Is Trump Intentionally tanking the US economy?

[noname223]

Is he and his billionaire friends involved in shortselling?

Does he want to claim more power in case there is a major economical crisis?

Do you really think He is convinced his economic policies will benefit the US economy as a whole?

 

[DarkRange55]

 

[suisuiforum]

This """liberation day""" singlehandedly made me come here to check if anyone posted about it on SS because this is affecting everyone's financial futures with 401ks evaporating into thin air from the sell-off, as major indices have not dropped this much in a day since 2020 (but congrats to the put-holders and short-sellers). I know some people will say "zoom out" or "we'll bounce back eventually like we always have," and I don't even disagree with those points, but other economic crises have had complex factors leading up to them, while this was entirely avoidable and self-inflicted. We can't necessarily predict the future, but there's a good chance this isn't the bottom yet, so be wary of catching falling knives. Seriously, the stock market was one of the the greatest ways to generate wealth because getting rich off W2 income is laughable, but I guess that gravy train has ended for now. I'd rather die than be poor forever, because there's no point in life if you're not rich, plain and simple.

Okay also to answer your questions, I did hear the theory about how he and his acquaintances are engaging in insider trading, or he's planning on tanking the economy so that people with cash reserves can buy everything at a discount after the collapse, but honestly who knows what he's really planning. The fact of the matter is that most economists are decrying these tariffs, and 99% of the US population will bear the brunt of the damage.

 

[Grav]

The mass of people always feel economic issues. Cheap home loans to people who can't afford them by those knowing this, free trade deals that wipe out manufacturing, sending white collar jobs overseas all effect those on the low end. Each president has had their own economic theory and it's more than one thing that effect it, although its always pinned on one person. I doubt it is an evil genius plan to create a whole population of poor. It may turn out bad or good but it's too early to tell. I've heard economists say that a deficit is just fine, so I take their views with grains of salt.

 

[suisuiforum]

I agree that in many situations people are quick to blame economic turmoil on the president without considering macroeconomic conditions. Even the Federal Reserve usually has more of an influence, as the committee decides interest rates to maintain acceptable levels of inflation and unemployment, two important factors that determine economic health. However, the indices (and the stocks within them) dropped in real time during mango man's after hours tariff rate announcement--it was blood red as soon as that chart was brought out, so that drop was very much solely his fault.

Although we will have to wait to observe the long term effects (if the tariffs are truly implemented), and past performance does not guarantee future results, it is important to note that the Smoot-Hawley tariffs are already an example of a similar policy, and they were widely blamed for worsening the Great Depression, so forward-looking markets are already bracing for impact. Furthermore, a trade deficit by definition is when a country imports more goods than they export, and this is more than reasonable for certain nations; the benefit is that overseas production results in cheaper goods delivered to the U.S. so that businesses increase their gross margins and post record profits, causing stock prices to rise.

 

[ParalyzedVeteran]

He's counting on giving them "a taste of their own medicine" getting everyone else to fold. If it works, Libertarian high-fives everywhere. Should it fail, will he change course before a complete economic collapse?

 

[NumbItAll]

His lifelong obsession with tariffs and fundamental misunderstanding of trade would indicate that he is actually this stupid.

 

[Grav]

I'm curious what is his understanding of trade?

 

[NumbItAll]

I'm curious what is his understanding of trade?

Basically that other countries are screwing over the US by selling us products, that trade deficits are inherently bad (it just means we have the money to buy products and do so completely voluntarily), that trade in general is bad, and that there are no mutually beneficial relationships. The formula used to calculate the "reciprocal" tariffs was (trade deficit / imports) which has nothing to do with tariffs at all and is a nonsensical, made up metric that defies all reason and actually has me questioning reality.

 

[DarkRange55]

Basically that other countries are screwing over the US by selling us products, that trade deficits are inherently bad (it just means we have the money to buy products and do so completely voluntarily), that trade in general is bad, and that there are no mutually beneficial relationships. The formula used to calculate the "reciprocal" tariffs was (trade deficit / imports) which has nothing to do with tariffs at all and is a nonsensical, made up metric that defies all reason and actually has me questioning reality.

CEO & Chairman Arnaud Darc posted on his Linkden:

Is Cambodia really taxing U.S. goods at 97%? Let's talk facts, not fear.

This image recently surfaced on U.S. television, showing a chart shared by the Trump administration suggesting Cambodia charges 97% tariffs on American imports.

At first glance, it's shocking. But dig deeper, and it becomes clear: the number is misleading and politically charged, not based on any official tariff schedule or WTO-backed data.

As someone who imports and operates in Cambodia daily, here's how tariffs really work for U.S. goods entering the Kingdom:
⸻
How Cambodia Applies Tariffs to U.S. Goods

Cambodia is a WTO member and applies the Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff schedule to countries like the United States, which has no free trade agreement with Cambodia.

1. Import Duty

- MFN tariff rates range from 0% to 35%, depending on the product category.

- For example:

• Mobile phones: 0%

• Wines: 35%

• Processed foods: 15–35%

2. Value Added Tax (VAT)

• A flat 10% VAT is applied to most imports.

3. Special Tax (Excise)

• Applies only to specific goods, such as:

• Alcohol (10–35%)

• Vehicles (10–45%, depending on engine size)

• Tobacco (up to 20%)

4. Public Lighting Tax (PLT)

• 3%, but only on certain luxury goods.
⸻
Real Example: Importing a Bottle of U.S. Wine

HS Code: 2204

• Import Duty: 35%

• Special Tax: 35%

• VAT: 10%

Total tax burden? About 100% — but only on this specific item.

Now, consider importing a laptop from the U.S. —

• Import Duty: 0%

• VAT: 10%

• No special taxes.

Total tax burden? Just 10%.

This is how tariffs are applied: product-by-product, by HS Code, not by country-wide blanket percentages.
⸻
So, where did the 97% number come from?

It's unclear. It doesn't match Cambodia's Customs Tariff Book, nor data from the WTO, ASEAN Trade Repository, or Cambodia's General Department of Customs and Excise.

Most likely, it's a political construct, lumping together:

• Import duties

• VAT

• Special taxes (only for a few goods)

• Regulatory "frictions"

• Possibly, perceived "trade barriers"

But treating it as an across-the-board tariff is disinformation.
⸻
Why It Matters

These kinds of graphics may be catchy — but they oversimplify and distort the reality of international trade.

We owe it to business leaders, investors, and policy makers to rely on accurate, verifiable data — not scare tactics.

Cambodia is not a high-tariff wall against the U.S. In fact, the Kingdom imports millions in U.S. goods every year — and the tariffs applied are fully in line with WTO standards.
⸻
Let's build smarter trade, not louder headlines.

#Cambodia #TradePolicy #Tariffs #USCambodia #WTO #Customs #FactCheck #BusinessInsights

#cambodia #tradepolicy #tariffs #uscambodia #wto #customs #factcheck⦠| Arnaud Darc | 67 comments

Is Cambodia really taxing U.S. goods at 97%? Letâs talk facts, not fear. This image recently surfaced on U.S. television, showing a chart shared by the Trump administration suggesting Cambodia charges 97% tariffs on American imports. At first glance, itâs shocking. But dig deeper, and it...

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[Adûnâi]

Trump is just preparing for a nuclear war with China, and yet normies are bleating about tariffs lmao. Priorities, people? Where is anti-war?