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Well, good luck getting even normal packages from Europe and the rest of the world now. Most European and other countries have stopped shipping small packages via normal mail to the USA, until they can make up their mind… so, good luck if you want my $2.00 specially designed for you goody… can’t ship it with normal cheap post anymore… have to use UPS, and you have to pay $27 shipping for the $2 package…. But hey, apparently that is what the USA wants….
Well yes.
I was thinking of selling a rather nice boxed set of stereoscopic slides of the USA in 1895. In the past such things have been snapped up by Americans.
No point in selling it at the moment, since they couldn't receive it. -
If you read the article you linked to, you'll find it's not just the current administration who have made mistakes: "In Guyana, the world’s newest petro state, the Biden administration blocked $180 million in infrastructure financing through the Inter-American Development Bank." I could mention other things such as pushing US liberal values onto socially conservative countries, but it's off topic.
The first three articles are rubbish and make no mention of tariffs, which make them off-topic. They're nothing more than TDS filled rants; the bias of the organisations says it all really, so I'm not going to bother wasting my time reading them.
How are the tariffs benefitting the Chinese in those countries?Trump is the world's biggest wind up merchant. I don't understand why so many people take what he says so seriously.
Because the highlighted word has two entirely different meanings, both valid in this context
The Russians and (especially) the Chinese are benefiting, especially in Asia, Africa and S America. T'rump is indeed a nation builder, provided "nation"=="China".
Chinese != China the nation.
Apart from that... indirectly, by several mechanisms. Amongst other things, China can now show other countries why they shouldn't believe US propaganda, e.g.- democracy is a failure: look at how the US is self-destructing, our way is better (don't mention Tiananmen Square nor the Tibetans nor the Uighurs).
- screwed by the US tariffs? Forget them; no tariffs with China
- the US is in decline, they know it, and are chaotically flailing around trying to recapture past glories
Those kind of arguments are going down well in developing countries.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/25/comrade-nation-builder-how-china-views-donald-trumps-indictments-in-us
https://www.joelwong.net/2025/05/25/decoding-trumps-chinese-nickname-%E5%B7%9D%E5%BB%BA%E5%9B%BD/
https://www.thestar.com.my/business/insight/2024/12/17/trump-goes-from-capricious-to-a-china-patriot
https://www.csis.org/analysis/ending-strategic-vacuum-us-strategy-china-latin-america
The last one is very good and is well-worth reading; it makes some interesting and relevant points. It doesn't just criticise Trump, but also the previous Biden administration. Yes, if the US puts up trade barriers with other countries and China, China, being the largest economy will take the US's place.
I concur regarding the failure of democracy, which is happening in many Western countries, including the UK. It was well on its way out in the US before the current administration and I doubt their successors will improve things. Oh dear, I've drifted off topic again.
Has China been doing everything it can to overtake the US before T'rump? Of course they have! T'rump's tariffs and behaviour provide another string to their bow.
Only the wilfully blind wouldn't see that.
T'rump attempting to bully China into submission is a superb way of unifying ordinary Chinese in defence of China.
Hence the Chinese wryly referring to T'rump as the nation builder; the Chinese nation, that is.
Yes tariffs are bad and the rhetoric doesn't help, "Shit hole countries" but it's more complicated than that.
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If you read the article you linked to, you'll find it's not just the current administration who have made mistakes: "In Guyana, the world’s newest petro state, the Biden administration blocked $180 million in infrastructure financing through the Inter-American Development Bank." I could mention other things such as pushing US liberal values onto socially conservative countries, but it's off topic.
Yes tariffs are bad and the rhetoric doesn't help, "Shit hole countries" but it's more complicated than that.
Good. We agree.
I don't know why you hallucinated I thought other US administrations hadn't caused problems; I implicitly implied they had. But T'rump has exacerbated the problems, and now the Chinese give T'rump nicknames indicating he is building the Chinese nation. -
Just one thing: what with "T'rump"?
Yeah, I know it's your idea of an insult.
But it's a damned odd one.
Y'know, an insult that one has to look up the meaning of isn't a very effective insult. -
I prefer Mango Mussolini, although at least Mussolini was competent at being a fascist... not that is a good thing, mind.
