted exports from hundreds of American meat facilities.
A tit-for-tat tariff dispute has also raised duties on U.S. meat and other goods shipped to China, making the products less attractive to Chinese buyers. The spat adds new strains to relations between the countries that had already reached historic lows in recent years.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-beef-sales-china-skid-after-beijing-lets-export-registrations-lapse-2025-03-27/

[wenchsenior]

More American winning on tariffs, this will hit the very red cattle ranching States hard.

CHICAGO, March 27 (Reuters) - U.S. beef sales to China have taken a dive, U.S. government data showed on Thursday, after Beijing allowed the expiration of registrations that had permitted exports from hundreds of American meat facilities.
A tit-for-tat tariff dispute has also raised duties on U.S. meat and other goods shipped to China, making the products less attractive to Chinese buyers. The spat adds new strains to relations between the countries that had already reached historic lows in recent years.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-beef-sales-china-skid-after-beijing-lets-export-registrations-lapse-2025-03-27/

:points at Texas, making Nelson laugh: HA ha!

[rocketpj]

More American winning on tariffs, this will hit the very red cattle ranching States hard.

I don't wish ill on anyone, but the people who got facepunched after they voted to get punched in the face by the guy who said 'If elected I will punch you in the face' have much less sympathy from me than otherwise.

[ChpBstrd]

More American winning on tariffs, this will hit the very red cattle ranching States hard.

CHICAGO, March 27 (Reuters) - U.S. beef sales to China have taken a dive, U.S. government data showed on Thursday, after Beijing allowed the expiration of registrations that had permitted exports from hundreds of American meat facilities.
A tit-for-tat tariff dispute has also raised duties on U.S. meat and other goods shipped to China, making the products less attractive to Chinese buyers. The spat adds new strains to relations between the countries that had already reached historic lows in recent years.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-beef-sales-china-skid-after-beijing-lets-export-registrations-lapse-2025-03-27/

:points at Texas, making Nelson laugh: HA ha!

Oh yea? I shall spend my unemployment checks on newly-cheap steak!

[reeshau]

More American winning on tariffs, this will hit the very red cattle ranching States hard.

CHICAGO, March 27 (Reuters) - U.S. beef sales to China have taken a dive, U.S. government data showed on Thursday, after Beijing allowed the expiration of registrations that had permitted exports from hundreds of American meat facilities.
A tit-for-tat tariff dispute has also raised duties on U.S. meat and other goods shipped to China, making the products less attractive to Chinese buyers. The spat adds new strains to relations between the countries that had already reached historic lows in recent years.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-beef-sales-china-skid-after-beijing-lets-export-registrations-lapse-2025-03-27/

:points at Texas, making Nelson laugh: HA ha!

Oh yea? I shall spend my unemployment checks on newly-cheap steak!

Yeah, I have trouble finding cheaper brisket as a downside.  Maybe I should upgrade my smoker...

[LaineyAZ]

China cancelling all new Boeing orders- that's going to hit Boeing plus all of its Aerospace vendors hard.

I still believe that business leaders are going to have a showdown at the White House to force this tariff nonsense to stop.

[GuitarStv]

I still believe that business leaders are going to have a showdown at the White House to force this tariff nonsense to stop.

There's lots more room in El Salvadore for people the government says are criminals to be disappeared to.  And it's not like you get a trial or anything.  I wouldn't count on much backbone from business leaders.

[sixwings]

The business community isn't trying to put pressure on Trump, they are just going to keep kissing his ass, but they are definitely putting pressure on republicans in congress, and there is some success in the senate with that. There's a majority of senators who don't want this now and that number is growing. I'd bet in like 3 months I'd say there will be the 66 senators needed to end it if it's secret ballot. The problem is the house and that Trump isn't nearly unpopular enough for republicans in the house to turn against him and win primaries. I think we're more likely to see an implosion of the administration and complete collapse of the federal government before the business community can put enough pressure on the house to do anything.

TBH, I'm of the take that the only option for the US is to come to the brink of collapse, let him fire JPow, let hyperinflation run rampant so people get real, real fucked. In that scenario I don't think Trump maintains even his MAGA support and (hopefully) things change to come back to sanity. Or Vance takes over and becomes a dictator. I don't think Trump has the competence to pull it off, Vance might but maybe not the charisma.

[bacchi]

TBH, I'm of the take that the only option for the US is to come to the brink of collapse, let him fire JPow, let hyperinflation run rampant so people get real, real fucked. In that scenario I don't think Trump maintains even his MAGA support and (hopefully) things change to come back to sanity. Or Vance takes over and becomes a dictator. I don't think Trump has the competence to pull it off, Vance might but maybe not the charisma.

