Germany vows legal action if Trump taxes imports - Polidicks

[QUOTE]Germany could take the United States to court if Washington goes ahead with plans to tax imports, Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said Friday, hours before Chancellor Angela Merkel's first meeting with Donald Trump. "I'm betting partly on reason and partly on the courts" to prevent a damaging trade war, Zypries told Deutschlandfunk public radio. The minister's combative stance comes ahead of Merkel's first meeting with Trump in Washington and a gathering of G20 finance ministers in Baden-Baden, western Germany, set to be dominated by the US president's "America First" policy. Trump has targeted the German luxury carmaker BMW by name with threats of a 35 percent border levy if it goes ahead with construction of a plant in Mexico. If a US border tax was found to breach World Trade Organization rules, "it wouldn't be the first time that Mr Trump has failed before the courts," Zypries said, in a jab at repeated rejections by US judges of executive orders banning immigration from majority-Muslim countries. In 2016, the United States was Germany's biggest export customer, importing €107 billion of goods while selling back just €58 billion-worth. [...] Germany says that its products are simply better and that the US should focus on producing more competitive manufacturers.[/QUOTE] Source: [url]https://www.thelocal.de/20170317/germany-vows-legal-action-if-trump-taxes-imports[/url]

Yes, taxing the german's harshly worked the other 2 times the US did it. Nothing happened.

[QUOTE=Kumari24;51974152]Yes, taxing the german's harshly worked the other 2 times the US did it. Nothing happened.[/QUOTE] Maybe that's Bannon's master plan.

[quote]If a US border tax was found to breach World Trade Organization rules, "it wouldn't be the first time that Mr Trump has failed before the courts," Zypries said, in a jab at repeated rejections by US judges of executive orders banning immigration from majority-Muslim countries.[/quote]Why would the tax violate WTO rules? It wouldn't. Germany can't just sue us because they don't like our laws.

[QUOTE][...] Germany says that its products are simply better and that the US should focus on producing more competitive manufacturers.[/QUOTE] Ouch.

What's specifically against the WTO? Is Donald looking to discriminate against specific countries? I thought it was well under the governments power to tax imports with no direct repercussions.

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;51974200]Why would the tax violate WTO rules? It wouldn't. Germany can't just sue us because they don't like our laws.[/QUOTE] [quote] ... On the other hand, many trade and legal experts think the plan violates the principles and rules of the WTO, although they caution that a final opinion is possible only when the language of the law is known. Their general view is as follows: Firstly, the inability to deduct import expenses from a company’s tax (while allowing deductions for locally sourced products and services and wages) discriminates against imports vis-à-vis domestic products, and violates the national treatment principle of the WTO and the rules of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which specify that imports must be treated no less favourably than similar locally produced goods. Secondly, the exemption of export revenues from the taxable income would be most likely assessed as a prohibited export subsidy under the WTO’s subsidies agreement. The renowned international trade expert, Bhagirath Lal Das, says that there are two separate issues to be considered: the differential treatment of domestic and imported materials, and the differential tax treatment of income based on whether the product is domestically consumed or exported. .... [/quote] [url]http://www.ipsnews.net/2017/02/the-planned-us-border-tax-would-most-likely-violate-wto-rules-part-2/[/url]

[QUOTE=Spetsnaz95;51974227]Ouch.[/QUOTE] Germany makes the best stuff.

[QUOTE=Kumari24;51974152]Yes, taxing the german's harshly worked the other 2 times the US did it. Nothing happened.[/QUOTE] Oh no better not tax the Germans of they might start [i]another world war!![/i] Is this a thing now? That the world is held hostage in international trade by Germany because everyone is afraid they're such vengeful people they'll start another war over it? Jesus Chris.

I don't know whether or not it would violate any laws, but it would be extremely stupid either way.

[QUOTE=Fourm Shark;51974773]Dont be so hyperbolic.[/QUOTE] That's literally what the person he's replying to was implying. Unless there were 2 non-World War related catastrophes that were partially the result of taxing Germany? [editline]17th March 2017[/editline] You're moaning about somebody being hyperbolic by pointing out that someone [I]else[/I] is being hyperbolic.

[QUOTE=Raidyr;51974293]Germany makes the best stuff.[/QUOTE] Really depends on the product, I would imagine. I mean, I'm sure China makes the best mini-US flags :v:

Why wouldn't it be allowed for America to tax imports? I know it'll hurt Germany, but wouldn't it be a gain for American industry? Saying that I remember learning in history class that import tax was a contributing factor to the great depression.

[QUOTE] [...] Germany says that its products are simply better and that the US should focus on producing more competitive manufacturers. [/QUOTE] They can't and won't, educated people wouldn't be Republican/Trump voters.

[quote]Germany says that its products are simply better and that the US should focus on producing more competitive manufacturers.[/quote] is globalisation at its finest, where the idea that individual countries should all do something extremely well in their own areas, but in the terms of the United States, I wouldn't say it succeeds at anything like that statement is suggesting. What the German minister meant was that if those taxes did come in, they'd alert the WTO and the WTO would take them to court. But going off Trump's comments on trade agreements that should be bilateral between two countries, then by the time the WTO starts moving, the US will be preparing to exit the WTO and countries will still be lining up for trade agreements.

