"Do tariffs really apply to gamers?" Topic

Add to TimePortal the delightful bit in the Republic of Korea where we couldn't get building permits for enough barracks to house the troops, so new arrivals had to pay South Korean hotel keepers. This went on for decades.

Have patience, ochoin. The alliance will outlive both of us, and all politicians now practicing. Not the first time our politicians have been out of synch, and not likely to be the last.

Your boundless optimism is delightful RP but looking shaky:
link

link

And this one. Especially this one:

link

The point is if a door is slammed in your face, you'll find another one to open.

Interesting Tariff tid bit.The recent 10% tariff on OZ beef to the US? Devastating….except the the Aussie beef industry just found there is a huge gap in China's imports of beef needing to be filled. It seems the Chinese no longer want American beef and will be delighted to pay Top Dollar for the Australian product… It'd be funny, if not tragic.

Ocho, I've been accused of a lot of things one time and another, but never optimism--until now.

I hope the Aussies get Top Yuan for their beef. Does them good and us no harm. Better than us having trade secrets ripped off and the CCP censoring our movies. Free trade zones are not alliances, and trading partners are not necessarily allies. Often the reverse, in fact.

You're reading The Guardian Formerly Known as Manchester for news? I wouldn't trust the Guardian for the direction of sunrise.

Buy from a fellow Canadian, no problem. Buy from one of Those People, and fees stack on top of taxes.

We should be paying VAT for any person to person transaction but, of course, we never do. Unfortunately, one has to broker goods across national borders. We have to broker these goods to pay the required taxes. It is because it gets the government's attention that your order got caught.

Hey Robert, I agree that the US has been taken advantage of for many decades. How much is up for debate. Being the global hegemon brings costs and benefits. I should note that the US' global standing crushed a burgeoning Canadian aerospace industry. In the late 50s we had the world's best fighter jet but it got shelved at the insistence of the US Department of Defense. My problem with Trump's rhetoric is that it is decidedly one-sided.

That's OK, RP. I guess many of the news "sources" you use would be anathema to me. Unhinged party politicals IMO.

China has been the main importer of OZ goods for decades. They tried to strong arm Australia a few years ago by raising tariffs – idiots. That will never work and they were forced to drop them. Didn't they look foolish?

Certainly the average Aussie doesn't like any bullying authoritarian regime – no matter where they're from – but if they can make a buck, they'll trade. The issue is if someone tries to extort money from you over tariffs, will you ever trust them enough to want to have anything approaching an alliance? Of course not. I'm rather hoping OZ strengthens defence ties with the UK/EU.
I think they can trust them.

I'd agree Marcus. But I think part of why you're seeing turmoil in US politics is recent years is that the costs are being borne by people who don't see the benefits. When our banks expand overseas operations, but our factories close, the mean US income may be going up, but not the median, and we've had a lot of that.

I'd even go so far as to say that some of our trading partners and allies are doing more for us than most of the US population realizes. They seem convinced that if they've made the case to US diplomats, they don't need to make the case to the US public--a serious miscalculation.

As for the "one-sided rhetoric" I'm trying to think of a politician whose public rhetoric was not. Did any of Trump's opponents ever say "I disagree with Trump's proposed solutions, but his supporters are people with legitimate grievances we've ignored for a generation?" Are his EU critics saying "I don't like Trump's plan for ending the Ukraine War, but we don't seem to have one?" Or "we've counted on the US to bear a disproportionate share of the common military burden, despite repeated warnings the couldn't go on?" Nah. It's been "Trump's a 'fascist' and his supporters are a basket of deplorables" which is not my idea of balance.

Behind closed doors, some politicians might see the other fellow's point of view. When they address the public, their side is the repository of all virtue and their policy the only reasonable one. Name an exception: I'd like to read his or her book.

Occurs to me we've wandered a little far form the OP. My guess is that obstacles to free trade won't affect me much as a wargamer with the exception of books. I'm buying only odds and ends now, or 2mm armies, and no more big trendy rulebooks. So for me, shipping is the big killer, and the largest annoyance is the Royal Mail's practice of charging air mail rates and then putting the package on a ship. I'll get nailed on paint, of course--mostly produced overseas and imported by dealers in quantities big enough Customs is bound to notice.