Yeah, if Trump takes control of the fed, we're looking at Great Depression 2.0. With the implosion of the world's #1/2 economy, it'll be worldwide and long lasting. Trump could still maintain power though. It's amazing how much deflection and blame charismatic people can do.

Post-Trump, probably from his death in this scenario, Vance might make a play but he'll be deposed by someone pretty quickly. He's not as despised as much as Cruz but it's pretty close.

We're either living in an embarrassing Andrew Jackson moment of history or one that'll be written about in "The Rise and Fall of the American Empire."

[sixwings]

TBH, I'm of the take that the only option for the US is to come to the brink of collapse, let him fire JPow, let hyperinflation run rampant so people get real, real fucked. In that scenario I don't think Trump maintains even his MAGA support and (hopefully) things change to come back to sanity. Or Vance takes over and becomes a dictator. I don't think Trump has the competence to pull it off, Vance might but maybe not the charisma.

Yeah, if Trump takes control of the fed, we're looking at Great Depression 2.0. With the implosion of the world's #1/2 economy, it'll be worldwide and long lasting. Trump could still maintain power though. It's amazing how much deflection and blame charismatic people can do.

Post-Trump, probably from his death in this scenario, Vance might make a play but he'll be deposed by someone pretty quickly. He's not as despised as much as Cruz but it's pretty close.

We're either living in an embarrassing Andrew Jackson moment of history or one that'll be written about in "The Rise and Fall of the American Empire."

I'm still hopeful/optimistic that it's the former and not the latter. I don't think the vast majority of the american people wanted or expected this, they thought they were voting for Trump 1.0 which was just a normal neocon presidency, and I think if things become really bad they will rise up and do the right thing. Trump is not popular, he's the 2nd least popular president with his 1st term only narrowing edging him out and it's going down, and is unlikely to get better as the economy gets worse. People don't like this.

Things have been too easy for America and people thought they wanted to "shake it up". Easy times creates weak people and we're seeing that now.

[Poundwise]

Yeah, if Trump takes control of the fed, we're looking at Great Depression 2.0. With the implosion of the world's #1/2 economy, it'll be worldwide and long lasting. Trump could still maintain power though. It's amazing how much deflection and blame charismatic people can do.

Yes, I'm disgusted with people (Schumer) who are gleefully rubbing their hands expecting that the economy and 2026 will solve the problems for them. Authoritarians can weather bad economies much better than their resistance (look at North Korea or virtually any other strong man regime).

[Travis]

Trump clearly saying during his meeting with Meloni that he wants to fire Powell because during his first term, the line went up.

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lmzobk5yl32c

[NorCal]

TBH, I'm of the take that the only option for the US is to come to the brink of collapse, let him fire JPow, let hyperinflation run rampant so people get real, real fucked. In that scenario I don't think Trump maintains even his MAGA support and (hopefully) things change to come back to sanity. Or Vance takes over and becomes a dictator. I don't think Trump has the competence to pull it off, Vance might but maybe not the charisma.

Yeah, if Trump takes control of the fed, we're looking at Great Depression 2.0. With the implosion of the world's #1/2 economy, it'll be worldwide and long lasting. Trump could still maintain power though. It's amazing how much deflection and blame charismatic people can do.

Post-Trump, probably from his death in this scenario, Vance might make a play but he'll be deposed by someone pretty quickly. He's not as despised as much as Cruz but it's pretty close.

We're either living in an embarrassing Andrew Jackson moment of history or one that'll be written about in "The Rise and Fall of the American Empire."

I'm still hopeful/optimistic that it's the former and not the latter. I don't think the vast majority of the american people wanted or expected this, they thought they were voting for Trump 1.0 which was just a normal neocon presidency, and I think if things become really bad they will rise up and do the right thing. Trump is not popular, he's the 2nd least popular president with his 1st term only narrowing edging him out and it's going down, and is unlikely to get better as the economy gets worse. People don't like this.

Things have been too easy for America and people thought they wanted to "shake it up". Easy times creates weak people and we're seeing that now.

I agree with the sentiment, but think he'll lose support long before it gets to Depression level.

It's been over 15 years since this country has had a recession.  Most people either forgot or are too young to know what a real recession feels like.  I suspect this is part of the reason everyone thinks the economy is so bad.  They don't remember anything else.

It takes ~25 days for a container ship to sail from China to Los Angeles.  The items on store shelves today represent things shipped from overseas roughly 40-60 days ago.

The items that exist on store shelves this summer will be reflective of the cargo ships that are setting sail now.

