• mosiacmango@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    So how does that make products cheaper in the short term that he says it will, I.e the 4 years of a presidency?

    With his proposed tariffs of 100%, washing machines used to cost $500, they are now $1000. Same machine, same features. Washing machine factory dont exist locally, and may not even exist because the margins may still not work out. Even if they intend to build one, how does that help me even long term? Washing machine prices are now anchored at $1000 instead of the $500 because their only competition has their price controlled at that rate.

    How is me losing $500 dollars from now on for the same product saving me money? How does this repeating for hundreds or thousands of products help me save money while losing more money on each of them?

    • 14th_cylon@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      So how does that make products cheaper in the short term that he says it will, I.e the 4 years of a presidency?

      it does not, goal of the tax is not to make product cheaper.

      Washing machine factory dont exist locally, and may not even exist because the margins may still not work out.

      well the goal is obviously encourage growth of local manufacturers, so hopefully there will be one (or more)

      Even if they intend to build one, how does that help me even long term?

      your neighbour now may have a job manufacturing washing machines he didn’t have before and can buy service you provide, so you will also end up with more money.

      the state has 500 usd from some imported washing machines, which, hopefully, it will invest wisely to further increase the general well being of the population (don’t laugh, i know. but if they don’t, that’s not problem of the economic principal)

      and when one day china says “no more washing machines for you, unless you bow to winnie the pooh here”, you may say “fuck you, we are actually manufacturing washing machines at home”

      the last part, the self sufficiency, is the most important. my country officials were bowing and saluting to china cargo planes carrying masks and syringes during covid and there were real fear they if they did not, the plane might not have landed. and being dependent on china, which is euro-atlantic civilization’s geopolitical enemy is not smart long term strategy.

      Washing machine prices are now anchored at $1000 instead of the $500 because their only competition has their price controlled at that rate.

      well you now have more players on the market than before, so there is more competition and you are in better position than before. but unfortunately it is true that things will not get cheaper. there is 8 fucking billion of us on the finite planet and we are finally starting to realize it does not allow for infinite growth. more expensive stuff aka our ability to have less of it is manifestation of that problem, it is not some fluke that smart politician will solve with right slogan.