(07-05-2018 09:11 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(07-05-2018 08:26 AM)solohawks Wrote:  So they were imposing tariffs on US cars but were throwing a hissy fit when we threatened to do so for EU cars?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think both sides were imposing tariffs. The issue was the tariffs were for the most part disproportionate with foreing nations imposing higher tariffs. Trump merely wants to level the playing field and the other countries, and D's of course, threw a fit. Tariffs aren't going away, they just need to be fair to both sides.

The problem with this thinking is that tariffs affect the exchange rate just as much as they affect buying patterns. Tariffs on foreign goods result in a stronger US dollar, increasing the price of US-made goods to Germans (and thus reducing US exports).

The net result is that tariffs are just a way of shooting yourself in the foot.