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BumRushDaShow

(151,322 posts)
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 10:44 AM Apr 18

Trump says he might not want to raise tariffs on China any higher: 'At a certain point, people aren't going to buy'

Source: Business Insider

Apr 18, 2025, 2:29 AM ET


President Donald Trump said there may be a point where he doesn't want to put higher tariffs on China because the move could deter buying. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said he may not raise tariffs if China goes beyond the 125% duty it has on American goods.

"At a certain point, I don't want them to go higher because at a certain point, you make it where people don't buy," Trump said when a reporter asked what happens if China raises tariffs on the US. "I may not want to go higher, or I may not want to even go up to that level — I may want to go to less, because you want people to buy, and at a certain point, people aren't going to buy," he added.

Earlier on Thursday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it wouldn't pay attention to Trump's "tariff numbers game" after the White House said Chinese exports face a levy of up to 245%. Last week, Beijing called escalating US tariffs a "joke" and said they no longer hold "any economic significance."

China is the third-largest buyer of US goods, behind Canada and Mexico. According to US government figures, China bought $143.5 billion worth of American products last year.

Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-says-might-not-raise-tariffs-china-consumption-buying-2025-4

34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump says he might not want to raise tariffs on China any higher: 'At a certain point, people aren't going to buy' (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Apr 18 OP
Taken three months, but thought finally penetrated his brain: "if people don't buy I don't get much revenue". . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Apr 18 #1
You mean he didn't study price elasticity as a business freshman? exboyfil Apr 18 #8
He sure did study it, but Bernardo de La Paz Apr 18 #10
I doubt he studied anything. His sister said he paid people to take his exams tulipsandroses Apr 18 #12
Agree. He paid people to take his exams for him. ananda Apr 18 #16
..and graduated UPenn as an Econ major zorbasd Apr 18 #15
Trump discovers tariff impact bucolic_frolic Apr 18 #2
But the dipshit thinks 125% will be OK...... Bengus81 Apr 20 #24
Huh. Ya think? pnwest Apr 18 #3
Hey.....hello...ppl are already there you dumbass PortTack Apr 18 #4
Lots of countries buy from China IronLionZion Apr 18 #5
I wonder who imparted THAT bit of blazing wisdom to him? Paladin Apr 18 #6
But his supposed aim is to get people to stop buying Chinese-made goods, and choose American-made instead muriel_volestrangler Apr 18 #7
Stop buying stuff we don't really need, made anywhere, period. thought crime Apr 20 #27
Everything he says is a lie or an effort to hedge and move the goal posts. Tadpole Raisin Apr 18 #9
Spineless Trump is waffling Renew Deal Apr 18 #11
The convicted felon is starting to get it right. republianmushroom Apr 18 #13
Just goes show he doesn't know anything about anything. Americans won't stop buying from China because Raftergirl Apr 18 #14
Nobody is buying anything from China with a 145% tariff on it VMA131Marine Apr 20 #33
I think people will still buy goods made in China. It's impossible to replace everything that is made there. Raftergirl Apr 20 #34
'people aren't going to buy' Mr.Bee Apr 18 #17
I guess those red hats and merch that are produced there are going to be a lot more expensive. kimbutgar Apr 18 #18
let's see what he says on Saturday. Javaman Apr 18 #19
I'm no economist, but isn't that the entire raison d'etre behind tariffs? BobTheSubgenius Apr 20 #20
"...suppurating boil..." Hahahahahahaha. A perfect description of TSF. brush Apr 20 #29
Nonsense. Make it 2,000% dalton99a Apr 20 #21
LOL....you've claimed for years consumers don't pay the tariff Bengus81 Apr 20 #22
So China slapped him down again. travelingthrulife Apr 20 #23
When his targets aren't intimidated, he becomes a deflated balloon... appmanga Apr 20 #31
I'm sure Walmart shoppers will be thrilled! AntiFascist Apr 20 #25
What a goddam idiot 0rganism Apr 20 #26
Insane gibberish of a fool. brush Apr 20 #28
I thought trade wars are easy to win, you twatwaffle. LudwigPastorius Apr 20 #30
And he thinks that point isn't in the rear view mirror already? chowmama Apr 20 #32

Bernardo de La Paz

(54,951 posts)
1. Taken three months, but thought finally penetrated his brain: "if people don't buy I don't get much revenue". . . . nt
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 10:46 AM
Apr 18

Bernardo de La Paz

(54,951 posts)
10. He sure did study it, but
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 11:09 AM
Apr 18

... it didn't stick because it doesn't apply to scams, grifting, or using other people's money.

tulipsandroses

(7,197 posts)
12. I doubt he studied anything. His sister said he paid people to take his exams
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 11:17 AM
Apr 18

I do agree that he has a knack for scams and grifting. Natural talent.

zorbasd

(392 posts)
15. ..and graduated UPenn as an Econ major
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 11:34 AM
Apr 18

...yeah one professor who thankfully lived long enough to inform the world that Donald was the supidest fucking student he ever had...

