Is U.S. Going BAT-ty?

Started by expat_panama, January 28, 2017, 05:39:19 PM

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expat_panama

...the border adjustment tax, or BAT, has much appeal...


...it taxes imports, but not exports, so it tends to favor U.S.-based companies. That, proponents argue, would lead to many more jobs here in the U.S. and discourage companies from moving offshore.

It would also enable us to replace the current punitive U.S. corporate tax of 35% with one much lower, while also taking a giant step toward a consumption tax ...


...BAT has an "America First" appeal to it. Trump aides even say it could pay for the border wall...


...consumers, who will suddenly face sharply higher costs for all the things they buy...


...if we tax Mexico's sales here, what's to stop them from taxing our sales there?...


...a BAT seems like a Rube Goldberg device to us. Rather than trying to sell Americans on a confusing new import tax, Republicans would be wiser to stick with real reform: Make taxes lower, flatter and fairer for everyone, and stop punishing savers and investors.


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Everyone says tariffs reduce the trade deficit.  That's a fantasy and here's real life: