I've avoided writing about the current tariff situation for a number of reasons, but mainly because I haven't really wanted to. Who wants to read anything more about them? The more I read, however, the less I see my point of view expressed, so I'd like to see where this goes.
Who pays the tariffs?
These tariffs are taxes paid by importers (small brands, shop owners, Apple, Walmart, etc.) to the American government. (Both sides' refrains have been misleading: one side repeats that they are paid by the exporting country + the other side repeats that they are paid by consumers.) The importer can then decide whether to subtract that cost from their profit, recoup it by charging more for the product, or a bit of both.
Many larger importers have thus far been absorbing the cost of the tariffs in order to stay competitive. This points out the vast profits they make. Other importers have raised prices on goods already in country in order to pay for the next round of imports. (People I know are doing the markups.)
Couldn't a positive affect of the tariffs be that they get people to decrease their consumption?
An argument could be made that tariffs will lead people to put the brakes on their consumerism. I would argue that only those already at the bottom will really be forced to buy less. I also believe that simplicity offers its most sparkling effects when it is not coerced. Furthermore, the expressed goal of this chaotic agenda is most definitely not to decrease consumption.
As a community already attuned to supply chains + sustainability, we are ready to wear what we have, mend, refashion + thrift. We will turn to our stashes of fabric + yarn for crafting. We can craft toys + jams + hats + books for gift giving. We will continue to compost + grow vegetables. And we can freely share our skills + knowledge with others.
I love simplicity. I love making. I love secondhand things + homegrown food. AND I love human sized enterprises. I love fairly traded African baskets, Japanese fabrics + British yarn. I love small brands + local shops.
Couldn't we use this to promote made-in-the-USA brands + encourage other brands to make their products in the USA?
I love brands that source materials + labor close to where they design their products. I'm elated that these brands have made the effort to make this a reality, and I do hope that more will make the switch. And...I don't think that every brand who has not already done this work deserves to die. American made brands will likely find it more difficult to source their materials + labor, if there is suddenly more competition for what is currently available.
Whether a company is big or small, it is difficult to pivot production + supply chain midstream. Concessions may be made in other ways to stay afloat. Sustainability is challenging whichever way you slice it, but never as difficult as when it was not part of how the brand was built from the start.
Isn't it good for unnecessary businesses to be weeded out?
Capitalism makes an argument for weeding out the unnecessary businesses in time, but who wants to live in a world where we can only shop at Amazon + Walmart? Cuz that's where that game ends up.
What can I do?
I always look for actionable conclusions, and I think mine here are these:
...because I value people more than profit...the planet more than GDP...collaboration more than competition...peace more than domination...conversation more than evisceration...and contentment more than greed.
Love,
Jane
Who pays the tariffs?
These tariffs are taxes paid by importers (small brands, shop owners, Apple, Walmart, etc.) to the American government. (Both sides' refrains have been misleading: one side repeats that they are paid by the exporting country + the other side repeats that they are paid by consumers.) The importer can then decide whether to subtract that cost from their profit, recoup it by charging more for the product, or a bit of both.
Many larger importers have thus far been absorbing the cost of the tariffs in order to stay competitive. This points out the vast profits they make. Other importers have raised prices on goods already in country in order to pay for the next round of imports. (People I know are doing the markups.)
Couldn't a positive affect of the tariffs be that they get people to decrease their consumption?
An argument could be made that tariffs will lead people to put the brakes on their consumerism. I would argue that only those already at the bottom will really be forced to buy less. I also believe that simplicity offers its most sparkling effects when it is not coerced. Furthermore, the expressed goal of this chaotic agenda is most definitely not to decrease consumption.
As a community already attuned to supply chains + sustainability, we are ready to wear what we have, mend, refashion + thrift. We will turn to our stashes of fabric + yarn for crafting. We can craft toys + jams + hats + books for gift giving. We will continue to compost + grow vegetables. And we can freely share our skills + knowledge with others.
I love simplicity. I love making. I love secondhand things + homegrown food. AND I love human sized enterprises. I love fairly traded African baskets, Japanese fabrics + British yarn. I love small brands + local shops.
Couldn't we use this to promote made-in-the-USA brands + encourage other brands to make their products in the USA?
I love brands that source materials + labor close to where they design their products. I'm elated that these brands have made the effort to make this a reality, and I do hope that more will make the switch. And...I don't think that every brand who has not already done this work deserves to die. American made brands will likely find it more difficult to source their materials + labor, if there is suddenly more competition for what is currently available.
Whether a company is big or small, it is difficult to pivot production + supply chain midstream. Concessions may be made in other ways to stay afloat. Sustainability is challenging whichever way you slice it, but never as difficult as when it was not part of how the brand was built from the start.
Isn't it good for unnecessary businesses to be weeded out?
Capitalism makes an argument for weeding out the unnecessary businesses in time, but who wants to live in a world where we can only shop at Amazon + Walmart? Cuz that's where that game ends up.
What can I do?
I always look for actionable conclusions, and I think mine here are these:
- do the work of contentment :: see the beauty in what I already have
- continue the fairdare :: mend, refashion, thrift, prioritize people + the planet
- joyfully + gently converse about making + creativity + makers + sustainability
- buy + use a special piece or two from a maker or shop I love, if it makes sense
- participate in the political process :: fill out surveys, write emails, get out the vote
- vote in every primary + election
...because I value people more than profit...the planet more than GDP...collaboration more than competition...peace more than domination...conversation more than evisceration...and contentment more than greed.
Love,
Jane