Most of the hurt will fall on young wargamers following trends and buying someone's official product. GW might consider some North American production. And if this endures and hits a serious level, book publishers may go back to local printing.

But we also live at the start of the 3D printing era, and the US is certainly capable of making its own paints. So probably paint cost goes up, but not to the level of import + tariff, and I'll buy stuff through Etsy from North American 3D printers I might otherwise have purchased from Copplestone or Foundry. Not my preferred solution, but not the end of the world, either.

How about the rest of us?

One point Timeportal, as one been there done that, the UK BAOR paid compensation to German civpop for exercise damage. I had to record my units damage in Lionheart ‘84 for this very reason.

My question Robert is why Trump would pîck a fight with Canada about trade. Canada/US trade is probably about as a balanced a relationship as one could expect. Yes, Canada should be spending more on national defense and if Trump was being tough to get Canada to step up I'd support him. But the trade relationship itself is balanced. We've suffered the same effects of free trade as the US has. We too have seen lots of jobs migrate to the southern US states, Mexico and China. We should be working collaboratively together on this file. I blame Trump for this. My wife and I were going to camp in NY state this summer but not now. I can't tell you have deeply and broadly Canadians are angered offended by Trumps antics. I have never seen this before in my countrymen.

Marcus Brutus: Actually, that is another concern of mine. I've been planning a trip to Canada since last summer. Now, I am not at all sure the Canadians will be happy to see me.

Grelber

They tried to strong arm Australia a few years ago by raising tariffs – idiots. That will never work and they were forced to drop them.

Sorry, Ochoin, I disagree. The tariffs and bans were all on "luxury" items like wine, barley, lamb, lobsters, beef, etc. The only strategic resources banned were timber and coking coal.

The PRC wasn't hurt by those actions, but some industries here were. Our government's interventions achieved nothing in relation to the tariffs and bans. Most of the bans and tariffs have been "normalised" now- only because it suited the PRC.

Hey Gelber, Canadians are angry with Trump, not Americans generally.

I remember the Rust Belt around southern Lake Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio back in 1979. North Carolina was a textiles giant, but it is no longer. Detroit was a top city in the US until the 1960s but a combination of city mismanagement, over-taxing and cheaper cars turned it into a disaster zone.

It seems as if Trump wants to open new markets to the US overseas. You can call it "bullying" if you like, but if you are in a position of power to negotiate, you use it.

The idea behind China coming into the WTA was that eventually, the better standard of living for the average citizen would ris,e leading to more civil rights and democracy. It appears that has not worked and they have cracked down on Hong Kong. The Chinese government appears to run the corporations. Look what happened to Jack Ma when he spoke out.

Trump is a businessman who wants business to boom in the US and understands he can't do that if he puts valuable trading partners overseas out of business. Step one in negotiation is to bring them to the table. It appears he has accomplished step 1. So now he has 90 days (which I think he can change or extend) to negotiate 150 trade deals.

It will take a few years to build up the US manufacturing infrastructure, and we need to start now. Things are not looking good economically in China in the long run. When the US does build it will be using the latest and most efficient technology too, which will hopefully reduce costs.

Hopefully, it turns out to be a win-win for everyone. It's too early to feel butt hurt and call names.

Wolfhag

We're getting a long way from miniatures.

Marcus, I think you're asking why an MLRS doesn't behave like a PGM. Trump hits areas on his first pass. The backing off and making individual exceptions comes later. I suspect also there was a tremendous personality clash--the first real table-kicker the US has had since FDR meeting with a hereditary leftist. If the Canadian election had come first--and it was looking bad for Trudeau II's people at the time--you might have seen exactly what you describe.

I'd also point out--WAY too deep into politics for TMP--Trump knows he has two years to effect any change. The civil service will be obstructive. Congress is baulky already, and might very well change hands in 2026. The Supremes drift left between appointments. If he'd called for some general conference on trade issues, the powers that be would have scheduled it for 2027, talked for two years and dissolved in 2029, leaving all the usual swine still feeding at the trough. Trump's objective might be right or wrong, but I don't think he had another method available.

As for Canadians only being mad at Trump, are the reports I'm getting of cancelled vacations in the US and dropping sales of US goods in Canada untrue or exagerated? Even good long-term relationships have bad patches. I think we're in one.

I'd like to see the whole "must have a passport" thing go away. But I won't live that long.