[QUOTE=Boilrig;51976856]is globalisation at its finest, where the idea that individual countries should all do something extremely well in their own areas, but in the terms of the United States, I wouldn't say it succeeds at anything like that statement is suggesting. What the German minister meant was that if those taxes did come in, they'd alert the WTO and the WTO would take them to court. But going off Trump's comments on trade agreements that should be bilateral between two countries, then by the time the WTO starts moving, the US will be preparing to exit the WTO and countries will still be lining up for trade agreements.[/QUOTE] why should the usa leave the WTO? they're like one of the biggest beneficiaries of it lol

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;51976942]why should the usa leave the WTO? they're like one of the biggest beneficiaries of it lol[/QUOTE] Because we have morons in charge that do not understand that.

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;51976942]why should the usa leave the WTO? they're like one of the biggest beneficiaries of it lol[/QUOTE] [URL="https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2016/february/united-states-prevails-wto-dispute"]I mean, the US just used the WTO to win against India in a recent Solar Panel dispute.[/URL], something that would've meant a level playing field for solar panel manufacturers in the US. Considering that, it'd be weird if Trump actually goes anti-corporation on this, because they go to bat for corporation interests when it means job creation at home.

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;51974200]Why would the tax violate WTO rules? It wouldn't. Germany can't just sue us because they don't like our laws.[/QUOTE] treaty obligations. the wto and all the treaties we have are exactly what people like bannon wet themselve in fear over because of the loss of national sovernty but in reality he is as much a corporate crony as the companies that gain from free trade and would almost certainly use the trade dispute systems if he felt discriminated against. [editline]18th March 2017[/editline] to be clear, exiting the WTO would basically hand the global economy to russia and china and burn up most of our soft power but fuck-it if we got tanks and ships we can force people to do our bidding, right? [editline]18th March 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=RenegadeCop;51977135]Do you mean in automobiles or just in general? Because the U.S. specializes in chemicals and financial services.[/QUOTE] we also lead the world in heavy and advanced machinery production as well as basically monopolizing high performance polymers and materials production. almost no aircraft engines are built these days without US parts on them somewhere.

[QUOTE=RenegadeCop;51977135]Do you mean in automobiles or just in general? Because the U.S. specializes in chemicals and financial services.[/QUOTE] Chemicals maybe, but financial services are pretty evenly spread with London, Singapore and Hong Kong if I recall correctly. We are entering a time where the very institutes that the United States setup like the WTO or UN are no longer in line with what the US wants to achieve. In this case, the WTO can be used against other countries, but comes with its own costs such as being unable to tax at the border etc. [QUOTE=Sableye;51977310] to be clear, exiting the WTO would basically hand the global economy to russia and china and burn up most of our soft power but fuck-it if we got tanks and ships we can force people to do our bidding, right? [/QUOTE] It wouldn't, because countries are willing to do business with American regardless of the WTO, it may also spark the end of the WTO as the world has moved on since the time it was established. The world is a better place with the WTO, but if its not allowing countries to enforce border taxes, that then allow the country to create internal jobs, then its going to conflict with nations much more in the future as Globalisation rolls on through. If your population wants jobs, but your jobs have moved overseas because WTO rules state that you can't enforce a protectionism style tax that would help the industry survive against outside competition, then after a while you will want to leave the thing applying those rules. Trump wants the best of both worlds, but it most likely heading towards a China style system where he will attempt to get everything built/made within the US as to not have to import it.

[QUOTE=Boilrig;51977328]Chemicals maybe, but financial services are pretty evenly spread with London, Singapore and Hong Kong if I recall correctly. We are entering a time where the very institutes that the United States setup like the WTO or UN are no longer in line with what the US wants to achieve. In this case, the WTO can be used against other countries, but comes with its own costs such as being unable to tax at the border etc.[/QUOTE] If the United States were to ditch the UN and the WTO, we would be putting ourselves at a historic disadvantage internationally. We would be giving up a massive amount of our power and influence on the world stage. A permanent seat on the UNSC is something that cannot even be gained anymore, we got it because we were a major founding member of the UN and a world superpower at the time, something like this can never be regained.

[QUOTE=Ogopogo;51974258][url]http://www.ipsnews.net/2017/02/the-planned-us-border-tax-would-most-likely-violate-wto-rules-part-2/[/url][/QUOTE] I don't think any foreign power should have that much say in our government. That's just ridiculous.

[QUOTE=space1;51977713]I don't think any foreign power should have that much say in our government. That's just ridiculous.[/QUOTE] Why? We voluntarily entered the WTO. I mean we can leave, throw up our dumbass tariffs and greatly hurt our domestic consumers and position on the international arena if we really wanted to.

[QUOTE=space1;51977713]I don't think any foreign power should have that much say in our government. That's just ridiculous.[/QUOTE] well to be honest i'm not sure if i even entirely agree with the concept of westphalian sovereignty in the first place

[QUOTE=Spetsnaz95;51974227]Ouch.[/QUOTE] Rules of nature, man. Adapt or die, that's how we became Earth's apex predator.