President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs will go into effect next week, and added import duties will apply to shipments by vessel starting Oct. 5.
Here’s the full list:
Afghanistan: 15%
Algeria: 30%
Angola: 15%
Bangladesh: 20%
Bolivia: 15%
Bosnia and Herzegovina: 30%
Botswana: 15%
Brazil: 10%
Brunei: 25%
Cambodia: 19%
Cameroon: 15%
Chad: 15%
Costa Rica: 15%
Côte d`Ivoire: 15%
Democratic Republic of the Congo: 15%
Ecuador: 15%
Equatorial Guinea: 15%
European Union: Goods with Column 1 Duty Rate[1] > 15% 0%
European Union: Goods with Column 1 Duty Rate < 15% 15% minus Column 1 Duty Rate
Falkland Islands: 10%
Fiji: 15%
Ghana: 15%
Guyana: 15%
Iceland: 15%
India: 25%
Indonesia: 19%
Iraq: 35%
Israel: 15%
Japan: 15%
Jordan: 15%
Kazakhstan: 25%
Laos: 40%
Lesotho: 15%
Libya: 30%
Liechtenstein: 15%
Madagascar: 15%
Malawi: 15%
Malaysia: 19%
Mauritius: 15%
Moldova: 25%
Mozambique: 15%
Myanmar (Burma): 40%
Namibia: 15%
Nauru: 15%
New Zealand: 15%
Nicaragua: 18%
Nigeria: 15%
North Macedonia: 15%
Norway: 15%
Pakistan: 19%
Papua New Guinea: 15%
Philippines: 19%
Serbia: 35%
South Africa: 30%
South Korea: 15%
Sri Lanka: 20%
Switzerland: 39%
Syria: 41%
Taiwan: 20%
Thailand: 19%
Trinidad and Tobago: 15%
Tunisia: 25%
Turkey: 15%
Uganda: 15%
United Kingdom: 10%
Vanuatu: 15%
Venezuela: 15%
Vietnam 20%
Zambia: 15%
Zimbabwe: 15%
[1] For purposes of this Executive Order and its Annexes, “Column 1 Duty Rate” means the ad valorem (or ad valorem equivalent) rate of duty under column 1-General of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).
When I worked with Chris Wong, obviously Chinese, at IBM, he told me the key to understanding how to work with China is simple. They ignore the 10 commandments. That’s right, lie, steal, coven and all the rest of them.
Here’s the result:
China claims that President Trump started the trade war against China by imposing reciprocal tariffs.
What China conveniently omits is that they have been waging a full-scale trade war against America for decades. Not only does China systematically violate just about every term of every trade agreement, they have been stealing trillions worth of American industrial technology and intellectual property.
China Steals at Least $225 Billion Every Year
According to a 2024 report from the House Committee on Homeland Security, China steals between $300 and $600 billion worth of American technology and intellectual property every year. This is in line with findings from a 2017 report from the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property.
If we assume a middle-of-the-road figure, and extrapolate these findings back to 2001, when China joined the World Trade Organization, then we can assume that China has stolen some $9.9 trillion worth of American technology and intellectual property. As we will see below, this does not even encapsulate all the ways that China steals technology.
Perhaps surprisingly, only 29% of espionage targets were military in nature. The vast majority of China’s efforts have been focused on procuring industrial technology, including manufacturing processes, formulas, and designs. This theft costs American businesses at least $180 billion annually.
American businesses also lost out on big profits from counterfeit goods. A report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) notes that 60% of all counterfeit goods sold globally originated in China. The proportion is even higher for America’s consumer market, with 87% of the counterfeit goods sold in America originating in China. This deprives American companies of some $291 billion in lost revenue.
\Another report compiled by the United States Trade Representative discusses theft perpetrated on Chinese e-commerce markets. In particular, this “cause[s] great losses for U.S. Right holders involved in the distribution of a wide array of trademarked products, as well as legitimate film and television programming, music, software, video games, books and journals.”
Although this loss cannot be specifically quantified, it is likely significant. Consider that in 2024 Chinese e-commerce transactions were valued at an estimated $2.16 trillion USD. According to the above reports, approximately 40% of all products sold on these markets were pirated or counterfeit. Thus, we can estimate that these transactions deprived foreign — mostly American — businesses of $864 billion in profits.
How China Steals American Technology
Reports on China’s malfeasance typically focus on espionage and outright corporate theft. However, the main vectors of technological theft are not conventional theft. Instead, China focuses on acquiring ownership stakes in strategic American corporate assets, and strongarms American companies doing business in China.
America runs a large trade deficit with China, worth at least $300 billion per year over the last decade. How does America pay for this deficit? By selling assets and debts — this is called the balance of payments.