One of my gaming buddies was planning to go down to Historicon this year. His plans are on hold and he said last evening that he won't cross the border until the war is over. By war he means economic war that the US has unleashed against Canada. Whether "war" is hyperbolic it is true that Canada is being treated like every other country in the world and our interdependency with the US is now being used as a weapon against us. That really hurts and it feels like a betrayal. We always thought that we had a special relationship with our neighbours to the south.

Elbows up, Canada!

In February, RAFM was running a 'beat the tariffs' sale.

Website now says they are closed and thanks for the patronage.

Stand on guard.

SFR, publishers of Dragon Dice, have announced a hold on new product development and restocks until such time as costs are stable, predictable, and affordable.

Cost of any new company establishing dice production in the US would be quite exorbitant. China has the existing capacity.

Yes I get email direct from Chinese manufacturers on a weekly basis.

As for Canadians only being mad at Trump, are the reports I'm getting of cancelled vacations in the US and dropping sales of US goods in Canada untrue or exagerated? Even good long-term relationships have bad patches. I think we're in one.

Family in Canada reports everyone is hunkering down and definitely standing on guard. The shift in boycotting American goods is deep and there is a massive focus on shifting buying habits. Even if the trade war and talk of annexing Canada go away tomorrow, it does not feel like things will go back to normal anytime soon. America has lost a good chunk of the consumer market no matter what happens.

True patriot love has indeed been awakened. Even the Québecois are rallying with the Anglo-Canadians, which is quite a new development for internal political identity.

Ire is directed more at Trump than Americans in general. But wearing a MAGA hat if you visit would not be a good idea.

While this is a comedy skit, family reports it does reflect how everyone is trying to shop now:
YouTube link

I just received a sizeable package from Perry Miniatures. No tariff payment as far as I can tell.

I wasn't sure if the OP was trolling or not.

Where do you think most if not all board games are produced? Or many miniatures like GW?

A giant, giant chunk of hobby stuff is made in China. And you ask if we think that tariffs will affect gamers?

Um.

Some of the above posters, and not a few others, have commented that production jobs are rote, boring, repetitive and do not pay well. I thought I would share a list of some of the possibilities:

Production and Assembly Roles:

Production Supervisor:
Oversees production processes and personnel to ensure efficient and timely completion of work.

Assembler:
Assembles parts and components to create finished products.

Production Worker:
A general term for workers involved in the manufacturing process, often performing a variety of tasks. Some of these tasks can indeed be boring.

Machine Operation and Maintenance Roles:

Machine Operator:
Operates machinery to manufacture or assemble products.

CNC Operator:
Operates Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines to manufacture parts with high precision.

Maintenance Technician:
Maintains and repairs manufacturing equipment to ensure optimal performance.

Maintenance Mechanic:
Performs maintenance on industrial machinery and equipment.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic:
Repairs and maintains industrial machinery, ensuring it operates efficiently.

Quality Control and Inspection Roles:

Quality Control Inspector:
Inspects products to ensure they meet quality standards.

Quality Control Technician:
Performs quality control tests and inspections.

QA Inspector:
Ensures products meet quality assurance standards.

Validation Engineer:
Validates manufacturing processes and equipment to ensure they meet regulatory requirements.

Administrative Manufacturing Jobs:

Manufacturing Manager:
Oversees the day-to-day operations of a manufacturing facility.

Plant Manager:
Manages all aspects of a manufacturing plant, including production, operations, and staff.

Manufacturing Engineer:
Designs and develops manufacturing processes and equipment.

Manufacturing Technician:
Assists with various manufacturing tasks, including production, assembly, and inspection.

Supply Chain Coordinator:
Manages the flow of materials and goods within the manufacturing process.

Industrial Engineer:
Optimizes manufacturing processes and workflows.

Inventory Control Specialist:
Manages inventory levels and ensures materials are available when needed.

Manufacturing Buyer:
Sourcing and purchasing materials and components for manufacturing.

Customer Service Representative: Provides customer support for manufacturing products.

Safety and Health Professionals:
Maintain compliance with all state and Federal regulations and standards to provide a safe and healthy workplace.

The list goes on and on. For a list of typical salaries for these positions, go to the following:

link

As the list shows, a revitalized manufacturing sector could provide many interesting and high-paying jobs and we should do everything we can to make it happen.