Tariffs, Imports, Duties, and other International B.S - General

Our modern world is a fast-moving one. Information travels across the world in seconds, as we can easily talk to a random japanese person on Omegle™ or talk to your cousin in Ireland on Facebook. However, something that is still a present problem in modern society is international law, namely those pertaining to importing and exporting goods. Tariffs largely came from the early days of the 1920s. Production was at an all-time high and the United States was becoming an economic powerhouse. However, the Government found that people were buying imported goods rather than exported. Through a large lack of foresight, the US Government decided to add Tariffs, a fee on incoming goods to increase their domestic price in the US to entice americans into buying domestic goods. However, the Government failed to realise that it depended on other countries for exporting goods, and they would return the favour by adding tariffs on American products. Obviously, since the 1920s, the Tariffs that used to be present are less severe, but still prevalent in modern society. [highlight]Here's the canadian rate[/highlight] [IMG]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/Tukimoshi/HD555.png[/IMG] [highlight]Here's the american rate[/highlight] [IMG]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/Tukimoshi/HD555Cheap.png[/IMG] [highlight]Here's the conversion rate[/highlight] [IMG]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/Tukimoshi/Conversion.png[/IMG] See the clear difference? Another thing is: Copyright Law. Somewhere, up in the sky, some great guy decided "Hey, let's make laws that protect content from being abused by others!" However, the law itself is now being abused massively. From people trying to trademark the word "Pwnage" to Amazon owning the "Copyright for One-Click Buying" That's right. Songs you buy off iTunes? Part of the profits go to Amazon for their One-Click Buy copyright. It's rediculous. I'm a Canadian and for months, even years now since the release in 2008, I have stared at this message, sent them many emails, messages, and nothing has happened. [IMG]http://www.makeuseof.com/images/hulu-not-available.jpg[/IMG] It's interesting, how close countries can be, and how much they can differ apparently, due to rediculous laws that are abused. We know that Americans love Netflix. It's one of the greatest services ever invented. However, did you know that Netflix only came to Canada a bit over a month ago? That's right. [URL="http://www.blogto.com/tech/2010/09/netflix_launches_in_canada/"]Netflix launches in Canada[/URL] 11 years after it's subscription-service started, or 3 years after it had it's ONE BILLIONTH DVD downloaded, it finally came to Canada. And you know what's the best part? The line-up fucking sucks. [IMG]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/Tukimoshi/Netflix.png[/IMG] Not that the movies are bad, but I don't want to pay a monthly fee for movies I've seen many times since their release YEARS AGO. The fact that their line-up of the "latest movies" involves 'Dude, where's my car?" and "Super Troopers" is quite sad. I feel bad for those who are even further away, like Australians. They have it even worse than we do. So, what do you think? Is this a by-product of a poor set of copyright laws and tariffs, or does this naturally happen between countries, and there is nothing we can do to avoid it? Edit: Fixed image links, my chrome extension sharing failed so I uploaded to Photobucket.

I don't understand your point about tariffs, it was obviously going to be a two way street and they've been around since the middle ages so it's not like the US didn't know what it was getting into. They also provide a good incentive for countries to foster close relations in order to receive trading benefits (like everyone in the WTO gaining Most Favoured Nation Status and thus getting lowered trade barriers - tariffs, subsidies). [editline]4th November 2010[/editline] Sorry, your pictures weren't up when I posted, disregard my post. In reference to your example, then it's okay because I'm sure the Americans are paying out their ass for moose imports and snow from Canada so it all evens out in the end.

[QUOTE=Mlisen14;25846660]I don't understand your point about tariffs, it was obviously going to be a two way street and they've been around since the middle ages so it's not like the US didn't know what it was getting into. They also provide a good incentive for countries to foster close relations in order to receive trading benefits (like everyone in the WTO gaining Most Favoured Nation Status and thus getting lowered trade barriers - tariffs, subsidies). [editline]4th November 2010[/editline] Sorry, your pictures weren't up when I posted, disregard my post. In reference to your example, then it's okay because I'm sure the Americans are paying out their ass for moose imports and snow from Canada so it all evens out in the end.[/QUOTE] My point about Tariffs is that it was a large reason for the 'Roaring 20s' becoming the Great Depression, due to over-production domestically and lack of exporting goods. Now, it's just a reason for smaller countries than the US to get screwed. Lots of companies that sell popular goods like Logitech are Norlandic, but they sell much cheaper in the U.S than other countries. I'm sure the reverse is true, but I'm just pissed about the massive profiteering at the consumer level.

