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US Tariffs on Switzerland

Pastorbottle
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The US can say goodbye to the tourist dollar, I saw an article today that said tourist figures to the US from here in Australia are down because of all the bullshit required to go there, and I can only imagine the same would be true of other places. another great idea from the fanta fuhrer!
 
Porteroso
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The United States will be just fine. I feel bad for those impacted by the reduced tourism, but tourism will bounce back, it always does.

It's always the end of the world for half the populace, at least until the "right side" is elected the next time, then it's back to normal, or the next "Golden Age," or whatever.
 
Porteroso
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Archer Archer
Becoming less rare...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/us-canada-device-searches-1.7619944

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released new data showing a sharp rise in electronic device searches at border crossings.

From April to June alone, CBP conducted 14,899 electronic device searches, up more than 21 per cent from the previous quarter (23 per cent over the same period last year). Most of those were basic searches, but 1,075 were "advanced," allowing officers to copy and analyze device contents.

While electronic device searches jumped by 12.6 per cent over the past year, the total number of travellers entering the United States rose by 6.6 per cent. Among the most notable increases are searches of U.S. citizens' devices, which rose nearly 22 per cent."
So it went from .01% to .012%? Not a significant change in rarity. And searches of Americans rose 22%? Essentially the same as everyone else? Previous 3 month high was in 2022, at 12,766 devices.

To give context, this has been increasing for a while. In 2015, it was 8,503 total over 12 months, or about 2,125 per 3 month period.

Basically a nothing burger. The alleged intimidation or arrests for no reason are much more worrying. But I'm not sure that part is any different from before. There is a long and storied history of law enforcement abusing their power.
 
Archer
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Porteroso Porteroso
And searches of Americans rose 22%? Essentially the same as everyone else?
Yes - so the narrative that this is only a concern for non-US citizens, as you had stated previously, is not correct any longer.

Porteroso Porteroso
Basically a nothing burger. The alleged intimidation or arrests for no reason are much more worrying. But I'm not sure that part is any different from before. There is a long and storied history of law enforcement abusing their power.
Different topic, but on that we can certainly agree - the federalization of local law enforcement by having them sworn to federal "task forces" and giving them immunity to USC 1983 lawsuits was a rising practice even before this latest push, but it is most certainly taken a major turn now. The fact that so many are so willing to go along with all this, tells me it's maybe a bit more than a nothingburger.

It's an unfortunate thing about history that keeps repeating itself - people don't pay attention until it's too late. We are all going to "get used" to seeing this sort of thing, and when it turns against the people who support it, which it inevitably does, they won't know what hit them.
 
Porteroso
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Archer Archer
Yes - so the narrative that this is only a concern for non-US citizens, as you had stated previously, is not correct any longer.
Maybe we aren't talking about the same thing, but when an extremely small statistic rises 22%, it remains extremely small. There is no narrative that I am espousing, just the fact that most Americans will leave and enter the country many times, and never have anyone ask to look at their phone.
Archer Archer
Different topic, but on that we can certainly agree - the federalization of local law enforcement by having them sworn to federal "task forces" and giving them immunity to USC 1983 lawsuits was a rising practice even before this latest push, but it is most certainly taken a major turn now. The fact that so many are so willing to go along with all this, tells me it's maybe a bit more than a nothingburger.

It's an unfortunate thing about history that keeps repeating itself - people don't pay attention until it's too late. We are all going to "get used" to seeing this sort of thing, and when it turns against the people who support it, which it inevitably does, they won't know what hit them.
It was in the link you posted. And your view of the historical record seems off. There are fewer abuses of power in law enforcement than ever before, not more. We are absolutely moving in the right direction. Have been for half a century. I agree people always have to remain vigilant and push back against abuses of power, wherever they happen.
 
Archer
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Porteroso Porteroso
Maybe we aren't talking about the same thing, but when an extremely small statistic rises 22%, it remains extremely small. There is no narrative that I am espousing, just the fact that most Americans will leave and enter the country many times, and never have anyone ask to look at their phone.

It was in the link you posted. And your view of the historical record seems off. There are fewer abuses of power in law enforcement than ever before, not more. We are absolutely moving in the right direction. Have been for half a century. I agree people always have to remain vigilant and push back against abuses of power, wherever they happen.
I just commented on your previous statements that this was not a concern for citizens, but was for non-citizens.

Fewer abuses? Not sure of that. Different kinds of abuses I would say yes. Like the task force example I've given above to avoid accountability, or the completely fabricated by the courts doctrine of so called qualified immunity. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, unless you are law enforcement, then you get a pass on civil liability for your ignorance and actions. The current president has even mused about giving police absolute immunity, but I think he backed off that for what I would say are rather obvious reasons.

Regarding history, there's unfortunate belief that things will just magically progress to be better without people taking actions to make it so, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Sometimes they act to make things worse in that regard - again you previously mentioned the Patriot Act, which I think is clearly not in the direction you are saying we are moving. There's a lot going on right now, which means the deliberate strategy of fire hosing all this at once causes people t miss things...it's more important than ever to stay informed.
 