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It's because some people cannot bring themselves to name someone or thing they dislike. Previous non-names were getting really silly and he got told to cut it out, so T'rump let's him not name Trump properly but it slides under the radar unless you have a good eye.
Maybe it's much like the way Trump has to give those he dislikes negative nicknames. -
I prefer Mango Mussolini, although at least Mussolini was competent at being a fascist... not that is a good thing, mind.
Was he, though?
I've always read that contrary to the popular myth, the trains never did run on time ... -
It's because some people cannot bring themselves to name someone or thing they dislike. Previous non-names were getting really silly and he got told to cut it out, so T'rump let's him not name Trump properly but it slides under the radar unless you have a good eye.
Maybe it's much like the way Trump has to give those he dislikes negative nicknames.
Nah.
Trump gives really obvious names to his enemies (like "Newscum" for that Calif. gov.).
Stupid names, but obvious. -
It's because some people cannot bring themselves to name someone or thing they dislike. Previous non-names were getting really silly and he got told to cut it out, so T'rump let's him not name Trump properly but it slides under the radar unless you have a good eye.
Maybe it's much like the way Trump has to give those he dislikes negative nicknames.
Nah.
Trump gives really obvious names to his enemies (like "Newscum" for that Calif. gov.).
Stupid names, but obvious.
Or, as we used to say in third grade, he can dish it out but can't take it. -
It's because some people cannot bring themselves to name someone or thing they dislike. Previous non-names were getting really silly and he got told to cut it out, so T'rump let's him not name Trump properly but it slides under the radar unless you have a good eye.
Maybe it's much like the way Trump has to give those he dislikes negative nicknames.
Nah.
Trump gives really obvious names to his enemies (like "Newscum" for that Calif. gov.).
Stupid names, but obvious.
Or, as we used to say in third grade, he can dish it out but can't take it.
That's often the case with bullies. -
I'm sure the tariffs will all get sorted eventually. So far, the media FUD that we'd be deep in recession by now hasn't come to fruition.
As of today, the news says the US economy is going great. I'm sure there will remain media that say "But but, it won't last.", and maybe that's true.
I don't see any relevance to the current US work on adjusting trade to enhance the global stance of any other nation. Those ships sailed a long time ago, and the US isn't alone in putting the wind in those sails.
How many nations stand up to OPEC nations on anything enough to stop importing oil? Or should we stop buying anything from China due to human rights or other issues?
As far as the politics in the US. Both political parties are responsible for the vast swings between proposed leaders.
The conversations continue, and people continue to talk past each other. No one seems to be interested in the facts about why President Trump was elected.
Those were: Immigration, economy, security, and can easily be represented by the price of eggs and a gallon of gasoline, and the availability of housing. Eggs and gas are now nearing new lows, and the latest news shows housing prices are coming down.
These things have enormous and outsized impacts on the budgets of vast numbers of Americans, and you can bet they are pleased with the results so far. They also couldn't care less about buying some trinket from another nation, and the shipping or import tariffs that they aren't paying.
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Eggs and gas are now nearing new lows [...]
Be careful what "facts" you cherry-pick for your analysis.
The egg price spike we experienced was due to an unavoidable biological event that caused the deaths of tens of thousands of birds.
But it was spun by ... let's say certain MAGA-leaning folks as a "fake event", intentionally maniupulated. (I heard that belief voiced in the town I live in.)
Well; it wasn't, and now the disease has abated and prices are down again. -
I'm sure the tariffs will all get sorted eventually. So far, the media FUD that we'd be deep in recession by now hasn't come to fruition.
As of today, the news says the US economy is going great. I'm sure there will remain media that say "But but, it won't last.", and maybe that's true.
I don't see any relevance to the current US work on adjusting trade to enhance the global stance of any other nation. Those ships sailed a long time ago, and the US isn't alone in putting the wind in those sails.
How many nations stand up to OPEC nations on anything enough to stop importing oil? Or should we stop buying anything from China due to human rights or other issues?
As far as the politics in the US. Both political parties are responsible for the vast swings between proposed leaders.
The conversations continue, and people continue to talk past each other. No one seems to be interested in the facts about why President Trump was elected.
