[central_va]

This is from 2011 and although 7 years old it is still applicable today. I thought it would be good for Freepers to hear from BOTH sides of the free trade/tariff argument.

[bert]

It is of course but an isolationist’s dream.

The year is 2018 not 1789

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I support tariffs on legally imported goods and services based on the number of illegal aliens deported to each country.

[xzins]

30% would help in clothing industry, but the basic issue is reciprocity. We charge them what they charge us. If 50%, the we charge 50%. If they drop to 0%, then we drop to 0%.

[DoodleDawg]

A flat tariff would trigger the relocation back to the U.S. of the right industries. For example, a 30% tariff would not cause the relocation of the apparel industry back to the U.S. from abroad.

So you are going to increase the cost of items like apparel, consumer electronics, furniture, oil, food, and other items by 30% knowing that the tax will do nothing to bring those jobs back to the U.S.?

A flat tariff is also more ideologically palatable than most other tariff solutions.

That's like saying an income tax on the rich is more ideologically palatable than other income tax solutions. It may be true in some camps but a tax increase is still a tax increase.

I thought it would be good for Freepers to hear from BOTH sides of the free trade/tariff argument.

LOL! You're not interested in both sides of the argument, only your own.

[Alberta's Child]

I've been calling for a flat tariff for years. I see it mainly as a revenue source first, with the protective aspect for U.S. industries an added benefit.

The one "flaw" I see is that it probably will not be nearly as effective in attracting and keeping industries here in the U.S. as a lot of proponents might think.

[cotton1706]

This used to be called a “Revenue Tariff.”

[AndyJackson]

Yes let’s just spew bullets everywhere uniformly rather than aiming appropriately sized rounds at targets of strategic value.

[dila813]

These with free trade agreements would work but tariffs cost money to administer, like all taxes.

You will have politicians using the money left over to provide welfare to dieing industry and workers.

[fella]

Apparel industry, semi-skilled labor?

Have you ever turned out a shirt on a sewing machine?

It takes a lot of skill and knowledge to do that.

[Revolutionary]

Just a quick thought, but maybe we should have negotiated quotas on different imports. No tax. The biggest problem always seems to be when the market is flooded and our businesses go under. Then the prices are jacked up on the imports. There would have to be a transition. The real answer is to figure out how to outcompete them. That includes the burdon the the Federal, State and local governments put on the businesses in terms of taxes and regulations.