Tariffs

[tggzzz]

Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the now-murdered leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was better known for running an internet troll farm (Internet Research Agency) that flooded social media and online forums like this with pro-Russian propaganda. As part of its covert operations, Prigozhin‘s trolls were involved in meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by spreading misinformation. In 2018, the Department of Justice indicted Prigozhin for his role in election interference. The troll farm still exist, after Progizhin’s murder.

Prigozhin was also known by the nickname ‘Putin’s Chef’ due to his rise from a convicted criminal to a caterer for Vladimir Putin during the Putin’s early years in public service in the 1990s.

It truly is bizarre to me that as soon as his coup failed he did not run away to a very far away country and hide.  It was almost as if he was begging to be assassinated - Did he not see what happened to everyone else who crossed Putin?  Or did he believe so much in his own bravado that he could survive any attempt on his life?  Must have been a terrifying ride down in that plane split in half... Still, couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke, eh.

He could have come to the UK and hidden here, just like Litvinenko, Skripal, Perepilichnyy, Berezovsky, or in other countries Kadakin (India), Malanin (Greece), Voronenkov (Ukraine).

Oops.

[zapta]

Good news from the UK, they just joined the Trump train.

https://www.youtube.com/live/4CqmjE_AGik

[Gyro]

Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the now-murdered leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was better known for running an internet troll farm (Internet Research Agency) that flooded social media and online forums like this with pro-Russian propaganda. As part of its covert operations, Prigozhin‘s trolls were involved in meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by spreading misinformation. In 2018, the Department of Justice indicted Prigozhin for his role in election interference. The troll farm still exist, after Progizhin’s murder.

Prigozhin was also known by the nickname ‘Putin’s Chef’ due to his rise from a convicted criminal to a caterer for Vladimir Putin during the Putin’s early years in public service in the 1990s.

It truly is bizarre to me that as soon as his coup failed he did not run away to a very far away country and hide.  It was almost as if he was begging to be assassinated - Did he not see what happened to everyone else who crossed Putin?  Or did he believe so much in his own bravado that he could survive any attempt on his life?  Must have been a terrifying ride down in that plane split in half... Still, couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke, eh.

He could have come to the UK and hidden here, just like Litvinenko, Skripal, Perepilichnyy, Berezovsky, or in other countries Kadakin (India), Malanin (Greece), Voronenkov (Ukraine).

Oops.

After recruiting murderers and rapists from Russian prisons to serve in his private army, he might have been a bit much for the UK government to stomach [Edit: certainly public opinion if we had found out].

[tggzzz]

Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the now-murdered leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was better known for running an internet troll farm (Internet Research Agency) that flooded social media and online forums like this with pro-Russian propaganda. As part of its covert operations, Prigozhin‘s trolls were involved in meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by spreading misinformation. In 2018, the Department of Justice indicted Prigozhin for his role in election interference. The troll farm still exist, after Progizhin’s murder.

Prigozhin was also known by the nickname ‘Putin’s Chef’ due to his rise from a convicted criminal to a caterer for Vladimir Putin during the Putin’s early years in public service in the 1990s.

It truly is bizarre to me that as soon as his coup failed he did not run away to a very far away country and hide.  It was almost as if he was begging to be assassinated - Did he not see what happened to everyone else who crossed Putin?  Or did he believe so much in his own bravado that he could survive any attempt on his life?  Must have been a terrifying ride down in that plane split in half... Still, couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke, eh.

He could have come to the UK and hidden here, just like Litvinenko, Skripal, Perepilichnyy, Berezovsky, or in other countries Kadakin (India), Malanin (Greece), Voronenkov (Ukraine).

Oops.

After recruiting murderers and rapists from Russian prisons to serve in his private army, he might have been a bit much for the UK government to stomach [Edit: certainly public opinion if we had found out].

Perhaps I should have made it clearer. The people I mentioned were all dedicated opponents of Putin who died "strangely" without being defenestrated.

And there's no way Yevgeny Prigozhin could have openly settled in the UK

[jnk0le]

Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the now-murdered leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was better known for running an internet troll farm (Internet Research Agency) that flooded social media and online forums like this with pro-Russian propaganda. As part of its covert operations, Prigozhin‘s trolls were involved in meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by spreading misinformation. In 2018, the Department of Justice indicted Prigozhin for his role in election interference. The troll farm still exist, after Progizhin’s murder.

Prigozhin was also known by the nickname ‘Putin’s Chef’ due to his rise from a convicted criminal to a caterer for Vladimir Putin during the Putin’s early years in public service in the 1990s.