ChatGPT is giving me the following info on inbound imports to the US:


Following President Trump's announcement of substantial tariff increases on Chinese goods—escalating to 145%—and China's retaliatory tariffs of 125% on U.S. products, import volumes began to decline. At the Port of Los Angeles, a 64% drop in import bookings was observed between late March and early April 2025, with imports from China decreasing by 36%. A forecasted 10% reduction in imports is anticipated for the second half of 2025 .​

There are some producers that aren't changing prices to reflect tariffs; they're just not shipping product at all.

We are looking at a summer of Covid style product shortages, albeit on different products.  An administration pivot will take a couple months for new ships to be loaded and traverse the pacific ocean.

Do you really think American consumers will take supply shortages lightly?  I don't.  Most people are sadly okay with violations of fundamental rights, but they have nearly zero tolerance for things that impact their own wallet.

[ChpBstrd]

Yeah, if Trump takes control of the fed, we're looking at Great Depression 2.0. With the implosion of the world's #1/2 economy, it'll be worldwide and long lasting. Trump could still maintain power though. It's amazing how much deflection and blame charismatic people can do.

Yes, I'm disgusted with people (Schumer) who are gleefully rubbing their hands expecting that the economy and 2026 will solve the problems for them. Authoritarians can weather bad economies much better than their resistance (look at North Korea or virtually any other strong man regime).

Yea I'm coughing on the copium fumes here. Schumer is the epitome of the coastal elite liberal class who eviscerated the Democratic Party over the past 25 years for their own benefit. He killed the Midwestern "blue wall" and the Southern "blue dogs", alienated the working class, alienated both big business and small business, and oversaw the dismantling of what was left of civil society, all without matching the Republicans on social media strategy, youth outreach, leadership development, party branding, or international support.

And now this guy who sits on a throne in an empty kingdom, after having overseen the complete loss of all branches of government and most state governments, is hopeful someone will throw a vote at Democrats without them having to change or work for it.

[Stasher]

Products shipping to the United States are getting impacted now and there will be cascading outcomes. Good timing on @NorCal 's comment about shipping timelines as this is active on BlueSky right now

"For those unfamiliar with the trucking industry: 80 blank sailings means, give or take, about 1,000,000 cargo containers that had been scheduled and booked for delivery which just disappeared."

"The freight guys have really started freaking out over the past 48-72 hours: Many truckers I've spoken with don't realize how quickly container volumes have collapsed. Starting in May, port freight out of California
will be almost eliminated. Its going to be a bloodbath in dray, followed by intermodal, and then a collapse in 1-20 & 1-40
trucking."

Comparing Covid to the Tariffs
"May 2020 had 51 shipments blank sailings. Over 80 so far in April 2025. COVID will look like good
times."

[Poundwise]

Layoffs at Mack Truck now.
https://penncapital-star.com/briefs/mack-trucks-announces-layoffs-at-lehigh-valley-plant-blames-tariffs/

[NorCal]

Products shipping to the United States are getting impacted now and there will be cascading outcomes. Good timing on @NorCal 's comment about shipping timelines as this is active on BlueSky right now

"For those unfamiliar with the trucking industry: 80 blank sailings means, give or take, about 1,000,000 cargo containers that had been scheduled and booked for delivery which just disappeared."

"The freight guys have really started freaking out over the past 48-72 hours: Many truckers I've spoken with don't realize how quickly container volumes have collapsed. Starting in May, port freight out of California
will be almost eliminated. Its going to be a bloodbath in dray, followed by intermodal, and then a collapse in 1-20 & 1-40
trucking."

Comparing Covid to the Tariffs
"May 2020 had 51 shipments blank sailings. Over 80 so far in April 2025. COVID will look like good
times."

I guess if I want a silver lining, this level of economic destruction will do more to reduce CO2 emissions than any program or regulation dreamed up by Biden’s EPA.

[reeshau]

If only we could recycle some Covid-era footage of republican outrage about government-induced economic damage...

Maybe Rep. Tom McClintock would care to update this speech, given in Dec. 2020:

"The Fifth Amendment in our Bill of Rights specifically protects Americans from being deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law. Where are those rights today?

Congress is now discussing how to provide relief for the thousands of small business owners, their employees, and the families that depend on them, who have been crushed by these reckless edicts. As usual, politicians measure their empathy by how much they're willing to spend of other people's money. But the fine point of the matter is this: government cannot support the economy for any significant period of time because government does not finance the economy. The economy finances the government – and when you shut down the economy, you shut down the revenues that go to government.

