Wylted 1:
Let's ignore the fact that Europe mooches off of America's military might be using 1% of there GDP for military while the United States subsidizes them and as a result uses 25% of it's GDP on the military despite zero benefit for doing so. [1]
Europe has been attacking America for years with a 10% tarrifs on America's auto industry while we only tarrifs heir cars at 2%. Trump is just trying to equal the playing field here. If it increases costs, blame Europe for attacking American business with high tarrifs first. [2]
Europe also has a VAT tax. Meaning if you import a car from Europe to drive it will cost 30% in taxes for you (a tarrifs essentially) while a European who has an American car exported will just pay like the 2.5% tarrif.[3]
All this media claiming Trump is imposing a tarrifs and it might cause a trade war are lying.[4] These are retaliatory tarrifs that have been harming American workers by nations who mooch off of our military might and who are supposed to be allies. [5]
[1] You are mistaken. The USA does not spend 25% on its GDP on the military and the EU spends more than 1% on defense.
How does the USA subsidize Europe? The USA does subsidize Israël for killing and subduing Palestinians, while the EU pays for rebuilding the damage done by Israël.
[2] That is incorrect. Europe is not attacking America. The tariff of 10% on cars is not specific to the USA, but on all imported cars. Moreover, the USA tariffs imported cars at 2,5%. The comparison of auto tariffs is selective and lacks context about broader trade relationships and different market structures. For example, the USA import tariff on light trucks is 25%.
The WTO framework is designed to promote overall trade liberalization across sectors, not reciprocal matching of tariff levels in specific industries. The organization encourages resolving trade disputes through its established dispute settlement mechanisms rather than through unilateral retaliatory measures. Basically, the opposite of what Trump is doing.
[3] That is misrepresentation. The EU VAT is not a tariff and applies to both imported and domestic products. Therefore it does not discriminate against USA products.
[4] You are mistaken. A lie must be false and with the intend to deceive. Since it is true, it can’t be a lie.
[5] The USA doesn’t spend a lot on its defense to protect Europe, but because it likes having the biggest army. The USA doesn’t protect shipping lanes in the Gulf region to help Europe. If they don’t do it, China will, which from the USA point of view would be worse.
The USA was out of self-interest also acting in the interest of Europe. The case can be made the Europe should have been a better ally and helped the USA more.
Greyparrot 7:
Turning off foreign aid was a very good first step. It’s like taking a credit card away from a drunken wife. The first step to admitting America can’t afford all that nonsense.
It not foreign aid but development aid and American in media abroad that have been nerfed. Paying Israël to bomb Palestinians is money better spent.