It truly is bizarre to me that as soon as his coup failed he did not run away to a very far away country and hide.  It was almost as if he was begging to be assassinated - Did he not see what happened to everyone else who crossed Putin?  Or did he believe so much in his own bravado that he could survive any attempt on his life?  Must have been a terrifying ride down in that plane split in half... Still, couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke, eh.

Some say that this coup was a psyop, but the tsar cannot show a weakness. So he has been pointed into a known direction.

[Analog Kid]

[regarding Progozhin's "attempted coup"]
Some say that this coup was a psyop, but the tsar cannot show a weakness. So he has been pointed into a known direction.

Or you could say it was a simple case of FAFO on Prigozhin's part.
Let's don't forget that Yevgeny Prigozhin was a pretty despicable character, far from the populist hero that the Western press attempted to make him out to be. Pretty much a fascist-tending demagogue.

[tom66]

A warmonger in Africa and Ukraine.  The world is a much better place with him gone.

Anyway, tariffs.  I see the UK has signed a trade deal with the US.  It looks like cars will still be tariffed at 10%, but it's better than the 27% beforehand.  Jaguar Land Rover's largest market is the USA.  I have no idea why;  a JLR product is just as bad no matter where in the world it is, but I guess fools and their money...  I have pride for many things made in the UK, but not a JLR product.

[tggzzz]

Anyway, tariffs.  I see the UK has signed a trade deal with the US.  It looks like cars will still be tariffed at 10%, but it's better than the 27% beforehand.  Jaguar Land Rover's largest market is the USA.  I have no idea why;  a JLR product is just as bad no matter where in the world it is, but I guess fools and their money...  I have pride for many things made in the UK, but not a JLR product.

I certainly don't understand the full scope of the agreement, but...

It looks like 10% is T'rumps universal base tariff, for some meaning of "universal".

There's nothing in the agreement preventing g the UK doing a better deal with the EU soon (e.g. no requirement to accept substandard US food).

T'rump spouted his usual "bestest bigliest deal in the history of the universe" hyperbole. Starmer gritted his teeth and proclaimed T'rump was the bestest friend and President ever. It was almost as if T'rump needed to actually close a deal before people thought he was full of hot air about dealmaking.

[zapta]

I have pride for many things made in the UK, but not a JLR product.

Moulton, Brompton and Brooks are highly regarded in the US.

https://britishbicycle.com/moulton-bicycles/

There are also Minnies but I don't know if they are British anymore.  (IIRC Moulton designed the original Minnie suspension and took the idea of small wheels with suspension to the bike world).

[langwadt]

[regarding Progozhin's "attempted coup"]
Some say that this coup was a psyop, but the tsar cannot show a weakness. So he has been pointed into a known direction.

Or you could say it was a simple case of FAFO on Prigozhin's part.
Let's don't forget that Yevgeny Prigozhin was a pretty despicable character, far from the populist hero that the Western press attempted to make him out to be. Pretty much a fascist-tending demagogue.

or the military tricked him, afaiu they were trying to take over his "operation" and he had been criticizing the ministry of defense,

[wilfred]

Fun fact, the Boston Tea party was about a 3% tax.
Why we don't throw our politicians into the water after 40% income tax is a mystery.

I heard the "taxation without representation" was the reason for the Boston Tea Party. So 40% is only unreasonable if it isn't enough and the services expected are not delivered without going into a debt spiral. Or if there is a lot of waste.

[coppercone2]

[regarding Progozhin's "attempted coup"]
Some say that this coup was a psyop, but the tsar cannot show a weakness. So he has been pointed into a known direction.

Or you could say it was a simple case of FAFO on Prigozhin's part.
Let's don't forget that Yevgeny Prigozhin was a pretty despicable character, far from the populist hero that the Western press attempted to make him out to be. Pretty much a fascist-tending demagogue.

or the military tricked him, afaiu they were trying to take over his "operation" and he had been criticizing the ministry of defense,

There is also the theory that like Napoleon, and possibly the Nazis, It turns out when you advance towards Moscow, you wonder, what the fuck do I want to do with this place? Then you have to take a while to think about what your doing. Kind of like gaining awareness of beer goggles, you flinch because you see the truth for a second and then you fail to take the objective because you lost your resolve. Kind of like driving through a "russia compilation" video that is like 8 hours long.

Also probably why the British left after burning down the White House during the War of 1812... they realized they are in Washington DC. A DC that is even worse with horses and politicians shitting in the streets. If you ever wondered why the "brownstone" "townhouse" is so popular historically, with the super expensive stone entry stairs, its because brownstone was a robust material that isolated your house from the shit that would accumulate on the streets.

