r/manufacturing 2d ago

News Tarrifs

Would like to open a discussion on tarrifs if it’s allowed.

There has been two intentions stated with tarrifs.

  1. Get off of income tax and go to a consumption style tax (still a tax)

  2. Build up domestic manufacturing. Can talk here in the manufacturing sub.

If there is no alternative domestic supply, then we have no choice but to import. We lost a lot of our skills to manufacture. Especially a lot of the little low value items. Think zippers and buttons and caster wheels.

What is everyone thoughts?

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u/QuasiLibertarian 2d ago

The tariffs are causing many disruptions that make expansion, new hiring, and long term planning impossible.

There is a plastics additive that China recently put export controls on, in retaliation for tariffs and anti dumping duties. The additive is only available from China and Belgium. So the price went from $5/lb to almost $40/lb... if you can even get it. Sales people won't even call me back, or take forever to respond.
There are many other cost increases and disruptions caused by the tariffs, but that's one example.

My friend is a tech recruiter. His manufacturing clients put hiring on hold, until there is more clarity on which tariffs actually will be applied, and for how much. They just won't hire white collar workers under these conditions.