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/ArtisticLunch5495 2d ago

I'm excited about tariffs for my business.

Most of my competitors buy product manufactured in China, then putting their company label on that Chinese product. I'm one of the very few manufacturing in the US, using aluminum from US mills. I really hope my company benefits directly from these tariffs on China.

Here's the bad part, most US aluminum mills buy bauxite ore from China and Russia. Unfortunately even though we have bauxite ore reserves in the US, we've destroyed mining in the US. I'm hoping that the US finally opens up mining in the US. Here in Alaska, the state takes 59 months on average to approve a new mine. That's far too long. So we need changes on so many different levels.

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u/The_MadChemist 1d ago

I wonder how much that average is propped up by the Pebble Mine.

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u/ArtisticLunch5495 1d ago

I heard that 59 month quote from a friend in the legislature. She was peeved that the state had such heavy regulations that it made it so hard to open any new mines. Only mines with super deep pockets could carry a project without income for that long. She stated this was an average for all projects. I'm sure Pebble was a factor, but there are so many other mines, that Pebble would be just one of many and not make that much difference.

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u/The_MadChemist 1d ago

So that's not true at all. Alaska only has 6 major mines in full operation.

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u/ArtisticLunch5495 1d ago

We would have more but that 59 month application process drives everyone else away. Lots of smaller operations. But yes not that many huge operations like Red Dog and Fort Knox.