IronLionZion

(48,574 posts)
5. Lots of countries buy from China
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 10:53 AM
Apr 18

they won't lose much if Americans don't buy. It screws Americans who want those products and can't afford it.

Paladin

(30,269 posts)
6. I wonder who imparted THAT bit of blazing wisdom to him?
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 10:58 AM
Apr 18

He damn sure didn't come up with it, himself...

muriel_volestrangler

(103,491 posts)
7. But his supposed aim is to get people to stop buying Chinese-made goods, and choose American-made instead
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 11:00 AM
Apr 18

If his aim was just to keep them buying the Chinese stuff, but pay more for it, then he's stoking inflation.

Tadpole Raisin

(1,761 posts)
9. Everything he says is a lie or an effort to hedge and move the goal posts.
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 11:08 AM
Apr 18

You know maybe it will, maybe it won’t.
Some people say it but I don’t know. Many people do but maybe not we’re looking into it very strongly.

Fing more slippery than a snake.

republianmushroom

(19,598 posts)
13. The convicted felon is starting to get it right.
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 11:25 AM
Apr 18

'At a certain point, people aren't going to buy'.

Now we shall is if the MAGArats understand.

Raftergirl

(1,668 posts)
14. Just goes show he doesn't know anything about anything. Americans won't stop buying from China because
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 11:34 AM
Apr 18

it will always be cheaper than American made goods, but the Chinese will certainly stop buying American imports. They have the whole world to buy from without exorbitant tariffs on goods, while American consumers no have high tariffs on all goods no matter what country they come from. So, most goods from China will always be the cheaper.



VMA131Marine

(4,960 posts)
33. Nobody is buying anything from China with a 145% tariff on it
Sun Apr 20, 2025, 06:14 PM
Apr 20

They’ll just do without if they can’t substitute with a product from another location. Importers will probably stop bringing Chinese products in because they can’t absorb a tariff that large and stay in business.

So, the tariff income is going to be near zero on Chinese goods.

Raftergirl

(1,668 posts)
34. I think people will still buy goods made in China. It's impossible to replace everything that is made there.
Sun Apr 20, 2025, 06:44 PM
Apr 20

Walmart, Target, etc., won’t have anything to sell at all if that is the case. They will just raise their prices but people will still shop there because it will still be cheaper than other places. Ditto, Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc. etc. etc.

People won’t do without, they just won’t buy as much.

Mr.Bee

(627 posts)
17. 'people aren't going to buy'
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 12:05 PM
Apr 18

No shit sheerluck! First you have to build the factories, then you to develop the product, then you have to get it on store shelves, then you impose tariffs to get people to buy American and sometimes THAT doesn't even work!
His problem is he's so out of touch with society he's living in the seventies. Remember Datsun, Toyota, Panasonic and Sony? You could've imposed tariffs on them and people would still buy them because at the time, they were the superior product!
Idiotman needs to stick his head out the window and see the world spinning 'round
And nobody seems to like him, they can tell what he wants to do
And he never shows his feelings
But the fool on the hill sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head see the world spinning 'round (oh oh oh)

kimbutgar

(24,927 posts)
18. I guess those red hats and merch that are produced there are going to be a lot more expensive.
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 03:30 PM
Apr 18

I hope China raises the tariffs 1000 percent on his stuff!

Javaman

(63,678 posts)
19. let's see what he says on Saturday.
Fri Apr 18, 2025, 04:52 PM
Apr 18

he's on his meds now, let's see when he goes off them again.

BobTheSubgenius

(11,977 posts)
20. I'm no economist, but isn't that the entire raison d'etre behind tariffs?
Sun Apr 20, 2025, 12:42 PM
Apr 20

Could it be that that suppurating boil has had a revelation?

Bengus81

(8,716 posts)
22. LOL....you've claimed for years consumers don't pay the tariff
Sun Apr 20, 2025, 01:32 PM
Apr 20

China does. You also claimed that Mexico was paying for the wall. In other words you never know what the FUCK your talking about and never have.

appmanga

(1,099 posts)
31. When his targets aren't intimidated, he becomes a deflated balloon...
Sun Apr 20, 2025, 04:57 PM
Apr 20

...and China has made it plain they're not intimidated.

chowmama

(736 posts)
32. And he thinks that point isn't in the rear view mirror already?
Sun Apr 20, 2025, 05:01 PM
Apr 20

Isn't that cute? (Spoiler alert - no.)

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