The Off Topic Topic

[Valmy]

I just read in the NYTimes that there may be 100% tariff on French wines.  Is Minsky going to be okay?

What? Why? Are Italian or Spanish wines ok?

Retaliation against some French tax on tech companies.

That...makes no sense. Wine is only one small part of French exports to the US and obviously far smaller than the tech sector. I guess it is a strategic ploy to activate the ever militant French farmers.

[Admiral Yi]

That...makes no sense. Wine is only one small part of French exports to the US and obviously far smaller than the tech sector. I guess it is a strategic ploy to activate the ever militant French farmers.

Retaliatory tariffs always work like that.  You pick an export that politically impacts the instigators of the original tariff (or tax in this case), doesn't inconvenience your own consumers overly much, and possibly gives domestic competitors a little edge.  For example the EU laid tariffs on Bourbon, among other things, for Trump's steel tariffs.

[The Minsky Moment]

Right - French wine is always on the top of the retaliation list, not because the French economy depends on wine exports to the US but because it is highly visible and associated with French culture and national identity.  Think of it like a baseball brawl where all the players run out wildly waving arms, pushing and shoving, but not much actual physical violence is being done.  You don't want to do real, permanent damage.

[The Minsky Moment]

The whole wine tariff schedule on EU-origin wines is a confused mess right now.  Italian wines are completely exempt for some reason.

[Syt]

RIP DC Fontana

https://intl.startrek.com/news/dc-fontana-1939-2019

[Sheilbh]

That...makes no sense. Wine is only one small part of French exports to the US and obviously far smaller than the tech sector. I guess it is a strategic ploy to activate the ever militant French farmers.

Retaliatory tariffs always work like that.  You pick an export that politically impacts the instigators of the original tariff (or tax in this case), doesn't inconvenience your own consumers overly much, and possibly gives domestic competitors a little edge.  For example the EU laid tariffs on Bourbon, among other things, for Trump's steel tariffs.

Right. And in this case the EU collectively will respond.

I actually think Trump's proposed tariffs on Argentina and Brazil for "national security" reasons is the bigger story because, apparently, that "national security" loophole is now just general Presidential fiat.

[Valmy]

Right. And in this case the EU collectively will respond.

Solidarity forever
Solidarity forever
Solidarity foreeeeever
The (European) Union makes us strong

[Sheilbh]

I'm not sure the first Amazon Prime football games are working as hoped. "Just a reminder you can also watch Crystal Palace against Bournemouth - it's goalless!"

[Valmy]

I do enjoy a good 0-0 match

[Sheilbh]

Some are good. Some are "intriguing tactical contests".

[Syt]

Some are good. Some are "intriguing tactical contests".

In German the euphemism is "Ein Spiel für Taktikfreunde." - A match for friends of tactics.

[mongers]

[The Minsky Moment]

Rare earth oxides are used in various industrial and engineering applications; the consumer end-users are concentrated in the highly-developed OECD economies.  China dominates mining because of lower labor costs and standards.

[Syt]

[Razgovory]