Opinion: Do away with all tariffs

Dear Editor,

Mary needs a new washing machine for her washroom. She finds that Company A sells a machine for considerably less than Company B, and that both machines are about the same. 

Mary is a good housekeeper; she and her husband are on a limited household budget. She buys the washing machine from Company A. Company B tries its best to bring the price of the machine in line with that of Company A, or even lower. After all, Company B knows that if they don’t, then they may go out of business. 

That would be a disaster, especially for Mary and her husband. He works for Company B. Our government realizes this and assesses a 25 percent tariff on all washing machines made in China. Company A is Chinese. This saves Company B, but it also means no one in this country will be able to buy a washing machine at the lower price, as Mary did. 

Company B no longer has the incentive to try to improve its efficiency. The cost of living goes up for all of us because of the tariff. Meanwhile, China retaliates by asking a tariff on products imported from this country which we produce more cheaply than they do; or that they do not have enough of (rice for example). Then the Chinese consumers have to pay more because of the tariff. 

I would say let each country do what it does best; and do away with all tariffs. Then we would all be better off.

Sincerely,

Karl Tiemann

Owego, N.Y.