• MemesAreTheory [he/him, any]@hexbear.net
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    2 months ago

    THANK U FOR PROTECTING ME FROM EVER AFFORDING AN ELECTRIC CAR MR PRESIDENT. I’LL CROSS THAT OFF MY LIST, JUST LIKE “HEALTHCARE” AND “LITERALLY ANY HOME.” joker-amerikkklap

  • bumpusoot [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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    2 months ago

    US is being seriously outcompeted at its own game by China, and this is it slowly imploding in response. Genuinely think we’re on the steep slope of decline of US economic hegemony.

        • SSJ2Marx@hexbear.net
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          2 months ago

          I seriously don’t get it either. Comparing how the US does subsidies to private companies to how China does investment in state owned (whole or in part) enterprises really lays bare how our whole system is just intended to print money for rich people.

  • WashedAnus [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    2 months ago

    For those who don’t want to click the link:

    • The tariff rate on certain steel and aluminum products under Section 301 will increase from 0–7.5% to 25% in 2024.
    • The tariff rate on semiconductors will increase from 25% to 50% by 2025.
    • The tariff rate on electric vehicles under Section 301 will increase from 25% to 100% in 2024.
    • The tariff rate on lithium-ion EV batteries will increase from 7.5%% to 25% in 2024, while the tariff rate on lithium-ion non-EV batteries will increase from 7.5% to 25% in 2026. The tariff rate on battery parts will increase from 7.5% to 25% in 2024.
    • The tariff rate on natural graphite and permanent magnets will increase from zero to 25% in 2026. The tariff rate for certain other critical minerals will increase from zero to 25% in 2024.
    • The tariff rate on solar cells (whether or not assembled into modules) will increase from 25% to 50% in 2024.
    • The tariff rate on ship-to-shore cranes will increase from 0% to 25% in 2024.
  • prolepylene [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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    2 months ago

    In the last year or two we’ve finally hit a point in the United States where the price, availability, and reliability of solar assemblies makes solar farms cheaper and more reliable than fossil fuel plants, and where individuals could get solar panels installed in the roof of their home or business for the cost of a used car.

    This tariff throws that progress away. So much for the Biden regime’s stance that market mechanisms will solve climate change.

    • hglman@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      It’s an absolute terrible move. Subsidies for domestic production are good, but slowing green energy growth is inconceivable.

    • Assian_Candor [comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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      2 months ago

      Domestic producers that don’t exist. They think that by doing shit like this manufacturing facilities will spring up out of nowhere. They don’t stop to reflect on the fact that the reason china has the capacity it has is because the government built it. But we will never do that here, that would be communism.

      Let’s set aside the fact that no competent management team would justify a multi billion dollar business case on the back of a tariff that can just as easily be lifted overnight, depending on how polls in Michigan are doing

    • cecinestpasunbot@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      Seriously, I’m trying to understand why the hell they would do this. It’s like shooting yourself in the foot to spite the shoemaker.

      The international supremacy of the US economy relies on dollar hegemony and US imperialist foreign policy. The whole point is to be able to import cheap goods from other countries. If China’s rise is a threat to that then why accelerate the process?

      The only rationale I can think of is the Biden admin legitimately thinks the Chinese economy cannot grow without access to the American market and that tariffs have the power to curtail such access. That seems so incredibly naive though for a whole number of reasons. It’s hard to imagine people with that much power are just that obtuse.

        • Teekeeus [comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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          2 months ago

          Becoming increasingly apparent with their doubling down in eastern europe and the levant

          If they were really thinking strategically they would’ve restrained israel or sought a negotiated end to the ukraine wara long time ago

          On the one hand, this is obviously a huge benefit to china and russia. On the other, irrationality is unpredictable danger

      • Justice
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        2 months ago

        Literally zero republicans like that exist

        I know dems claim to think they do

        They don’t

        • PolandIsAStateOfMind
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          2 months ago

          Socialdemocracy in Poland suicided on similar tactic. They took their voters for granted and kept moving right in order to gain liberal votes. Of course they didn’t, and lost their voters in the process, to the point of nearly getting kicked out of parliament itself. The only lesson they learned on this is to become 100% liberal and to openly form a bloc with them.

          Succdems gonna succ, the more i look at them (not only in Poland), the more i come to conclusion those people are way too stupid to be even alive, so they aren’t stupid, and it’s all the perestroika frozen in time.

    • MaoTheLawn [any, any]@hexbear.net
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      2 months ago

      For the EV and environmental tech companies based in the US. They’ll get to suckle like a leech off climate funds, at the most expensive rate possible.

  • DragonBallZinn [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    2 months ago

    Why tho?

    porky-happy: “Sorry gen Z, the legacy cities are full! Have fun living in your rural hometown forever! Don’t forget to buy a car, it’s not like you have a choice anyways!”

    “Fine, well if you insist, can I get this cheap Chinese EV? Least you can do is let me not be cattle for the oil industry.”

    porky-scared-flipped: “No way! What kind of unamerican freedom-hater are you?”

  • dkr567 [comrade/them, he/him]@hexbear.net
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    2 months ago

    US just loves killing whatever is left of their own industry or R&D that rely on those materials and of course the fucking libshits will eat this as a good thing for them somehow.

    • Assian_Candor [comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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      2 months ago

      This kicks the solar industry hard in the balls

      There are no domestic panels, certainly not at the scale needed to build what’s in progress. Deeply stupid, harmful decision, by our fucking baby brained CHUD president

  • porcupine
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    2 months ago

    thank you President Biden for protecting my investment in Kentucky beachfront property!

    spoiler

    I joke of course. I’ll never afford property.

    • TheDoctor [they/them]@hexbear.net
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      2 months ago

      Protectionism can be good for a country that’s looking to develop domestic productive capacity and minimize foreign imperial influence. The US isn’t doing either of those things. Not an MMT person but I’d wager it’s closer to a misstep.

    • Droplet [comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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      2 months ago

      Neither lol. It’s simply to protect the American bourgeoisie profit margin and fulfill the lobbyist demands. Plain and simple. This is why Biden is going to get re-elected, not by giving in to the demands of the voters, but to the demands of the ruling donor class.

      The other user said protectionism can be good for developing your own industries with minimal foreign interference, and that is correct, but the US is never going to re-industrialize.

      In other words, if the US ruling class had wanted its subjects to enjoy cheap and environmental friendly transportation, you’d have gotten high speed rails a long time ago.