Trump's Tariffs Explained to a Thicko!

[Emoleno]

Would anyone be kind enough to explain what's going on with Trump's tariff's and the global economy, please? Is the US doing very well out of it?

I don't understand the news stories and need everything explaining in thicko terminology, please!

Thank you

The US is not doing well and they won’t… the announcement today about the, yet again, increased tariffs on Chinese goods are going to sink a lot of US businesses, particularly SMEs, many of whom have thousands worth of stock orders placed to be imported and are now facing having to pay tariffs of more than 100% on top.

Tariffs are being passed to the consumer and this is going to constrict the US, and the world, economies… this is good for no one, the US included. No economist I have listened to, and I’ve listened to many, thinks that this will end in any other way than negatively for everyone and possibly a US/potentially global recession

The BBC news states that the US has made "Historic gains" though. Does this mean that he's achieved what he wanted to?
Thanks

No, that means it’s recovered some, though not all, of its recent falls. It’s a very silly misleading headline. This is the S&P 500 over the last month, the Dow and Nasdaq have similar trends.

This is quite helpful I think

https://www.thepoke.com/2025/04/08/this-brilliant-small-business-owner-gets-trade-deficits-so-much-better-than-trump-and-its-required-reading-for-magas-everywhere/

This might help (not calling you an idiot btw! Just others are having the same difficulty and there are some good explanations/discussions on this thread)

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5311421-trumps-tariffs-an-idiots-guide

I’m sure Trump will forever talk about how wonderful he is for the “historic gains”that no other president ever achieved 🙄 and some people will believe him.

Great. Thank you so much for replying. I'll start reading those links now.

Thanks again

What is his game plan it sounds so ill thought out ? Surely to make the US poorer is not what was signed up for ?

Trump thought America was more powerful than it is and that countries would immediately concede and offer decent deals

He tweeted his mates should buy stocks/shares whilst cheap and then the next day lifted the tarrifs apart from with China

His fans believe this was all planned as some mastermind stroke, but nothing has actually been made better and it's brought them a step closer to dedollarisation

What an idiot thank you for explaining

Insider dealing on a colossal scale.

Don’t see the tariffs as an economic move. They are a political power play. This is great for more insight

An idiotic one if so, yes. Embarrassingly he must have soon realised uncle sams power ain't what it used to be.

Apologies to jump in, I was reading another thread on here about them and most posters were saying it's all a lot of hysteria about nothing and it's actually all a very good idea. My Spidey senses were tingling but it's very hard to know what's what!

It seems to be only the MAGA crowd who think it’s a good idea. And associated bots.

Thus weeks Economist leader was entirely negative. They usually point out the other side but there was no other side (ie benefit) to refer to.

The political benefits for Trump are that Trump remains in the front pages and he likes to be centre of attention. Also as a pp pointed out, he and his mates have probably made tons in money selling stocks a couple of weeks ago and buying them back now they have dropped in price.

He will also bullshit his was through everything and say stuff is a massive win when it palpably isn’t.

i also think a lot of this is distraction from what is going on to dismantle constitutional norms. Ultimate aim of that is for Trump /Vance /Trump Junior to remain in power.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdN9H71A/ This explains it in a fun way.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdN9y2Vw/ Another more recent one.

Yes, except ‘MAGA crowd’ and ‘think’ probably shouldn’t belong in the same sentence.