Evitzee
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Dan S Dan S
TBH, I've never understood why customs duty was applied to collectible items. It doesn't really seem logical. I don't like sales tax either, but I understand it.
Even odder is the US tax code charges a 28% Capital Gains tax on 'collectibles' when sold by the owner.....like coins, cars, watches, jewelry and the like, instead of the normal 15%. Why? Because 'they' determined that they don't want citizens 'investing' in those sorts of things, so you pay a penalty if you go down that road. Few buy a watch in the anticipation of making money, but if you do you will be penalized for it. It's all arbitrary.

At the current time, as a US citizen, I would not entertain buying anything of value that was being shipped from another country. As of today, the $800 'de minimis' value for no duty is gone, theoretically EVERYTHING that comes across the border is subject to applicable duties now. At the minimum expect longer shipping times, and more paperwork, even if you are willing to pay the duty. Some companies, based in the US, that had orders fulfilled and shipped from the overseas suppliers are now having to rethink things, like either stop selling in the US or importing the stuff themselves, pay the duty on the wholesale price, and warehouse and ship domestically. Either way the customer takes it in the shorts, either with no product or a higher price. This will all be settled eventually, but we are in choppy waters now. Buyer beware!
Edited:
 
V
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What if I travel without the electronic devices? That should really upset CBP if they want to search them. Will they deny me entry? 🤨
 
zkramez
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Apparently the $800 minimum is coming off today. That sucks. Used to ship a lot of stuff under $800. cool seikos from Japan and that sort of stuff.
 
STANDY
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Wanted to send a bottle of White rum that came with a free tiki mug to a friend in California. (He Collects Tiki stuff and makes Tiki mugs)

First I can’t send alcohol to the 🇺🇸 anymore. Was told this was also a new rule. Mate mentioned he has had issues buying any south American rum outside of 🇺🇸 and also been told stocks will be limited in months to come and buy while you can of stuff already in 🇺🇸

Second, watched the poor lady at the post office looking at a booklet as she entered the new information needed and asked me several questions on where tiki mug was made, what it was made of. Where it was shipped from prior to me owning it. (Shipped as a gift and had to give a $ value as could not write free)

Third, Mate recieved it after a long sit in clearance.

Wait until parents and kids see Armageddon with toys and gifts for Christmas with growing postal companies not shipping to 🇺🇸 and tariffs on everything
 
lindo
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Watch collectors in the US have my sympathy. Now that there is a 39% tariff on anything of Swiss origin - new or vintage - it will not make sense for US collectors to buy from outside the USA.

I would take no comfort from today's Federal Court ruling that some tariffs are not legal. Court rulings seem to be irrelevant to decisions made by the current administration.
 
Speed2Sea
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lindo lindo
I would take no comfort from today's Federal Court ruling that some tariffs are not legal. Court rulings seem to be irrelevant to decisions made by the current administration
As a side note, the current tariffs will remain through October 14 until the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on the matter.
 
lindo
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Speed2Sea Speed2Sea
As a side note, the current tariffs will remain through October 14 until the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on the matter.

You mean the new, improved Supreme Court?
 
lindo
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Speed2Sea Speed2Sea
The same Supreme Court as of June 30, 2022.

True, but I am still betting on the President, who said "All tariffs are still in effect! Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end,"
 
Davidt
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I wonder how this will work for carriers that haven’t previously required detailed customs info.

For example, Royal Mail offer insurance up to I believe £250 when shipping to the US so I sent several cheaper items to people in the states using RM. When doing so, the customs form is very basic; value, weight, description. The description could be a basic as “used watch part”.

I wonder if this will continue when shipping resumes and US customs will add UK tariffs or if well now have to include country of manufacture.
 
gatorcpa
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Davidt Davidt
When doing so, the customs form is very basic; value, weight, description. The description could be a basic as “used watch part”.

I wonder if this will continue when shipping resumes and US customs will add UK tariffs or if well now have to include country of manufacture.
The main reason that post offices many countries have suspended package services is that they lack internal customs brokerages to assist their customers in filling out the appropriate paperwork so that proper Customs duties are paid. Local post offices are not yet set up to do that, either inside or outside the U.S.

Some countries may eventually train their staff to handle the customs, others with privatized post offices (Germany) might direct customers to their more expensive express services that include customs declarations.

It seems to me that the big winners here are large private companies that have Customs brokers on staff. This would include UPS, FedEx, DHL, Amazon, Walmart, as well as foreign equivalents that I don’t know about.

The losers are small businesses and individuals, who do not have access to these services at reasonable rates.

My personal view is that these tariffs are becoming a major source of revenue for the U.S. and will prove very difficult to dismantle, even after the current administration leaves office.

I don’t know if personal exemptions will be brought back at some point. I hope so, but so long as our government’s official position is that all Americans who receive packages from overseas are drug smugglers, I don’t see that happening in the short term.

gatorcpa
 
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