(03-07-2018 08:16 AM)Jugnaut Wrote:  

(03-05-2018 08:59 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(03-05-2018 08:56 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(03-05-2018 08:32 PM)Paul M Wrote:  It's a military and national security issue today. Wont be tomorrow (next week, next month, whenever) when Trump drops it.

If if that happens we lost absolutely nothing. We have 800 billion dollar trade deficit. Basically, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain by changing our trade positions.

The really amazing thing is that we have this huge trade deficit while being one of the least involved nations in international trade. We import, but we don't export, is what those statistics, taken together, would say.

I agree with you that a consumption or VAT tax is a better way to go to level the playing field (assuming we eliminate the income tax), but don't see it happening because of politics. It does seem like the US has little to lose and a lot to gain from challenging the status quo and engaging in protectionism. Exporters lose in a trade war. We're a massive importer, it would help our native industries to an incredible degree.

it's the only logical macro path....and they continue to ignore it for obvious reasons.....

this is the one area I was hoping the #DJTexperiment would make the biggest change of all...

I wish I could play one rd. of golf with him and bark between shots....

there's nothing easy when attempting to drain the swamp.....however, he's taking a hard-line position whilst gambling with too many livelihoods relative to the gain potential on this one....

this is a Yuge misstep....it's a potential USD crippler....