Assets include shares – ownership — of American corporations. Chinese investors coordinate to buy shares in American industrial and technology companies. They then use these shares to facilitate the transfer of proprietary technology.
Perhaps this is not technically theft, but it is a coordinated effort by the Chinese state and pseudo-state actors to acquire American technology. Further, these “owners” clearly breach their fiduciary duties to the American companies — once the technology is pillaged, they are free to liquidate their holdings.
The second main vector for technology transfers occur when American companies offshore their production to China. American companies are required to “partner” with a Chinese company, who handles all staffing and operational management of the factory. As a part of this deal, the Americans share their propriety technology with the Chinese company, and train the Chinese workers.
American businesses are happy to trade technology for short-term profits. Of course, this comes back to bite them. Once the Chinese have acquired the technology and knowhow, they often make copycat products and begin competing with their former employer.
A good example of this is the Pearl River Piano Group. They were contracted to build Steinway’s Essex line, lower-end manufactured pianos. After acquiring the technology, industrial capital, and experience in manufacturing pianos, Pearl River rolled out its own copycat lines: Pearl River and Ritmüller. In effect, Steinway created its own competitor.
This is just one example. The reality is that almost all Chinese companies have been built on stolen technology. Huawei, for example, is one of the biggest technology companies in the world. Huawei invented precisely nothing — all the foundational technologies were either “gratuitously” transferred through the above mechanisms, or stolen through outright corporate espionage.
The total amount of technology “stolen” in this way is unquantifiable. Consider that in 1983 most of China was pre-industrial — with economic development lower than that of colonial America. Since then, China’s industrial economy grown to be three times larger than America’s, and in some ways, more advanced.
America needs high and stable tariffs in order to reshore America’s factories, and stem the most egregious vectors of technological theft. If not, then America will continue to feed China until the dragon has grown past the point of taming or slaying.
It shouldn’t shock anyone at this point—our so-called leaders are double-talking, flip-flopping, and rewriting history again. We should be used to it by now. DC isn’t our nation’s capital; it’s a theatrical stage. One big, bloated production called “Whatever Way the Wind Blows.”
Turns out, back in the ’90s, Nancy Pelosi freely admitted that China was ripping off the US with some of the most unfair trade practices on the planet. In fact, if you listen to ’90s Pelosi, you’d swear she was an America First warrior—or a full-blown MAGA radical. In this flashback clip, she sounds like she could’ve been handpicked for Trump’s cabinet today.
“The average tariff on Chinese products coming into the U.S. is 2% whereas the average tariff on U.S. goods going into China is 35%. Is that reciprocal?
This Nancy Pelosi clip from the 90s is wild.
It sounds like she could be working in the Trump admin.
“The average tariff on Chinese products coming into the U.S. is 2% whereas the average tariff on U.S. goods going into China is 35%. Is that reciprocal?
My wife’s side of the family lives in Scandinavia. They say that soccer/Football is Europe’s favorite sport. It’s not. Trashing America is. They are further left than the Portland crazies. I’m so tired of their shit that I won’t even discuss it with them anymore. I do better in Portland with the lefties than I do with them. I had to cut them off of social media it was so ballistic.
They have gone ballistic now over Trump and his policies. Next, My neighbor is canceling a trip to Italy this summer because she doesn’t want to hear this same shit from her family living there. It’s identical. They are offended that we don’t act like Europeans.
Why?
Because of (at least) 2 reasons I can think of. There are dozens more, but I don’t want to write a book.
They act like they are morally superior just because they have been around longer.
They are now going to have to pay for their own protection and can’t soak the US on exports with the latest Trump policies.
He’s living rent-free in their heads and they trash him consistently.
They really haven’t contributed anything close to what the US has done to humanity other than they were good at starting World Wars last century. I’m not denigrating cool cars, fat reducing drugs, and some other stuff, but it’s not close. How many countries put men on the moon without computers?
Look at the churches in Europe. They are museums instead of places of worship. Just like Europe, they were built centuries ago, and the only Europeans who are leading the world in just about everything now are Americans.
But let’s dive deeper.
The European veil of leftist intellectual and moral superiority is starting to crumble. In recent weeks, we’ve seen Europe begin to take responsibility for its defense, the climate crazies seeing many of their goals collapsing under the weight of the twin realities of science and economics, and the rise of conservative politicians who are seeking an end to the immigration invasion. Zeitenwende in German means the end of an era or turning point in history. Europe’s possible return to sanity will be our story today.