[Analog Kid]

There is also the theory that like Napoleon, and possibly the Nazis, It turns out when you advance towards Moscow, you wonder, what the fuck do I want to do with this place? Then you have to take a while to think about what your doing. Kind of like gaining awareness of beer goggles, you flinch because you see the truth for a second and then you fail to take the objective because you lost your resolve. Kind of like driving through a "russia compilation" video that is like 8 hours long.

Hey, that's not bad, not bad at all. (I mean your analysis.)
Probably at least part of the syndrome for sure.

[johnboxall]

Client in the USA is having a shit fit, they sent me this which explains tariffs wrt PCBs etc:

https://www.pcbway.com/blog/News/Impact_of_the_New_U_S_Tariff_Policy_on_Customs_Clearance_51dff4fd.html

Love the DHL holding fees. Don't ignore calls from DHL!

[Analog Kid]

Question: where to go for latest tariff info?

I typed in "tariffwatch.com", was surprised to find that nobody's bought that domain yet.

So do people here know of any good sites where we can get up-to-date info quickly, without having to register or download anything? Got a lot of search results but they're all over the place.

Looking for general comprehensive info, like current rates, with links to more details, like day-to-day regulation changes, but no PhD. theses. Kind of like an enlarged stock-market report.

[dietert1]

What a misery! That pcbway document reveals that semiconductors and laptop computers carry tariffs of 70 % and 20 %. They are not exempt.
Better listen to the stable genius and setup your own production in your cellar: PCBs, resistors, capacitors. After Poland became democratic in 1989, there was the story they did not have steel nails for construction. They had to import nails. Now, about 35 years later, Poland seems to have everything.

Regards, Dieter

[u666sa]

US, China agree to temporarily reduce trade tariffs, White House says

Washington and Beijing have signed an agreement to temporarily suspend some mutual tariffs in a bid to ease trade tensions.

According to the agreement, the United States will suspend 24% duties on Chinese goods for 90 days, while maintaining the base rate at 10%. In response, China will symmetrically reduce duties on American goods, cancel previously introduced additional tariffs, and undertake to remove non-tariff barriers.

In addition, the document also provides for the creation of a mechanism for further negotiations. Discussions on the details will be held under the leadership of Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China He Lifeng and US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. The negotiations are planned both in China and the US, and on neutral territory.

The parties hope that the agreement reached will be a step towards stabilizing economic relations, according to the published statement.

https://t.me/ForeignAgentIntel

[u666sa]

US SLASHES China tariffs from 145% to 30%

stuff arriving from ali in a week or so, we are going to see how it goes.. Some rosin for the relife crack pipe short finder, and square nozzle for aixun hot air, replacement for the one that didn't arrive last time.

[u666sa]

For many years the World has wondered why Prescription Drugs and Pharmaceuticals in the United States States of America were SO MUCH HIGHER IN PRICE THAN THEY WERE IN ANY OTHER NATION, SOMETIMES BEING FIVE TO TEN TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE SAME DRUG, MANUFACTURED IN THE EXACT SAME LABORATORY OR PLANT, BY THE SAME COMPANY??? It was always difficult to explain and very embarrassing because, in fact, there was no correct or rightful answer. The Pharmaceutical/Drug Companies would say, for years, that it was Research and Development Costs, and that all of these costs were, and would be, for no reason whatsoever, borne by the “suckers” of America, ALONE. Campaign Contributions can do wonders, but not with me, and not with the Republican Party. We are going to do the right thing, something that the Democrats have fought for many years. Therefore, I am pleased to announce that Tomorrow morning, in the White House, at 9:00 A.M., I will be signing one of the most consequential Executive Orders in our Country’s history. Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical prices will be REDUCED, almost immediately, by 30% to 80%. They will rise throughout the World in order to equalize and, for the first time in many years, bring FAIRNESS TO AMERICA! I will be instituting a MOST FAVORED NATION’S POLICY whereby the United States will pay the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World. Our Country will finally be treated fairly, and our citizens Healthcare Costs will be reduced by numbers never even thought of before. Additionally, on top of everything else, the United States will save TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

There is another Tariff coming onto all drugs -- if Washington can affect their price -- price will be affected. Here in America drugs are expensive, while the same stuff I could buy elsewhere for much cheaper. Shipping drugs from Canada was and still is the thing. So now, drugs in Canada (or Australia) will cost more. This also indirectly affects Russia and every other country in the world. Believe it or not, but most pharmaceuticals are developed by U.S. companies. This also suppose to affect the prices of generics, if generics require licenses to make.

