A reprieve for some electronics imports

Sparkchaser · 2025-04-12T19:22:16+00:00

a bulletin posted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection late Friday, the administration announced smartphones, computers, and assorted electronics would be exempt from the ruinous 145% percent tariffs imposed on other Chinese products. https://www.rawstory.com/trump-mindblowing/

egeezer

Guy54435 2025 HTS Revision 9

Based on the most recent social media posts, that is superceded. By Friday we may see more ~~backtracking~~ updated guidance.

Astyanax

egeezer According to the notice, it is “further guidance”, not backtracking. The regulations seem to be changing almost daily. I can’t envision corporate stockholders or boards approving capital projects for manufacturing in the U.S. when trade regulations blow around like leaves in a whirlwind.

I don’t know how many more decades of Don do we have to live with before you start seeing his patterns? People are so consumed with hatred of him they don’t bother to try to see his personality. He knows he owns this whole tariff thing which either includes all the glory or all the blame. He may try to pass that blame onto someone else but it’s not going to be believed. If he believed in it so much he never would have given in with the 90-day “pause”. Now he gave in to the electronics “exemption-that’s-not-an-exemption-exemption”. Next up is autos. Textiles may be after that, etc.

Basically to save face he’s just going to pull all the teeth out of his own tariff orders but still be able to say he never “backtracked”. That’s how this crisis is going to end.

egeezer

Astyanax
I really don’t give a rat’s butt about hate or love. I leave that crapola to those who obsess about dems/repubs/libs/cons. My own interest is in policy, practices and finances. Whipsaw decisions, theatrics and poor implementation of policies are not incentives for businesses to make the capital investments necessary to accomplish the stated objectives.

real_aurgathor

Astyanax He knows

Not fully sure, how much, if anything he really knows aside from bullying and blabbermouthing BS.

In any case,, China has the trump card in this spat, and they have revealed it already – a total ban on rare earth export, not just to the US, but to other countries, too.

real_aurgathor

WebinTheWorld Many electronics will be unaffordable soon.

a. remains to be seen
b. don’t need to buy new

Astyanax

egeezer I really don’t give a rat’s butt about hate or love. I leave that crapola to those who obsess about dems/repubs/libs/cons. My own interest is in policy, practices and finances. Whipsaw decisions, theatrics and poor implementation of policies are not incentives for businesses to make the capital investments necessary to accomplish the stated objectives.

You better start caring about that “crapola” because that’s what’s making the policy that’s affecting your finances whether you like it or not. Understanding it will help in making better decisions positioning them.

You might even make some money if you get really good at it. 😉

Astyanax

real_aurgathor Not fully sure, how much, if anything he really knows aside from bullying and blabbermouthing BS.

In any case,, China has the trump card in this spat, and they have revealed it already – a total ban on rare earth export, not just to the US, but to other countries, too.

It’s nothing but dirt and rocks to them if no one can buy it. Their economy was already on them before this started and now they’re just laying themselves out even more spreadeagle on it even more. What use are rare earths anyway if no one is going to pay whatever you’re going to make with them is tariffed at 100+%? Whatever factory that’s going to need them to make stuff is in their own tariffed-to-the-hilt country. Not everything is considered “electronics” that use them.

Also the longer they ban their sale, especially to other countries, the more it makes China the bad guys. So I say good! Keep it up, comrades!

Dks01

Rook Same with Canada. We supply you with aluminum, nickel and uranium, among other minerals.

Dks01

Astyanax What are you smoking? China has a well-developed manufacturing industry using rare earth minerals. If they sit in the ground they are in safe and secure storage. No skin off their nose. They are free to develop other markets. OTOH the idiocy of a trade war is obvious.

Astyanax

Dks01 What are you smoking? China has a well-developed manufacturing industry using rare earth minerals.

My post was clear in acknowledging that so I don’t see the need for the snark insinuating otherwise.

If they sit in the ground they are in safe and secure storage. No skin off their nose.

We’ll see how much skin comes off their nose being all “safe and sound”. China is already struggling with deflation, a property crisis, and skyrocketing debt. Not to say their collapse is imminent though but they’re not exactly going through this as unscathed as much as you’d like.

They are free to develop other markets.

real_aurgathor a total ban on rare earth export, not just to the US, but to other countries, too.

Auggy says they’re not selling them even to other countries and when Auggy speaks of the CCP like that I know it’s true and is authoritative enough for me! 😉

real_aurgathor

Astyanax

A. The ‘bad guy’ is the one that acts irrational. A bunch of kool-aid, some very potent smoke, or a well-done brain washing can certainly change that; however.
B. The most accurate details of the rare earth export ban I’ve seen can be read here: https://www.csis.org/analysis/consequences-chinas-new-rare-earths-export-restrictions – try to understand it.

Dks01

real_aurgathor Not hard to read. There are options, but they will take time to develop.

Dks01

Astyanax You forget that the government of China can impose whatever measures it wants or needs to achieve its ends. They play the long, patient game.

Astyanax

Dks01 Astyanax You forget that the government of China can impose whatever measures it wants or needs to achieve its ends. They play the long, patient game.

No doubt about that. The current Politburo probably watched their parents gnaw bark off of trees to survive back in the “good ole days” of the ’60s and ’70s. A little trade war certainly isn’t going to faze them.

Thane_Bitter

Rook But paying more for a car or a can of beer is OK? Ditto for other domestic products which are endlessly imported into the US because they like their 200 dollar nike’s but really do not want to make them (nor could they afford them if the workers were paid US wages).

The winner is his handlers, in the last few weeks they have made more money for themselves.

real_aurgathor

Dks01 Not hard to read.

That depends one’s the realization of reality, and those in a bizarro universe have been known to deny reality.

There are options, but they will take time to develop.

That’s correct, but not only that it takes time, it’s also easier said than done.

egeezer

real_aurgathor The most accurate details of the rare earth export ban I’ve seen can be read here …

That’s a pretty good article and consistent with other recent articles and papers on tariffs and exports.

Those in our age group who are either fully retired or part time or, in my case a 1099 guy, adjust our portfolios to more conservative allocations. We did such an adjustment in early December as policy actions were being revealed, and made very minor changes at the beginning of this quarter.

While others soak up talking heads, personalities and lefty-rightie rants, we make our investing decisions based on data and event driven articles and in consultation with our financial advisers and attorney. (BTW, tax attorneys are handy in assisting with financial planning). This approach has served us well, since we aren’t day traders and have no desire to be those.

All the hate and name calling are just noise and diversion from productive investment planning and research.

Dks01

egeezer Then there are those of us who listened to our advisors who knew this shit was rising and planned accordingly. Just finished our annual post-tax season session with our FA. No worries.

egeezer

Dks01
I combine input from our advisor and lawyer with my own research. “My own research” consists of what I mentioned earlier. It does not include ranting talking heads on cable news or websites, or YT videos of similar ilk.

Dks01

egeezer Lawyers don’t do taxes here. CA’s do it all.

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