The only genuine relief from the Covid lockdownsTariffs is to end the Covid lockdownsTariffs. Why is that so hard for some people to understand?"

FIFY, Tom

[sixwings]

Products shipping to the United States are getting impacted now and there will be cascading outcomes. Good timing on @NorCal 's comment about shipping timelines as this is active on BlueSky right now

"For those unfamiliar with the trucking industry: 80 blank sailings means, give or take, about 1,000,000 cargo containers that had been scheduled and booked for delivery which just disappeared."

"The freight guys have really started freaking out over the past 48-72 hours: Many truckers I've spoken with don't realize how quickly container volumes have collapsed. Starting in May, port freight out of California
will be almost eliminated. Its going to be a bloodbath in dray, followed by intermodal, and then a collapse in 1-20 & 1-40
trucking."

Comparing Covid to the Tariffs
"May 2020 had 51 shipments blank sailings. Over 80 so far in April 2025. COVID will look like good
times."

I guess if I want a silver lining, this level of economic destruction will do more to reduce CO2 emissions than any program or regulation dreamed up by Biden’s EPA.

This is the ray of hope i've been holding on to! Nothing is better for fighting climate change than ending american consumerism.

[Rubyvroom]

Products shipping to the United States are getting impacted now and there will be cascading outcomes. Good timing on @NorCal 's comment about shipping timelines as this is active on BlueSky right now

"For those unfamiliar with the trucking industry: 80 blank sailings means, give or take, about 1,000,000 cargo containers that had been scheduled and booked for delivery which just disappeared."

"The freight guys have really started freaking out over the past 48-72 hours: Many truckers I've spoken with don't realize how quickly container volumes have collapsed. Starting in May, port freight out of California
will be almost eliminated. Its going to be a bloodbath in dray, followed by intermodal, and then a collapse in 1-20 & 1-40
trucking."

Comparing Covid to the Tariffs
"May 2020 had 51 shipments blank sailings. Over 80 so far in April 2025. COVID will look like good
times."

I think we're keeping an eye on similar things on Bluesky :)

More anecdotal conversations to add to this:

"Drivers I know say there are virtually no containers to pick up and deliver at the West Coast ports."
"Yep hearing from my trucking friends that the trucks aren't moving. They are getting pretty pissed too because if you're not rolling you're not making money."
"I got an email the other day from a fabric retailer, telling customers they may not get their orders."
"I do not wish to sound alarmist but literally every single supply chain professional I know is in 5-alarm panic mode."
"My client owns a trucking/shipping business. She said work pretty much came to halt after tariffs. 15 years in the industry, she said she's never seen anything like it. It makes the Covid slow down look like child's play."
"The JOC's Peter Tirschwell posts that a top 3 retailer is halting inbound shipments from China until resolution, betting that one will happen soon enough."

Good times cometh.
*orders excess kitty food for the 19yr old tux*

[Freedomin5]

Products shipping to the United States are getting impacted now and there will be cascading outcomes. Good timing on @NorCal 's comment about shipping timelines as this is active on BlueSky right now

"For those unfamiliar with the trucking industry: 80 blank sailings means, give or take, about 1,000,000 cargo containers that had been scheduled and booked for delivery which just disappeared."

"The freight guys have really started freaking out over the past 48-72 hours: Many truckers I've spoken with don't realize how quickly container volumes have collapsed. Starting in May, port freight out of California
will be almost eliminated. Its going to be a bloodbath in dray, followed by intermodal, and then a collapse in 1-20 & 1-40
trucking."

Comparing Covid to the Tariffs
"May 2020 had 51 shipments blank sailings. Over 80 so far in April 2025. COVID will look like good
times."

I think we're keeping an eye on similar things on Bluesky :)

More anecdotal conversations to add to this:

"Drivers I know say there are virtually no containers to pick up and deliver at the West Coast ports."
"Yep hearing from my trucking friends that the trucks aren't moving. They are getting pretty pissed too because if you're not rolling you're not making money."
"I got an email the other day from a fabric retailer, telling customers they may not get their orders."
"I do not wish to sound alarmist but literally every single supply chain professional I know is in 5-alarm panic mode."
"My client owns a trucking/shipping business. She said work pretty much came to halt after tariffs. 15 years in the industry, she said she's never seen anything like it. It makes the Covid slow down look like child's play."
"The JOC's Peter Tirschwell posts that a top 3 retailer is halting inbound shipments from China until resolution, betting that one will happen soon enough."