Those were: Immigration, economy, security, and can easily be represented by the price of eggs and a gallon of gasoline, and the availability of housing. Eggs and gas are now nearing new lows, and the latest news shows housing prices are coming down.
These things have enormous and outsized impacts on the budgets of vast numbers of Americans, and you can bet they are pleased with the results so far. They also couldn't care less about buying some trinket from another nation, and the shipping or import tariffs that they aren't paying.
Nearly every "trinket" the US consumer might buy is made in another country, in most cases, China.
Such "trinkets" include microwave ovens, phones, TVs, & almost every other non-consumable thing a household might want.
Back in the day, the USA made all those things, but most of the grand old company names that made them have disappeared, with their brands whored off to China! -
I have a different view in that the production was shifted offshore for namely just one thing, PROFIT !I'm sure the tariffs will all get sorted eventually. So far, the media FUD that we'd be deep in recession by now hasn't come to fruition.
As of today, the news says the US economy is going great. I'm sure there will remain media that say "But but, it won't last.", and maybe that's true.
I don't see any relevance to the current US work on adjusting trade to enhance the global stance of any other nation. Those ships sailed a long time ago, and the US isn't alone in putting the wind in those sails.
How many nations stand up to OPEC nations on anything enough to stop importing oil? Or should we stop buying anything from China due to human rights or other issues?
As far as the politics in the US. Both political parties are responsible for the vast swings between proposed leaders.
The conversations continue, and people continue to talk past each other. No one seems to be interested in the facts about why President Trump was elected.
Those were: Immigration, economy, security, and can easily be represented by the price of eggs and a gallon of gasoline, and the availability of housing. Eggs and gas are now nearing new lows, and the latest news shows housing prices are coming down.
These things have enormous and outsized impacts on the budgets of vast numbers of Americans, and you can bet they are pleased with the results so far. They also couldn't care less about buying some trinket from another nation, and the shipping or import tariffs that they aren't paying.
Nearly every "trinket" the US consumer might buy is made in another country, in most cases, China.
Such "trinkets" include microwave ovens, phones, TVs, & almost every other non-consumable thing a household might want.
Back in the day, the USA made all those things, but most of the grand old company names that made them have disappeared, with their brands whored off to China!
The US made their own bed and now don't wanna lie in it. -
I have a different view in that the production was shifted offshore for namely just one thing, PROFIT !
The US made their own bed and now don't wanna lie in it.
I think you're both saying the same thing (with which I agree):
The person you replied to wrote "with their brands whored off to China!*". Which is exactly what happened. Meaning that production was intentionally offshored to [insert name of cheap labor market here].
We (the US, and I suppose even other parts of "the West") have nobody to blame but ourselves.
Some idiots want to make us believe that China stole our manufacturing base with a gun pointed at our heads.
What horseshit.
* Just one example: the little radio I use to listen to the weather forecasts (Nat'l. Weather Service here) is made by "Jensen". The once proud manufacture of quality loudspeakers. Now a cheap-ass Chinese brand of consumer electronics that has absolutely nothing to do with the former brand name. Just like Bell & Howell, RCA, etc., etc. -
I noticed you cherry picked eggs and didn’t address the other items at all. Almost like you have an agenda to discredit the whole of the argument by pointing out irrelevant things. Do you think folks care about your point when feeding their family and buying gas for the work week? You are exemplifying why the democrats failed in the last election. I really don’t get it.Eggs and gas are now nearing new lows [...]
Be careful what "facts" you cherry-pick for your analysis.
The egg price spike we experienced was due to an unavoidable biological event that caused the deaths of tens of thousands of birds.
But it was spun by ... let's say certain MAGA-leaning folks as a "fake event", intentionally maniupulated. (I heard that belief voiced in the town I live in.)
Well; it wasn't, and now the disease has abated and prices are down again. -
No impacts are being felt on these things you mention. The “trinkets” I mentioned are thouse subject to the most recent discussions on shipping to the US. Buying crap appliances at Walmart has not abated and pricing remains the same.I'm sure the tariffs will all get sorted eventually. So far, the media FUD that we'd be deep in recession by now hasn't come to fruition.
