The Ongoing Disaster in PR: Senate Finance Committee Looks to Place 20% Tariff

[Dr. Arch]

The Senate Finance Committee is looking to implement a 20% tariff on all products "imported" from Puerto Rico. As you know, Puerto Rico can only ship to U.S. ports in the mainland, so this measure essentially destroys whatever is left of the economy there. Furthermore, Americans in the mainland would likely pay more for such products (note that Puerto Rico has a number of drug manufacturing facilities so this will increase some of the already insane drug prices as well). The committee approved the measure yesterday (24-16).

Obviously, this still has to go through the chambers of Congress and be signed, but the fact they're even putting this forward really says a lot about how demented and sadistic the Republican party has become.


Link (in Spanish): https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/politica/nota/apruebanimponerarancelde20aimportacionesdesdepuertorico-2373068/

[ajc0918]

140,000 Puerto Ricans have already moved to Florida since Hurricane Maria. Actions like this will only increase that number. Note that currently in Florida Puerto Ricans vote nearly 70% for democrats.

[Simfan34]

A friend from there was talking about this the other day. Truly bizzare. I didn't even know we still had internal tarriffs.

[dead0man]

wtf?  How can the Senate Finance Committee be so stupid on economics....what, are they all lawyers or something?

[GeorgiaModerate]

A friend from there was talking about this the other day. Truly bizzare. I didn't even know we still had internal tarriffs.

WHY do we have internal tariffs?  This makes no sense.

[Sirius_]

A friend from there was talking about this the other day. Truly bizzare. I didn't even know we still had internal tarriffs.

WHY do we have internal tariffs?  This makes no sense.

They want PR to be deserted? Or perhaps they’re hoping for another recession.

[RINO Tom]

Wut.

[Sirius_]

So apparently we need to protect domestic industries from themselves.

[MasterJedi]

So apparently we need to protect domestic industries from themselves.

They probably don't know Puerto Rico IS America, also they're brown so the Trumpian wing doesn't like them.

[Stranger in a strange land]

If the U.S. is going to treat Puerto Rico as Gaza in the Caribbean because they speak Spanish and the Mayor of San Juan had the temerity to insult Dear Leader, then independence is not only justified but a moral necessity.

[Sirius_]

If the U.S. is going to treat Puerto Rico as Gaza in the Caribbean because they speak Spanish and the Mayor of San Juan had the temerity to insult Dear Leader, then independence is not only justified but a moral necessity.

They deserve that or statehood, not their current state of limbo.

[Zioneer]

....Internal tariffs are still a thing? I thought we got rid of them when we got rid of the Articles of Confederation.

[Young Conservative]

Wut.

[KingSweden]

....Internal tariffs are still a thing? I thought we got rid of them when we got rid of the Articles of Confederation.

[Santander]

....Internal tariffs are still a thing? I thought we got rid of them when we got rid of the Articles of Confederation.

Puerto Rico being "internal" for customs purposes is actually unique among unincorporated territories. (although there are certain restrictions on agricultural imports from Puerto Rico) For other territories, which lie outside the US customs zone, tariffs apply, but like many other things, that comes with a certain degree of autonomy that the 50 states do not enjoy.

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[Statilius the Epicurean]

If the U.S. is going to treat Puerto Rico as Gaza in the Caribbean because they speak Spanish and the Mayor of San Juan had the temerity to insult Dear Leader, then independence is not only justified but a moral necessity.

That makes strategic sense from Republicans, then. Try to damage Puerto Rico to the extent that they are forced to declare independence, thereby heading off PR statehood and a solid Democratic 51st state.

[Santander]

If the U.S. is going to treat Puerto Rico as Gaza in the Caribbean because they speak Spanish and the Mayor of San Juan had the temerity to insult Dear Leader, then independence is not only justified but a moral necessity.

That makes strategic sense from Republicans, then. Try to damage Puerto Rico to the extent that they are forced to declare independence, thus heading off PR statehood and a solid Democratic 51st state.

That sounds like something the Party of Lincoln and Reagan would do.

[GeorgiaModerate]

If the U.S. is going to treat Puerto Rico as Gaza in the Caribbean because they speak Spanish and the Mayor of San Juan had the temerity to insult Dear Leader, then independence is not only justified but a moral necessity.

That makes strategic sense from Republicans, then. Try to damage Puerto Rico to the extent that they are forced to declare independence, thus heading off PR statehood and a solid Democratic 51st state.

That sounds like something the Party of Lincoln and Reagan would do.

I saw a tweet recently (can't remember from who) that said the Republican big tent was becoming a small yurt.

[Blue3]

Insanity. or Cruelty. or some abominable combination of both.