Ford Gets The Last Laugh As Trump Locks, Loads And Points The Barrel Directly At GM And FCA

I bet Lada will be exempt from that tax. Can't wait to get my new Lada Kalina.

Ha ha ha. Nice one.

Ford had already made the decision not to build the plant in Mexico before the Golden hued One was elected. This was the result of four years of planning and working with the governor's team in Ohio, not by a stupid tweet by Trump.
No company makes these $billion plus decisions without months/years of planning.
Ford has not had the last laugh. Trump cannot unilaterally put a tariff on anything.
Leave the politics out of this site. I come here to read about cars.

Actually- Trump CAN unilaterally set a tariff under certain circumstances. THe trading with the Enemy law of 1917 allows it. In the case of being at war (The definition of war is vague) - which was used by Nixon Citing the Korean War - which was never over - set tariffs on some imports.

Under the Economic Powers act of 1977 - Trump can set tariffs during a state of emergency - also not directly defined - so a flood in the USA could create a state of emergency (THe Dam in California) - or he could declare a state of emergency due to terrorism.

Under the Trade Act of 1974 - Trump can also set Across the board tariffs of up to 15% for as long as 150 days - after which Congress would have to have approved it.

The problem with ALL of these is that Trump stated he was going to get Mexico to pay the bills - but in the case of the Tariffs - the Americans are the ones paying the bills in higher costs for imported goods - lack of availability of lower priced ones - and likely a loss of jobs when the other countries retaliate.

Tariffs were the largest (approaching 95% at times) source of federal revenue until the Federal income tax began after 1913.

For well over a century the federal government was largely financed by tariffs averaging about 20% on foreign imports. There are no tariffs for imports or shipments from other states.


Since the 1940s, foreign trade policies have focused more on reciprocal tariffs and low tariff rates rather than using tariffs as a significant source of Federal tax revenue. The goal of using higher tariffs to promote industrialization was urged by the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, and after him the Whig Party. They generally failed because Jeffersonian and Jacksonian Democrats said the tariff should be only high enough to pay the government's bills; otherwise, it would hurt the consumers.

The Republicans, however, made high tariffs the centerpiece of their economic policy beginning in 1861, and as late as 1930. Since 1930, tariffs have not been a major political issue.

I hope he does right before mid-terms so we can get these idiots out of office... but like the other guy said.. lets stick to cars....

Nobody will have the last laugh, the U.S. isn't the only country that can raise tariffs.