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philipallstartoday at 11:27 AM5 repliesview on HN

> This is the 11th time that tariffs have happened, and it just isn’t surprising anymore.

There are tariffs everywhere, all the time. Canada just dramatically cut its 90% (or something) tariff on Chinese cars. Tariffs haven't just started happening because someone you don't like did them.


Replies

wolvoleotoday at 11:29 AM

Yes but tariffs were a long-term strategic tool. Not a bullying tactic for someone who woke up the wrong way.

e2letoday at 11:42 AM

> There are tariffs everywhere, all the time.

This neglects the scale, cost, and unpredictability. His tariffs are far from being the usual seen elsewhere. Of course, you should already understand this.

tocktoday at 11:45 AM

Blanket tariffs used as blackmail is obviously different.

bilekastoday at 11:32 AM

This is incredibly disingenuous.

> Tariffs haven't just started happening because someone you don't like did them

Nobody said they have, throwing ridiculously high ones with your allies and trading partners is new though.

devnonymoustoday at 11:32 AM

Otoh, tarrifs as a foreign policy / coercion method disconnected from trade and local economy impacts definitely is a new thing.

Sure, it might have been used as a delicate lever previously but in its current brazen form is just bad diplomacy.