Trump’s first administration kept farmers onside with generous subsidies to offset lost U.S. sales to China from the trade war. Soybean farmers received $5.4 billion more in aid than they lost in price impact, a University of California-Davis study found. “People on the other side are saying ‘Oh my god, he’s going to impose these … Read More

Only weeks after the release of a new study quantifying the high cost of Buy American Act protectionism, the Biden administration has decided the law isn’t protectionist enough. At least that’s the logical inference of a recently proposed rule change, which would drastically reduce the number of items exempted from the law due to their … Read More

Chinese electric-car makers lost ground in Europe for a third straight month, in the latest sign that the move toward higher import tariffs is hurting sales. SAIC Motor Corp.’s MG unit led the drop, with a 42% slide in sales, according to Jato Dynamics, which also tracks the automotive market. The declines have persisted since … Read More

Back in the late 18th century, the Founding Father Alexander Hamilton helped put in place a set of policies designed to encourage U.S. industry and to promote economic development and innovation. That arrangement, which laid the groundwork for what became known as the “American System,” emerged in part as a counterbalance to British conceptions of … Read More

De minimis, a customs rule that allows for duty free shipment and minimal inspection if the overseas vendor claims the value is under $800, is a haven for contraband, whether it’s fake Nikes, childrens’ toys made of lead, or banned food products, Customs and Border Protect (CBP) admitted yet again. “We’ve encountered shipments that have … Read More

In a 1931 essay, Keynes argued for “import duties of 15 percent on all manufactured and semi-manufactured goods without exception, and of 5 percent on all foodstuffs and certain raw materials, whilst other raw materials would be exempt.” Keynes also saw no major impact of such a tariff policy on prices or inflation. Regarding his … Read More

When George Washington was President, consensus existed that tariffs should be used for both (1) federal revenue purposes, and also (2) to protect domestic production. This consensus was embodied in the first sentence of the first U.S. Tariff Act, passed on July 4, 1789. While the rough consensus existed, the precise extent to which tariffs … Read More

Section 301 tariffs will increase for specific imports, to between 25% to 100% beginning Sept. 27, 2024, with other rates scheduled to increase in 2025 and 2026 for Chinese-origin semiconductors, medical products, lithium-ion non-electrical vehicle batteries, permanent magnets and natural graphite. Read the article.

According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, “Evidence from Europe and the United States shows that trade has increased inequality not just between workers of different skill levels, but also between those of different industries and those of different geographic regions. Growing import competition from China caused declines in both employment and wages for workers … Read More

The proposed tariffs, introduced in June, were rooted in claims that Chinese electric vehicles benefit from state subsidies, giving them an unfair edge over European manufacturers. China, however, has staunchly denied these accusations, asserting that the EU’s actions are nothing more than protectionism masquerading as fairness. Beijing insists that it has never subsidized its EV … Read More