[tautech]

So to go with little understanding of global trade there is also none about Patent law. 

Here we go again.... 

[tom66]

Aren't American drugs expensive because the market will bear almost any expense? Privatised healthcare with a heavily segmented insurance market sort of has that effect. In the UK, the NHS is very strict about what they will pay for drugs.  You can buy some drugs on a private prescription, but they will cost a lot more than the subsidised £9.90 you pay for a standard prescription in the UK.

[tszaboo]

Aren't American drugs expensive because the market will bear almost any expense? Privatised healthcare with a heavily segmented insurance market sort of has that effect. In the UK, the NHS is very strict about what they will pay for drugs.  You can buy some drugs on a private prescription, but they will cost a lot more than the subsidised £9.90 you pay for a standard prescription in the UK.

I was a bit curious about the prices of certain weight loss drugs, because some podcast was talking about it. It's all the rage in Hollywood now. So it's something like 70 EUR in Europe, 1300 USD in the US. This is per month.
You know, he is right. It's wild-west capitalism, and shouldn't cost that much. And this is just one example, there are several where a life-saving drug is sold at prices that bankrupt people.
Government steps in and regulates the prices, everyone goes crazy because "muh freedom" and takes the side of big pharma. Against some poor chap who needs insulin to stay alive because big food sold him kilograms of sugar.

[u666sa]

Aren't American drugs expensive because the market will bear almost any expense

I think you have a point. First week I come to United States, the crapper got jammed, we had to call a plumber. $600 for the job, same job I did in Russia myself, I had to buy a snake which cost me $8. Here the snake was industrial and they couldn't route it into proper pipe, because the system is hi-tech with bunch of bends, so they had to cut a hole in the drywall and install an adapter onto pipe. I was able to do the same job for $8 because a simple system with J-bend is going straight to massive 14 inch pipe, all I had to do is remove plastic J and feed the snake.

Everything is more expensive in America, because people can pay $600 for a jammed toilet.


P.S. Very useful tip. Pipes get clogged because of fats which stick onto them. Pour boiling water into sinks in the kitchen and in bathroom once a month. That will melt fats and keep the pipes clean. Especially in America, where pipes are cheap and small.

[dave j]

For many years the World has wondered why Prescription Drugs and Pharmaceuticals in the United States States of America were SO MUCH HIGHER IN PRICE THAN THEY WERE IN ANY OTHER NATION, SOMETIMES BEING FIVE TO TEN TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE SAME DRUG, MANUFACTURED IN THE EXACT SAME LABORATORY OR PLANT, BY THE SAME COMPANY??? It was always difficult to explain and very embarrassing because, in fact, there was no correct or rightful answer. The Pharmaceutical/Drug Companies would say, for years, that it was Research and Development Costs, and that all of these costs were, and would be, for no reason whatsoever, borne by the “suckers” of America, ALONE. Campaign Contributions can do wonders, but not with me, and not with the Republican Party. We are going to do the right thing, something that the Democrats have fought for many years. Therefore, I am pleased to announce that Tomorrow morning, in the White House, at 9:00 A.M., I will be signing one of the most consequential Executive Orders in our Country’s history. Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical prices will be REDUCED, almost immediately, by 30% to 80%. They will rise throughout the World in order to equalize and, for the first time in many years, bring FAIRNESS TO AMERICA! I will be instituting a MOST FAVORED NATION’S POLICY whereby the United States will pay the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World. Our Country will finally be treated fairly, and our citizens Healthcare Costs will be reduced by numbers never even thought of before. Additionally, on top of everything else, the United States will save TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

There is another Tariff coming onto all drugs -- if Washington can affect their price -- price will be affected. Here in America drugs are expensive, while the same stuff I could buy elsewhere for much cheaper. Shipping drugs from Canada was and still is the thing. So now, drugs in Canada (or Australia) will cost more. This also indirectly affects Russia and every other country in the world. Believe it or not, but most pharmaceuticals are developed by U.S. companies. This also suppose to affect the prices of generics, if generics require licenses to make.

Pharmaceutical companies spend about twice as much on advertising as on research and development. I don't know about other countries, but in the UK advertising prescription only medicines to the public isn't allowed so that, partly at least, explains why our prices are cheaper. a) I'd object to the UK subsidizing adverts to US consumers, and b) If Trump wants to reduce the cost of prescription drugs in the US he could ban them from being advertised to the public and make the pharmaceutical companies reduce prices accordingly.

[PlainName]

US, China agree to temporarily reduce trade tariffs, White House says

So Trump blinked first.

Again.