Let's talk about Trump's tariff turnarounds in 2025.... - Belle of the Ranch

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about Trump's tariff turnarounds in 2025.

So, as we enter 2026, we got a question about why Trump's tariffs weren't quite as devastating as some economists predicted. So, here's the message. "Miss Belle, I have a question. Since even before Trump actually took office, we had economist after economist predict doom and gloom about Trump's tariffs. Now, I know they've raised prices, and I know it's getting passed on to us, but is it just me or is it not as bad as some of them made it out to be? I really hope you answer. I'm asking you because you were one who said we'll have to see what he actually implements because, as you say, Trump is not a source. I think if I ask somebody who predicted doom and gloom, they'll just deflect. Did he really not implement a lot of his promises?

Did he really not implement a lot of his promises? I mean, you could ask that question about pretty much any subject and the answer would be yes. But in this one, we can be specific. In his inaugural address, he said, "We are establishing the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs, duties, and revenues. It will be massive amounts of money pouring into our treasury coming from foreign sources.

There's still no External Revenue Service. It wasn't ever going to happen because again, tariffs aren't paid by foreign countries. They're paid by the importer and then passed on to you. But some economists expected this to really turn into a huge bureaucratic mess that would add cost to the importer and then onto you. They really should have just assumed he was rambling and that it would never happen.

Predictions about the economy got more dire when he said he was giving $2,000 dividend. They assumed that he would give the checks to try to sway people and to act as a stimulus to his failing economy, but his tariff revenue isn't as high as he claims and definitely not enough to cover the stimulus. That means he would have to drive the government further into debt. The worry here is it driving up inflation. This is actually still a worry.

Those are big picture things. Let's hit some lesser notice turnarounds from Trump on tariffs. In August, Trump said we'll be putting a tariff of approximately 100% on chips and semiconductors. This would have sent prices on pretty much everything up. Of course, it never happened. Back in May, he promised a 100% tariff on any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands. Never happened. This also should have been one that was mocked. Nobody even knows how you'd tariff something like this. In July, he was talking about pharmaceuticals and said they're going to be tariffed at a very very high rate, like 200%. That also like never happened. In March, he said the US will shortly place a 200% tariff on all wines, champagnes, and alcoholic products coming from the EU. Never happened, of course. There's more. In fact, he just backed off a pasta tariff, but this is a pretty broad cross-section hitting various sectors. That would have made his already bad tariffs worse. I'd also say I think the full negative effects of his tariffs haven't shown themselves yet. There is more to come.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.