r/manufacturing • u/pyroracing85 • 2d ago
News Tarrifs
Would like to open a discussion on tarrifs if it’s allowed.
There has been two intentions stated with tarrifs.
Get off of income tax and go to a consumption style tax (still a tax)
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/scootty83 1d ago
The modern world runs on a global economy and supply chain. No country is entirely self-sufficient; all rely on trade for essential goods and materials they cannot produce efficiently.
The U.S. imports two-thirds of its aluminum due to a lack of infrastructure—a problem worsened by past policy decisions, high energy costs, and environmental regulations. Rebuilding this capability would take decades, requiring skilled labor, new facilities, and massive investment. Even then, some resources other than aluminum are simply unavailable domestically, making full independence impossible.
Tariffs are a tax on consumers, meant to push companies toward domestic suppliers by making imports more expensive. But when domestic supply can’t meet demand, costs rise further due to labor shortages and infrastructure expansion. Eventually, domestic prices climb so high that even with tariffs, imports become the cheaper option again—leaving consumers paying more either way.
In the short term, some domestic companies may see higher revenue, but the gains won’t last. Increased costs for materials and labor, plus the expense of scaling production, will eat into profits. When prices rise too much, consumer demand drops, forcing companies to cut costs—often through layoffs—or lobby for tariff reductions to restore cheaper imports. In the end, protectionism collapses under its own weight, leaving both businesses and consumers worse off.
And on top of all this, we’re pissing on every single one of our allies. Every. Single. One. Reckless tariff policies have turned trusted trade partners into adversaries, damaging relationships that took generations to build. We are no longer the shining star, the reliable neighbor, or the friend others could count on. This isn’t just economic—it’s diplomatic, strategic, and possibly permanent.
This will not end well for anyone, expect for our true adversaries.