Trump deemed April 2, 2025, Liberation Day. This is the day
that tariffs were increased on a lot of America's trading partners. China was
among those taxed the heaviest. A tariff, by definition, is a duty imposed by
government on goods imported into a country, used to regulate trade, protect
domestic industries, and generate revenue. President Trump explained the need
to impose tariffs because of his desire to increase domestic productivity and
bring jobs back to the United States. It may have also been an attempt to stop the bleeding on
America's trade deficit, which was about 920 billion dollars in 2024 alone. A
lot of American companies do business overseas for a variety of reasons, but
probably foremost among them is cheaper labor costs and higher profit margins.
Levi Strauss & Company have much of their clothing manufactured in
Bangladesh, China, Mexico, and Vietnam. A significant portion of goods sold at
Wal-Mart are made overseas. Apple's iPhones are manufactured in China. Nike
makes their shoes in China and Vietnam. New Balance makes most of their shoes
in Asia. Of companies that manufacture products outside the US, the list is long and goes on to include Ford, Harley-Davidson, and others. Had
Americans made these goods, many factories and jobs would have remained. Some
American companies went out of business because they couldn't afford to compete
with goods manufactured abroad. A
prime example is that domestic cotton production is being obliterated by
competitors from outside the country...
Click Here. Also, had many Americans known the degree to
which American goods were being taxed, these additional tariffs may have taken
effect long ago. The taxes imposed on American goods make them unattractive to
consumers in foreign markets. To view the reciprocal tariff chart...
Click Here.
Some say this has started a trade war. Retaliation from other nations that trade with the United States has been anticipated, which some think will result in unaffordable prices for the American consumer. There is a belief that Americans have become dependent of foreign-made goods because they find them more affordable. Tariffs may make goods manufactured overseas comparable to those produced domestically. For goods made only in America... Click Here or Here.