Europe is now fully awake to the fact that the U.S. is not their on-call military, and they are now genuinely worried, not just performatively so, about Russia. European nations know now that they are, for all intents and purposes, at war, primarily armed with a checkbook and too little actual military hardware. Thanks to decades of cradle-to-grave benefits, in addition to their reliance on the U.S. for their defense, Europe essentially has no functional militaries.
As just one example of how this works, in 2014, when a hijacked aircraft was about to fly over Swiss territory, Switzerland was unable to police its own territory, relying instead on the French and Italians. In fact, when the French military called the Swiss to have them intercept the airliner, they got an answering service saying they were closed for the weekend and asking them to leave a message. That one anecdote explains so much more.
Image created using AI.
Another aberration: Germany, Denmark, and Sweden allow their soldiers to join labor unions! You can’t make this up. Reality Bites.
When it comes to funding their defense, EU countries have two fundamental problems: 1. They all have low birth rates within their established native populations. 2. Their ability to provide those cradle-to-the-grave benefits has meant that European nations do not have money for guns and butter. Today, Europe is a paper tiger unable to wage modern sustained warfare.
European nations are trying to change, but it may be too little, too late. Germany has approved a €1 trillion spending package, marking its most ambitious defense initiative since World War II. EU-wide efforts include the “ReArm Europe Plan,” which aims to mobilize €800 billion for defense by 2030. This plan focuses on enhancing military readiness and supporting the European defense industry. NATO nations have increased their defense budgets, with 23 out of 32 members meeting the alliance’s 2% GDP spending guideline by the end of 2024.
As another example of the European leftist mindset, one unanchored to reality, let’s talk about the grand pronouncement from government-subsidized Airbus and the EU that, by 2050, new aircraft would be required to be zero emission. To those knowledgeable about airplanes and their development, this was always nonsense. Aviation Week published as much in its Viewpoint editorial.
After Europe and the rest of the world have spent tens of billions of dollars/Euros on electric, hydrogen, and clean fuel initiatives such as SAF, the balloon is bursting with the realities of science and economics. Airbus is giving up on hydrogen, and several other electric/battery technology companies are declaring bankruptcy.
The reality is that less than 2% of aviation fuels are SAF today, and the cost is as much as 4-10 times more than the jet-A fuel it replaces. Europe, being Europe, doesn’t see a problem. Reduced to its essentials, the Europeans said, “We’ll tax tickets to subsidize SAF.”
French authorities have admitted this will cause a massive drop in passenger traffic. Tres bon! Fewer passengers mean fewer flights and planes and further the green crazies who want to see an end to taking trips by plane anyway. Predictably, this nonsense is reaching its natural point of failure. The Emperor is now standing naked in front of all.
Finally, although those in power are fighting viciously, the European people are moving from center-left to center-right, especially regarding immigration. The center-right victor in Germany’s recent elections, Friedrich Merz, promised a radical crackdown on migration during his campaign, proposing that all illegal aliens be turned away at the border. Jens Spahn, a German parliament member, emphasized the need to “secure Europe’s external borders“ and strengthen Frontex’s mandate to ensure freedom within the Schengen area.
Greece and Croatia have been accused of forcibly returning migrants, a practice known as “pushbacks.” The Poland-Belarus border reports highlight systemic pushbacks, with migrants being forcibly returned to Belarus under harsh conditions. This reflects Poland’s firm stance on controlling illegal crossings. Some European nations have introduced laws to expedite deportations and limit asylum applications, signaling a shift towards stricter immigration policies.
One last thing. Trump’s recent tariff moves have scared Europeans. With a trade imbalance of over $200 billion, Europe has little choice but to negotiate from a position of weakness. Europe is dependent on a lot of U.S. tech, banking, and military hardware—Europe’s inability to rise to challenges further cements America’s advantage.
Say what you will, but you can thank President Trump for getting Europe on the move!
AJ Huber tweeted with a video, “Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum just announced that she is stopping the migrant caravans from arriving at the U.S. southern border after President Trump’s tariff threat. Nothing can stop what’s coming! Only DJT can change the world even before the inauguration!”
She said, “I have the vision that there will be an agreement with the U.S.”
And the experts said tariffs don’t work and would ruin our economy.
No thank you. I trust randos on Twitter. They get fact-checked by truly independent fact-checkers — Twitter users.
Oh, Sheinbaum also threatened retaliatory tariffs. Big deal.
Peter St Onge, Ph.D., tweeted, “Mexico threatens retaliatory tariffs. Exports to the US make up almost a third of Mexico’s GDP — 29%. While US exports to Mexico make up 1.1% of our GDP.”
Her cry for retaliation is bravado to save a little face.
Wall Street Mav tweeted, “Back in late 2018, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador was a charismatic, old-school politician who developed a chummy relationship with Trump. The two were eventually able to strike a bargain in which Mexico helped keep migrants away from the border — and received other countries’ deported migrants — and Trump backed down on the tariff threats.”
