FYI: as a counter-measure in reaction the new US import tariffs on steel and aluminium, the EU has announced a list of US products that will be taxed extra. I checked out that list of some 1,300 product categories (see attachment) and found the following percentages for stuff that people in this forum would buy. As far as I can see Sound Devices recorders (for example) would be hit hard by this measure. The tariffs are active from this upcoming weekend, June 24, 2018.
85437005 Portable battery operated electronic readers for recording and reproducing text, still image or audio file: 50%.
85437006 Digital signal processing apparatus capable of connecting to a wired or wireless network for the mixing of sound: 50%.
85437010 Electrical machines with translation or dictionary functions: 50%.
Very bad news... so now it's the moment to buy.
I read on forums that the new mixpre recorders have some firmware problems and ultrasonic noise. Are they mature products or for professional use it's better to wait until buy them? Since they are expensive I want a fully functional product
It is important to understand the impossibility of fairly dealing with trade and tariff issues with subjective limited tunnel vision. Regions such as the Euro Union, Pacific Rim & N. America have been adjusting various National punitive protective tariff accommodations since the 1932 world wide tariff war melt down. At the core of the issue is protective National interests in various industries that have evolved into massive financial out of balance trade. The US generates apx. half of the industrial world's GDP and our production output/consumption ratio is not sustainable long term.
Blowing up the world's current tariff structure is about 30 years over due and ultimately when even, fair objective thinking governs new trade agreements perhaps most of us will be better off.
Hugh
FYI: as a counter-measure in reaction the new US import tariffs on steel and aluminium, the EU has announced a list of US products that will be taxed extra.
At least you have the "satisfaction" of knowing that this is not the EU's fault. The US completely owns this stupidity. Yet because the guy sitting in the big chair insists on being a bully, the whole world has to pay for his fits of pique. Any economist knows that there's no winning a trade war. But a half assed "business man" with four bankruptcies to his credit, not so much apparently. Sigh...
Seems that conditions would become viable for black marketeering, shipping goods between countries by 3rd parties who would sidestep the official trading routes between manufacturers and distributors ?
There could be a whole bunch of proxy buying and individual parcels criss-crossing the Atlantic ? Wait until wild card China enters the fray....things might get really interesting then....I suppose a trade war is better than a thermonuclear one.
Trump could scarcely be initiating this on his own 'intelligence'....I wonder who's advising him in this folly ?
old europe here: i shall go through my equipment trying to find any (current design) that was made in the us; i'll keep you posted if i can find any... - 'fair' enough?
one piece is for s(h)ure though: an mci jh500, made in the mid seventies! sent big bucks to the us; maybe i should have bought a different (european) design?!
old europe here: i shall go through my equipment trying to find any (current design) that was made in the us; i'll keep you posted if i can find any... - 'fair' enough?
one piece is for s(h)ure though: an mci jh500, made in the mid seventies! sent big bucks to the us; maybe i should have bought a different (european) design?!
That sort of jingoistic thinking plays exactly to the sort of 'us vs them' insular, seige mentality that feeds trade wars...Trump would be very proud of you
That sort of jingoistic thinking plays exactly to the sort of 'us vs them' insular, seige mentality that feeds trade wars...Trump would be very proud of you
...this time you didn't get my humor :-)
serious now: the vast majority of my gear is of european origin, but for ecological (and a few other) reasons - not because i would support the political agenda you were referring to!
(studer, weiss, neutrik, paiste are just around the corner, most mic manufacturers too)
no, I didn't believe you could be both parochial and serious at the same time ....and your country (plus near neighbours) is (disproportionately) blessed with some of the best gear (and designer/creators) that money can buy..you could be forgiven for buying 'purely local' !
"Politics and religion are prohibited topics on Gearslutz. This is an area where we take a zero-tolerance stance - please take your political and religious discussions elsewhere.
The same applies for "serious social issues" which may turn into political or religious discussion."
"Politics and religion are prohibited topics on Gearslutz. This is an area where we take a zero-tolerance stance - please take your political and religious discussions elsewhere.
The same applies for "serious social issues" which may turn into political or religious discussion."
.
I disagree - it was someone pointing out that tariffs can affect Europe and if they do, to buy now before the price goes up.
Are you arguing that the subject matter of tarrifs imposed upon us by politicians are somehow not "serious social issues" or are you arguing that they are unlikely to "turn into political discussion"?
...Or both?
.
The tariffs issue impinges on our ability to be true Gearslutz and buy our 'tools of trade' without undue impediment...if that's deemed 'political', then the moderators might step in with a volley of buckshot across the bows (or a warning first) ?
I'll take your advice in its intended good spirit though, and no longer refer to Tr*mp by name in this thread
now that we've sorted out all critical issues surrounding the topic: can someone please explain to me how the imposed taxes will help a company like gibson?
I still contend (without contention !) that we're likely to be only peripherally concerned with politics in this thread as it evolves, since it's the commercial transactions of acquiring gear which are the subject matter.
Tariff avoidance (on an individual level) might emerge as a matter of individual civil disobedience and non-compliance...but that's hardly censorious content per se...it's just predictable human behaviour in the face of unfair legislation.
So I think we're on pretty safe ground thus far... unless ECC83 is running for junior moderatorship (psst..I don't think there are any vacancies, all positions are currently taken)
FYI: as a counter-measure in reaction the new US import tariffs on steel and aluminium, the EU has announced a list of US products that will be taxed extra. I checked out that list of some 1,300 product categories (see attachment) and found the following percentages for stuff that people in this forum would buy. As far as I can see Sound Devices recorders (for example) would be hit hard by this measure. The tariffs are active from this upcoming weekend, June 24, 2018.
85437005 Portable battery operated electronic readers for recording and reproducing text, still image or audio file: 50%.
85437006 Digital signal processing apparatus capable of connecting to a wired or wireless network for the mixing of sound: 50%.
85437010 Electrical machines with translation or dictionary functions: 50%.
There seems to be no logical connection between type of goods and tariff to be imposed (ie a lower % for simple non-processed foods or basic items vs higher % for tech-intensive gear like recorders)...it seems to be a random distribution of imposts with the majority being 25% and a lesser proportion being 50%. Unfortunately the audio-specific items seem to fall in the 50% basket. Most (all ?) audio cables are copper...you'd hope they escape the aluminium/steel target