As of today, the news says the US economy is going great. I'm sure there will remain media that say "But but, it won't last.", and maybe that's true.
I don't see any relevance to the current US work on adjusting trade to enhance the global stance of any other nation. Those ships sailed a long time ago, and the US isn't alone in putting the wind in those sails.
How many nations stand up to OPEC nations on anything enough to stop importing oil? Or should we stop buying anything from China due to human rights or other issues?
As far as the politics in the US. Both political parties are responsible for the vast swings between proposed leaders.
The conversations continue, and people continue to talk past each other. No one seems to be interested in the facts about why President Trump was elected.
Those were: Immigration, economy, security, and can easily be represented by the price of eggs and a gallon of gasoline, and the availability of housing. Eggs and gas are now nearing new lows, and the latest news shows housing prices are coming down.
These things have enormous and outsized impacts on the budgets of vast numbers of Americans, and you can bet they are pleased with the results so far. They also couldn't care less about buying some trinket from another nation, and the shipping or import tariffs that they aren't paying.
Nearly every "trinket" the US consumer might buy is made in another country, in most cases, China.
Such "trinkets" include microwave ovens, phones, TVs, & almost every other non-consumable thing a household might want.
Back in the day, the USA made all those things, but most of the grand old company names that made them have disappeared, with their brands whored off to China! -
Profit yes, just as you do in your business. The world lies in this offshoring dynamic together. Let’s not selectively blame the US.
I have a different view in that the production was shifted offshore for namely just one thing, PROFIT !I'm sure the tariffs will all get sorted eventually. So far, the media FUD that we'd be deep in recession by now hasn't come to fruition.
As of today, the news says the US economy is going great. I'm sure there will remain media that say "But but, it won't last.", and maybe that's true.
I don't see any relevance to the current US work on adjusting trade to enhance the global stance of any other nation. Those ships sailed a long time ago, and the US isn't alone in putting the wind in those sails.
How many nations stand up to OPEC nations on anything enough to stop importing oil? Or should we stop buying anything from China due to human rights or other issues?
As far as the politics in the US. Both political parties are responsible for the vast swings between proposed leaders.
The conversations continue, and people continue to talk past each other. No one seems to be interested in the facts about why President Trump was elected.
Those were: Immigration, economy, security, and can easily be represented by the price of eggs and a gallon of gasoline, and the availability of housing. Eggs and gas are now nearing new lows, and the latest news shows housing prices are coming down.
These things have enormous and outsized impacts on the budgets of vast numbers of Americans, and you can bet they are pleased with the results so far. They also couldn't care less about buying some trinket from another nation, and the shipping or import tariffs that they aren't paying.
Nearly every "trinket" the US consumer might buy is made in another country, in most cases, China.
Such "trinkets" include microwave ovens, phones, TVs, & almost every other non-consumable thing a household might want.
Back in the day, the USA made all those things, but most of the grand old company names that made them have disappeared, with their brands whored off to China!
The US made their own bed and now don't wanna lie in it. -
I watched a man here in Chicago rummage through the trash, find a half eaten sandwich and proceed to be picky about what parts he ate. I thought how this represent so many people’s politics.
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Quote
I noticed you cherry picked eggs and didn’t address the other items at all
oky doky we'll address the other item you mention,gas. Opec members have recently announced there going to increase output by around 2 million barrels a day and other non opec country's have also increased production,also the stock piles of crude are pretty full.The result of all this is the global oil price is over $10 dollars a barrel cheaper today than it was at the beginning of the year -
lol, you cherry picked and either obviously didn’t read what I posted, don’t understand the point being made, or more likely following your line of dogma.QuoteI noticed you cherry picked eggs and didn’t address the other items at all
oky doky we'll address the other item you mention,gas. Opec members have recently announced there going to increase output by around 2 million barrels a day and other non opec country's have also increased production,also the stock piles of crude are pretty full.The result of all this is the global oil price is over $10 dollars a barrel cheaper today than it was at the beginning of the year
Having to edit due to interruptions during flight. The people I mentioned in my post do not care what opec did yesterday or that birds are feeling better. They see a president that is doing what he said he’d do. They see results in the pockets, on their tables, and available housing and immigration issues being handled. It honestly tiresome to try to point out these obvious things. The majority of Americans are seeing good outcomes. -
I noticed you cherry picked eggs and didn’t address the other items at all. Almost like you have an agenda to discredit the whole of the argument by pointing out irrelevant things.Eggs and gas are now nearing new lows [...]
