None of it actually makes any sense. Like, zero.

Because how the tariffs have been calculated have nothing to do with the tariffs actually imposed on the US by trade partners.

User Posted Link

It's a mental calculation, that has no obvious link to actual trade policy. So the UK has not "done anything" versus the EU that has led to this better outcome. This is not a result of the planned state visit and brown nosing from Charlie, or Brexit, or Starmer not arguing in public and only saying nice things...its just us being less successful at exporting goods to the US that the EU. Simple as that.

Ironically, if Brexit had actually worked, and we had actually struck a trade deal with the US, and we had actually exported a lot more goods to the US as a result, which is what was promised, then we would now be getting whacked with a much higher tariff. So yeah, this is another tremendous argument.

That said....I guess if we were still in the EU then indeed, we would have had 20% imposed on us too by association. So even though there is zero logic, I guess this might be viewed as a "Brexit dividend" of some kind, in the weird upside down world we currently live in.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this "the US has been plundered" narrative. On any reasonable basis (e.g. GDP per capita), the US is one of the richest countries in the world. Take away the small tax havens and some small oil and gas rich nations, and they are basically the absolute richest country in the world, with lavish resources per person. In what way has the US been "plundered" then? By all the poor sods working for a dollar a day in sweat shops around the world? Are they the ones that have f**ked you?

If the life of the average US citizen is w**k, its not because of a lack of money in the country. Someone might want to have a think about how that money is shared out though.

Posted By: Under soil heating on April 3rd 2025 at 09:20:23

Message Thread

So Starmer chumming it up with Trump worked... (General Chat) - usacanary, Apr 3, 02:43:44
- Interestingly, no tariffs at all for Russia, or have I missed some (General Chat) - Old Man, Apr 3, 10:02:17
  - I think it's 10% for everyone not named.... (General Chat) - usacanary, Apr 3, 15:17:57
  - Nor N Korea (n/m) (General Chat) - CWC, Apr 3, 12:28:22
  - Nor Belarus. Their argument is that their are sanctions in place although in reality trade (General Chat) - The Gaffer, Apr 3, 10:23:25
    - More trade with than than Mauritius (General Chat) - CWC, Apr 3, 12:29:33
- None of it actually makes any sense. Like, zero. (General Chat) - Under soil heating, Apr 3, 09:20:23
  - To make any sense of it you need to remember that Trump is neither a (General Chat) - The Gaffer, Apr 3, 12:07:23
  - 👍🏼 (n/m) (General Chat) - JD3, Apr 3, 10:20:30
- Have you seen how the US calculated them? (General Chat) - Timmy_Goat, Apr 3, 09:04:49
  - You have clearly never heard of Steiner Math (General Chat) - usacanary, Apr 3, 15:45:18
  - And on that (deeply flawed) basis, the EU did better than the UK (General Chat) - Old Man, Apr 3, 09:42:05
    - There’s no universe in which a 20% tariff is better than a 10% one (n/m) (General Chat) - Old Git, Apr 3, 09:56:46
      - Indeed. (General Chat) - Old Man, Apr 3, 09:58:21
        
        That’s a strange take! (n/m) (General Chat) - Old Git, Apr 3, 09:59:14
        
        It wasn't intended to be particularly serious (n/m) (General Chat) - Old Man, Apr 3, 10:00:21
    - UK economy is more service orientated than EU (General Chat) - Timmy_Goat, Apr 3, 09:52:43
      - Ha, that’s very good (n/m) (General Chat) - Old Git, Apr 3, 09:55:44
    - So USAC is wrong? (n/m) (General Chat) - SCC 28, Apr 3, 09:48:50
      - About Sarge going for 22.5M..... (General Chat) - usacanary, Apr 3, 15:38:21
        
        I assume choosing to live with lots of tornadoes (General Chat) - SCC 28, Apr 3, 16:25:30
        
        Oh Dear ....Mikey on Tiltz (General Chat) - usacanary, Apr 3, 16:49:12
      - On the headline figure he's right. The whole point is to concentrate power to Trump. (General Chat) - Old Man, Apr 3, 09:57:08
        
        A lot of very smart Geo political types are... (General Chat) - usacanary, Apr 3, 16:07:47
        
        "On the headline figure he's right" (General Chat) - usacanary, Apr 3, 15:42:39
  - VMT (n/m) (General Chat) - jamesward, Apr 3, 09:08:31
- FR news channels are in crisis mode this morning (General Chat) - shoddy, Apr 3, 07:49:15
  - But we'd need to let them fish species to extinction first, right? (n/m) (General Chat) - Old Man, Apr 3, 09:42:38
  - I think the French would rather raze their own country than help britain (n/m) (General Chat) - paulg, Apr 3, 08:30:42
- Bit of royal family; bit of golf; bit of brexit; hey presto (General Chat) - paulg, Apr 3, 07:17:29
  - Shame Thatcher destroyed our industry sector. (n/m) (General Chat) - Snakepit Divorcee, Apr 3, 08:44:41

Reply to Message

In order to add a post to the WotB Message Board you must be a registered WotB user.

If you are not yet registered then please visit the registration page. You should ensure that their browser is setup to accept cookies.