Trump’s tariffs
By Roger Vannoy
Cost of living has skyrocketed in the past few years, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues, and in my opinion, corporate greed. It has been reported by the CBC and the Washington Post, that the big frozen potato companies have allegedly formed an illegal cartel, cooperating on raising prices by 47 percent on frozen potatoes like French fries. McDonald’s is suing meat packers for allegedly colluding to inflate the price of beef. Coffee prices are about to go up related to more global demand and weather extremes in areas of the world where Coffee beans are grown. On January 21, prices could potentially get higher on everything.
President-elect Donald Trump has threatened a 25 percent tariff on Mexico and Canada, on day one of his second term. A google search defines a tariff as: “a tax imposed by a government on the import or export of goods between countries.” This tax will be passed on to consumers from the companies importing goods that America is unable to mine, build or grow. During the winter months, much of our fruit and vegetables are imported from Mexico, so with this tax, expect your grocery bills to inflate. The US gets much of our natural gas imported from Canada, from the “Norther border pipeline,” the “Great Lakes gas Transmission” and others. A 25 percent tariff on Canada will cause our energy bills to go up. The US imports about 4 million barrels of crude oil per day from Canada. Its estimated that with a 25 percent tariff on Canada, expect our gasoline prices at the pump to go up by 40 cents a gallon. The North American Auto industry is so intertwined, that even if the big auto makers were convinced to move all production of vehicles to the US, it would take years to complete. In the meantime, we the US citizenry would be paying thousands more for the same cars we have today.
Dread it, run from it, the second Trump presidency is inevitable. We must prepare. In order to save a little money, I recommend people fill up at the gas tank the day before President elect Trump takes office. While you are at it, make an early trip to the grocery store too. If you have been considering getting a new vehicle, make that purchase before the 25 percent tariff goes into effect.
There is one more thing we can do. Call your elected members of Congress. Ask them to speak with President-Elect Trump, to tell him to not raise costs on working families by raising tariffs on imported goods from Canada and Mexico. Senator Capito’s phone number is 202-224-6472. Representative Miller’s phone number is 202-225-3452. (Governor Jim Justice has not taken his seat in the Senate yet)
Roger Vannoy
Lewisburg