Be careful what "facts" you cherry-pick for your analysis.
The egg price spike we experienced was due to an unavoidable biological event that caused the deaths of tens of thousands of birds.
But it was spun by ... let's say certain MAGA-leaning folks as a "fake event", intentionally maniupulated. (I heard that belief voiced in the town I live in.)
Well; it wasn't, and now the disease has abated and prices are down again.
Irrelevant? I don't think so. The reason the price of eggs went sky-high had nothing to do with Democratic "fake news" or manipulation, as many on the other side were accusing. It was because of an avian disease that tore through egg-ranching facilities. So that accusation is discredited.
I didn't address the price of gas because I don't know enough about that situation to comment on it.QuoteDo you think folks care about your point when feeding their family and buying gas for the work week? You are exemplifying why the democrats failed in the last election. I really don’t get it.
If folks who are feeding their family would take the time to examine the situation, reasonably, they wouldn't be blaming "the Democrats" for the high prices.
BTW, just so's you know, I am no fan of the Democrats. In fact, I hate both parties equally. -
I noticed you cherry picked eggs and didn’t address the other items at all. Almost like you have an agenda to discredit the whole of the argument by pointing out irrelevant things.Eggs and gas are now nearing new lows [...]
Be careful what "facts" you cherry-pick for your analysis.
The egg price spike we experienced was due to an unavoidable biological event that caused the deaths of tens of thousands of birds.
But it was spun by ... let's say certain MAGA-leaning folks as a "fake event", intentionally maniupulated. (I heard that belief voiced in the town I live in.)
Well; it wasn't, and now the disease has abated and prices are down again.
Irrelevant? I don't think so. The reason the price of eggs went sky-high had nothing to do with Democratic "fake news" or manipulation, as many on the other side were accusing. It was because of an avian disease that tore through egg-ranching facilities. So that accusation is discredited.
I didn't address the price of gas because I don't know enough about that situation to comment on it.QuoteDo you think folks care about your point when feeding their family and buying gas for the work week? You are exemplifying why the democrats failed in the last election. I really don’t get it.
If folks who are feeding their family would take the time to examine the situation, reasonably, they wouldn't be blaming "the Democrats" for the high prices.
BTW, just so's you know, I am no fan of the Democrats. In fact, I hate both parties equally.
There were direct things this administration did to help on prices of eggs. But the reason for the fall of prices on eggs isn’t relevant. People see this administration doing what it said it would do and currently this is positively impacting these people’s lives. I’m not accusing you of being a democrat. It’s the forest and the tree I’m pointing out.
Edit, while I feel it is irrelevant, and the impacts can be debated, thes are the things this admin did to work on the egg problem
Announced a plan:
In February 2025, the USDA, led by Secretary Brooke Rollins, announced a five-point plan to combat avian flu and lower egg prices. The plan includes:
Investing $1 billion, partly from other USDA programs, to combat the bird flu crisis.
Beefing up biosecurity measures at poultry farms.
Increasing financial relief to farmers whose flocks are culled due to infection.
Funding vaccine research.
The democrats that were wise at the end of this past election said things like,” omg, it’s the economy idiot!” And they were right. -
Quote
I noticed you cherry picked eggs and didn’t address the other items at all
oky doky we'll address the other item you mention,gas. Opec members have recently announced there going to increase output by around 2 million barrels a day and other non opec country's have also increased production,also the stock piles of crude are pretty full.The result of all this is the global oil price is over $10 dollars a barrel cheaper today than it was at the beginning of the year
Though, as I’ve pointed out, the reason for lower fuel prices is irrelevant to the point, here are things the current admin has done to pressure fuel prices down. Debate all you want on there impact.
Actions taken during Trump's current term (2025)
Executive orders to boost production: In January 2025, President Trump signed multiple executive orders to "unleash American energy". These included:
Declaring a "National Energy Emergency", which fast-tracks energy production and distribution.