Actually, Trump gave AMLO the choice between tariffs and protecting our borders. It was a negotiating tool and it worked. It has worked again.
Canada is capitulating as well.
Benny Johnson tweeted with a video, “Canada PM Justin Trudeau agrees to work with Trump on border security after tariff threats: ‘I had a good call with Donald Trump. We talked about some of the challenges we can work on together. It was a good call, this is something we can do.’ ”
The Ballerina had better do something because Pierre Poilievre is standing in the shadows, love. He is ready, willing and able to replace Trudeau.
Poilievre said he understands Trump putting Americans first and that as prime minister, he will put Canadian workers first. This is not brain surgery, folks.
Trump started now to get Canada and Mexico to start to close the border. He ain’t waiting for January 20. He completed his cabinet before Thanksgiving. His appointees already are on the job.
Border Czar Tom Homan visited the Mexican border in Texas two months ahead of beginning his job.
He said, “We finally got a president. President Trump’s gonna come in January. But we’re not waiting until January. We’re already talking, we’re already planning.”
Oh man, Homan also said, “Let me be clear: There is going to be a mass deportation because we just finished a mass immigration crisis on the border.
“It is a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal illegal immigrants from immigration authorities. Don’t test us.”
But wait. There’s more. Trump is tossing in peace in the Middle East at no extra charge.
Gunther Eagleman tweeted, “Ceasefire agreement has been reached between Hezbollah and Israel. The incoming Trump presidency is forcing nations to get back in line!”
ABC reported, “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is recommending the country’s security cabinet agree to a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah that was brokered by the U.S., he said in a taped video message Tuesday evening local time.
“Netanyahu said he was submitting the plan to the cabinet for approval Tuesday night.”
Bibi made it clear that he is not messing around, saying, “With full understanding with the United States, we maintain complete military freedom of action.
“If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself — we will attack. If it tries to renew terrorist infrastructure near the border — we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck with missiles — we will attack.”
Getting Iran to sign the Abraham Accords is next.
There could be more peace breaking out.
Reuters reported, “President-elect Donald Trump’s team is discussing pursuing direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, hoping a fresh diplomatic push can lower the risks of armed conflict, according to two people familiar with the matter.
“Several in Trump’s team now see a direct approach from Trump, to build on a relationship that already exists, as most likely to break the ice with Kim, years after the two traded insults and what Trump called beautiful letters in an unprecedented diplomatic effort during his first term in office, the people said.”
And if there is any Ukraine left after the sabre rattling by Britain, Biden and France, peace may break out there.
CNN reported last week, “Zelensky says Ukraine war will end ‘faster’ under Trump presidency.”
I could not tell from the story if that gladdens or saddens the Little Z.
Trump learned from the Resistance and the impeachments not to trust DC Republicans and to make his executive orders bulletproof.
Reuters sobbed, “President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to use the U.S. military to help deport millions of undocumented migrants, a plan that breaks from U.S. tradition against deploying troops domestically but which legal experts said would still be hard to successfully challenge in court.
“Trump advisers have said they intend to use the military to build detention camps or to transport undocumented migrants out of the U.S., freeing border patrol and immigration agents for investigations and apprehensions.
“Experts said the administration would have legal cover if the military is confined to support roles, particularly along the border with Mexico, without interacting with suspects.”
The military protects the border.
Duh.
Trump’s reputation has struck fear in liberals. Jack Smith dropped all charges as he seeks to skedaddle out of town. Alvin “Chipmunk” Bragg’s conviction seem meaningless. Fani Willis looks like she’ll be the one prosecuted, not Trump.
Stuart Varney noticed a huge difference between now and 8 years ago.
On Tuesday, he said, “ If you didn’t get the message yet, you’ve certainly got it now, a dramatic transformation has arrived.
“The president-elect is not tinkering with policy, there are no minor adjustments. The second Trump presidency is something very different.
“He won the election convincingly. He has won hands down in court. He has organized his team in record time and voters like what they’ve seen so far.
“He’s off and running, way before he takes office.
“Last night’s tariff announcement was a shot across the bow to Canada, Mexico and China. Work with us on drugs and migrants, or else.
“That is the exact opposite of the Biden-Harris approach. There’s no weakness here, no soft diplomatic language that fails.”
Democrats are saying publicly that Trump did not win in a landslide because he got only 49.9% of the vote. But they are acting like he received 60%.
More importantly, Trump is acting like he received 60% of the vote, and perception is 90% of politics. Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum’s sudden move to close the border proves that.
Delusions of Adequacy 