Good times cometh.
*orders excess kitty food for the 19yr old tux*

Consumers can just buy direct from Chinese manufacturers.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/trumps-tariffs/article/in-an-attempt-to-undercut-trumps-tariffs-chinese-factories-target-us-audience-on-tiktok/

Even though it’s TikTok information, it is also true in this case. I live in China and shop on Taobao. I have been buying great quality stuff on Taobao for the last decade. It’s hit or miss and you have to do your due diligence, but it’s been a nice Mustachian alternative for me.

Since we are repatriating this year, I just stocked up on towels, linens, shoes, and clothes. It’s all good quality American/Canadian/UK brands for a fraction of the price.

[Travis]

Trump changed his mind of some of the tariffs after Bessent and Lutnick ambushed him while Navarro was in the other side of the building.

https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-tariff-pause-navarro-bessent-lutnick-b9e864fb?st=7xKPLt

https://x.com/wsjpolitics/status/1913342591342412132

[Christof]

Consumers can just buy direct from Chinese manufacturers.

You still have to pay tariffs... In the past there was a $800 de minimis exemption. Now there's minimum fee which increased from $25 to $100 and is supposed to go up to $200 per package (or 120% being the decision of the carrier).

[Freedomin5]

Consumers can just buy direct from Chinese manufacturers.

You still have to pay tariffs... In the past there was a $800 de minimis exemption. Now there's minimum fee which increased from $25 to $100 and is supposed to go up to $200 per package (or 120% being the decision of the carrier).

But you save on the cost of the actual good because you are essentially cutting out the middleman.

For example, if you typically buy an Abercrombie shirt from Abercrombie for $60, that includes Abercrombie’s 300% mark up. But if you buy from the manufacturer, you save on the mark up even if you have to pay the tariff.

Case in point, I can usually find name brand items from the Chinese manufacturer for 1/5 the retail price. Even with a 145% tariff, it’s still cheaper than buying that same item at the store in Canada.

Some enterprising Americans will figure out if they batch orders, they will be able to figure out a way to minimize expenses and save money purchasing goods overseas, even if they have to pay a minimum tariff fee.

[Christof]

But you save on the cost of the actual good because you are essentially cutting out the middleman.

For example, if you typically buy an Abercrombie shirt from Abercrombie for $60, that includes Abercrombie’s 300% mark up. But if you buy from the manufacturer, you save on the mark up even if you have to pay the tariff.

Case in point, I can usually find name brand items from the Chinese manufacturer for 1/5 the retail price. Even with a 145% tariff, it’s still cheaper than buying that same item at the store in Canada.

Some enterprising Americans will figure out if they batch orders, they will be able to figure out a way to minimize expenses and save money purchasing goods overseas, even if they have to pay a minimum tariff fee.

Admittedly, I have no idea what the law is in your country. In my case if the brand is registered in my country regulations would apply. You cannot just import a brand without the brands approval.

[41_swish]

Consumer's buying direct from China for less than $800 is ultimately what lead to the rise of Temu and the likes. That stuff is pure junk anyways...

[scottish]

Consumers can just buy direct from Chinese manufacturers.

You still have to pay tariffs... In the past there was a $800 de minimis exemption. Now there's minimum fee which increased from $25 to $100 and is supposed to go up to $200 per package (or 120% being the decision of the carrier).

But you save on the cost of the actual good because you are essentially cutting out the middleman.

For example, if you typically buy an Abercrombie shirt from Abercrombie for $60, that includes Abercrombie’s 300% mark up. But if you buy from the manufacturer, you save on the mark up even if you have to pay the tariff.

Case in point, I can usually find name brand items from the Chinese manufacturer for 1/5 the retail price. Even with a 145% tariff, it’s still cheaper than buying that same item at the store in Canada.

Some enterprising Americans will figure out if they batch orders, they will be able to figure out a way to minimize expenses and save money purchasing goods overseas, even if they have to pay a minimum tariff fee.

It sounds like this effect of the tariffs will be to off-shore retail outlets from the US to China?     Unintended consequences...

[Travis]

Sony spreading the tariff pain across the board.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/sony-sparks-global-outrage-with-surprise-ps5-price-hike-blamed-on-trump-tariffs/ar-AA1DcdGR?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds

[Freedomin5]

Consumer's buying direct from China for less than $800 is ultimately what lead to the rise of Temu and the likes. That stuff is pure junk anyways...

That’s only if you don’t know how to assess whether an item is fake. You can increase your chances of getting decent quality stuff if you know what to look for. It’s unfair to paint everything in such broad strokes. Like almost everything else in this world, the answer to “can you only get junk from China?” is “No. It depends.” You miss out on a lot of opportunities if you are cognitively lazy and make sweeping generalizations without attempting to understand the finer nuances.