Lifting restrictions on oil and gas development on federal lands and offshore, including in Alaska.
Rolling back climate-focused policies from the Biden administration.
Encouraging more OPEC+ production: In May 2025, the administration publicly urged the OPEC+ coalition to increase oil production, contributing to a decision by the group to do so. Increased supply from OPEC+ is a major factor driving recent downward pressure on oil prices.
Repopulating the Strategic Petroleum Reserve: The administration has announced its intention to fully refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which is currently half full. Taking commercial barrels off the market to fill the reserve has a "bullish," or upward, effect on oil prices.
Implementing protective tariffs: The administration has issued trade tariffs, including reciprocal duties on imports from China and a proposed 10% tariff on Canadian energy.
These actions have created economic uncertainty, which can depress oil demand and prices.
Issuing biofuels waivers: An emergency waiver allowing for the summer sale of E15 ethanol-blended gasoline is a measure that provides some short-term relief at the pump.
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Update on Australia Post US tariff shipments:
https://auspost.com.au/business/shipping/parcels-international/international-post-guide/results/united-states#usa-tariffQuoteImportant notice: Temporary suspension of some postal services to the US and new tariff rules (effective 29 August 2025)
The United States recently announced significant changes to its import tariff rules that will impact business customers shipping items from Australia to the US and Puerto Rico.
From Tuesday 26 August 2025, Australia Post is temporarily suspending some international postal services to these destinations due to the changes.
Letters and documents of no commercial value, and gifts valued under USD$100 are not impacted by the new tariff rules or temporary suspension.
The changes are described in US Executive Order 14324.
Australia Post is working closely with the United States Postal Service (USPS), US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and other partners to ensure accurate information concerning the changes is shared with customers, and to provide updates when they are available.
Effective 29 August 2025, the key changes are as follows:
Suspension of de minimis threshold:
The USD$800 exemption for low-value goods has been removed for postal and commercial sending.
New mandatory customs declaration requirements:
Every shipment from Australia to the US must include:
Country of origin (COO) in your customs declaration and the manifest. For clarity, country of origin refers to the country of manufacture.
Value of goods in your customs declaration and the manifest. This must be declared accurately for each item within your parcel.
Harmonised System (HS) tariff code for each item in your customs declaration and manifest. It is your responsibility to ensure that the correct HS tariff number/s is used. You can use our auto-lookup or refer to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website if entering manually.
Duties are to be collected prior to goods entering the US:
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have advised that the duties and taxes will be collected on goods prior to entering the US and Puerto Rico.
Australia Post has partnered with Zonos®, a third-party provider authorised by CBP, to help our business customers comply with the new duty payment requirements.
Note:
Items missing any of the required information will be rejected by Australia Post and returned to sender
CBP will not assess or accept items with incomplete declarations.
Items sent to Puerto Rico are also impacted by these tariff changes as they are under US Customs territory.
What does this mean for you?
Australia Post has temporarily suspended some postal services to the US.
Once postal services resume, you will need to set up a Verified Account with Zonos® to ensure your shipments are accepted and minimise the risk of processing delays. This account enables duties to be collected and paid to CBP via Zonos® prior to your goods arriving in the US.
Business customers sending from Australia to the US must ensure all items are accurately declared.
Incomplete or incorrect customs declarations will result in items being returned.
The information above is subject to change. Australia Post is monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates on the impacts of the regulatory changes on our customers, and Australian postal services to the US, when they become available.
We recommend you visit the official websites of the relevant authorities for the most up-to-date information.
How will the duties be calculated?
Example: How the duties will be calculated for goods manufactured in Australia:
Description
Calculation
A dress made in Australia with a value of $159.00
Its COO is Australia
AUD$159.00
Tariff of 10% applied*, paid to CBP prior to arriving in the US
*Goods with Australia as the COO (country-of-origin) are subject to a 10% tariff when being imported into the US
Goods from other countries as COO are subject to their US tariff rates. For example, goods from New Zealand are subject to a 15% tariff (accurate as of 12 August 2025).
+10% (AUD$15.90)
Zonos® handling fee
+AUD$ TBC
The total price of importing this item into the US is now inclusive