It's a little like the 30 % tariff on Canadian soft wood. It's destroying
the lumber business in Canada and adding a couple of thousand to the cost of
new homes in the US. The good part is that the American lumber industry is
able to jack up their prices about 30% and make a ton. What does seem funny
though is that while the US lumber barons say that Canadians do not pay
enough stumpage on their timber, they do not mind buying all the Canadian
(tariff free) logs they can get their hands on to process into lumber
themselves.
Just seems odd to me that the US can import this same, below fair market
value wood for processing in their own mills while charging Canadians a 30 %
tariff to do the same thing. ???
Glenn Ashmore wrote:
I heard on the news this AM that the WTO issued a final ruling that
declared the steel import tariff illegal and clears the way for other
countries to add almost any retaliatory tariff they want on any US
products. This is going to put the Dubya's tush in a crack again. If
he repeals it he gets the steel states upset and if he keeps it everyone
else gets ****ed.
Personally I say good riddance. The tax averaged about 8%-10% but
stainless prices have gone up almost 30% and CRS is up over 40%. I have
used only a few hundred dollars worth since the tariffs went on but I
can see how it has effected small manufacturers a lot worse.
The tariffs were a big mistake in the first place. They were supposed
to reduce imports give the US steel industry time and money to update
facilities but for the most part very little of the extra profit has
been used for any improvements. At the same time imports have not gone
down much. The increase in price has actually attracted more foreign
producers.
It was supposed to save jobs but it has cost more manufacturing and
construction jobs than the entire steel industry employees. Now with
the WTO ruling allowing punitive tariffs on US products farmers and high
tech workers get a chance to pay for the steel industries short
sightedness.
--
Glenn Ashmore
I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
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