[QUOTE=Tukimoshi;25849807]My point about Tariffs is that it was a large reason for the 'Roaring 20s' becoming the Great Depression, due to over-production domestically and lack of exporting goods. Now, it's just a reason for smaller countries than the US to get screwed. Lots of companies that sell popular goods like Logitech are Norlandic, but they sell much cheaper in the U.S than other countries. I'm sure the reverse is true, but I'm just pissed about the massive profiteering at the consumer level.[/QUOTE] Surely the tariffs you pay is the fault of the Canadian government, not the US? Copyright causing stuff to be blocked internationally I don't agree with, but I understand the need for tariffs and duties. That being said, the UK doesn't have it to bad, as duty and tariffs are not charged on goods from within the EU.

I live in Finland. Nobody I know watches TV shows on the TV or movies on blu-ray or DVD because it takes fucking ages for them to show here. It can take 2 months for an american show to get imported because of stupid regulations. Everybody I know just torrents all TV shows they watch because they don't want to wait 2 months. And renting DVD's and blu-rays is extremely unpopular because you have to actually go and rent it in person instead of streaming it online. So most people just torrent movies too.

Amazon.com, oh hey, there's your problem.

Copyright is abused.

No tariffs between EU nations is pretty nice here. I don't know what the tariffs for other countries are, but what what you posted is just insane. [editline]4th November 2010[/editline] [QUOTE=Coffee;25850199]Copyright is abused.[/QUOTE] Not all the time, but Rightshaven suing Facepunch is a pretty good example of it being abused.

Boo hoo

[QUOTE=not_Morph53;25850134]Amazon.com, oh hey, there's your problem.[/QUOTE] It's similar for other sites too. Obviously as a Canadian, I'm fortunate enough not to have the problem for Steam, or single-location sites like DealExtreme.com but any site with a Canadian counterpart charges vastly more. Case in point: Newegg.ca. What a fucking ripoff compared to the US site. @Camundongo: You could be right. I'm not sure whether it's import tariffs, export tariffs, or something else. Most companies cater to the United States (and often various other countries) while ignoring Canada, so half the time, I see contests and stuff that is "Available in the US and UK only." I'm sorry that we don't have population density, but we still have a significant economy. STOP CHARGING US SO DAMN MUCH FOR STUFF. Ahd I agree with noctune9's statement. It's useful when used properly but Rightshaven is just being douchebags. [highlight]I've researched the duties when bringing goods into Canada. At most, it's around a 20% increase in price from American Tax, Canadian Tax and Duties COMBINED. This does not equal to the average 50% to 150% increase in Canadian Pricing online.[/highlight]

[QUOTE=Tukimoshi;25846600][img_thumb]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/Tukimoshi/Netflix.png[/img_thumb] [/QUOTE] What the fuck Will Ferrell looks creepy as hell.

Yeah, taxes get annoying, no matter where you go

America didn't even tariffs in the 1920, or the idea in the first place.

Go cry to the WTO. [editline]4th November 2010[/editline] [QUOTE=DoctorSalt;25863688]America didn't even tariffs in the 1920, or the idea in the first place.[/QUOTE] [img]http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:lKkmqlGanzd9rM:http://www.prboxes.com/_art/moving-boxes-extra-large.jpg&t=1[/img]

If I pay 50-70 bucks I can get stuff to Australia in 3-5 days. :(

OP doesn't understand what tariffs are. Tariffs were removed in in full following the FTA. Different prices != tariffs.

[QUOTE=stone555;25865014]OP doesn't understand what tariffs are. Tariffs were removed in in full following the FTA. Different prices != tariffs.[/QUOTE] "Despite overall decreases in international tariffs, some tariffs have been more resistant to change. For example, due partially to tariff pressure from the European Common Agricultural Policy, US agricultural subsidies have seen little decrease over the past few decades, even in the face of recent pressure from the WTO during the latest Doha talks. [8]" The FTAA missed it's target deadline of addressing current economic issues (Original deadline was 2005) and recently held a meeting in 2009. There's not really much info to be found on the effect their meeting has had of yet, and their next meeting is in 2012. So yes, Tariffs do still exist.

Do you even know who the FTA was between?

Are you trying to refer to the NAFTA, one of the many bi-lateral or multilateral Free Trade Agreements, or a Free Trade Area?