Keep in mind the tariff rates differ by country but more importantly differ by value of the item. On Temu stuff shipped from China I occasionally see tariff listed from a few cents to under a dollar on items generally under $10 Yes the tariffs are now being passed on to customers. I saw on a window sticker of an Italian car a line item "Tariffs and Duty $96,000"--well of course the Ferrari was valued over $6million so it's all relative!

Tariffs are import fees the consumer pays. A reminder to vote for politicians who keep you in mind.

As most of us are men that proudly walk around in thongs and strings in public it’s really breathtaking how dumb it would be to consider yourself a “conservative” but I guess some on here do. Which never ceases to amaze me. ?? I love buying thongs from Germany, Poland, Bulgaria and Russian makers. I think it’s unbelievable that some people on here voted against their own self interest. Amazing really.

Because conservativism aligns moreso with individual liberty so I exercise that freedom with thong wearing. Historically tariffs have been an effective to protect US interests.... I'm sure tariffs on thongs is minimal. Or, but thongs made here and avoid tariffs completely...ad an individual consumer, you have a choice.

You can still be fiscally conservative and socially liberal, which is where many libertarians tend to land. But make no mistake, if men and women are freely walking around in thongs, bikinis, and other very revealing clothing in public, that is not a socially conservative culture. It is a liberal one. Conservative societies are defined in part by stronger norms of modesty and more limits on what people are expected to wear in public. Liberal societies are far more permissive about public self-presentation and how much of the body people choose to show. Public comfort with highly revealing clothing is a feature of liberal culture, not conservatism.

Tariffs are easy to get round for Chinese companies they will declare very low costs so the import charges are less. Anyway it’s great that ultra rich and big corporations benefit from your dictator’s regime. Keep drinking the kool aid all who love DJT.

Shear genius! This political banter drives off half the viewers- then drives off half the viewers- wait that means ah half and half are gone? CBS has had to pay consultants millions and millions of dollars to learn this the hard way!

Here in Sweden we are used to pay VAT on all items imported from outside the European Union. In Sweden we always pay 25% VAT + a declaration fee that usually is around $12. We only pay a customs duty/tariff if the total order (including shipping) is over about $200. So, if I buy for $100 from Muscleskins + $20 i shipping, I will have to pay $25 in VAT + around $12 declaration fee (an extra 35% of the total order). If I buy for $250 (including shipping), I will have to pay VAT $62,5 + $12 declaration fee + a customs duty/tariff of 12% ($30) for a total of $354,5 (an extra 42% of the total order). These customs dutys/tariffs have been in effect for a long time, and it´s noting that is part of Trump´s war on tariffs. In Sweden we are just used to them . . . I occasionally buy stuff from outside EU, but rarely . . . Our advantage over people in the US is that we have the whole EU market to choose from, duty free :-)

It's pretty much the same in FRANCE as it is in Sweden, because we areinEU (European Union) and rules are the same.

A few years ago, we did NOT pay VAT on low-value items. Now, we have to pay it since july 2021.

Either the seller pays directly the VAT. This is the case with major platforms (amazon, shein, aliexpress, temu, etc.). So VAT is included in the price, so the listed price is all-inclusive.

But if the seller don't pay the VAT (it is the case when you buy at little seller in USA), the VAT is collected by the delivery company. And as the delivery company doesn't work for free, they add expensive fees (free prices) But it is about 5 to 8 € if you pay online.

So 2 cases for VAT :

- Major platforms : price is all inclusive

- Litller sellers outside EU : VAT (20%) + delivery company fees (about 5/8 €)

Under 150 €, no duty fee. BUT starting July 1, 2026, we will pay in Euope a 3€ duty fee for package with a value of less than 150 €.

Over 150 €, duty fee are 12%

Since march 2026, France added a tax on small packages under 150 €.

It is 2€ by item category in the same package.

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Major chinese  platforms circumvent taxes on small packages and the flat duty fee on low value package by setting up massive logistics warehouses in Eastern Europe.

- So, for the buyer, listed prices will stay all inclusive on this major platforms.

- For little sellers, from USA, it is very expensive.

If I buy 2 thongs for 50 € in USA, i will have to add :

- shipping cost : 15 to 20 €

- VAT : 20 % = 10 €

- delivery company fees : 8 €

- France small packages tax : 3 €

- Duty fee on low value items : 2 € 

So it is about 50 + 43 € = 93 €. Cost is doubled.

If I buy 2 thongs for 50 € on a chinese plateform :

- shipping cost : 2 to 4 €

- VAT 20 % = already included

- delivery company fees : not applicable because VAT is payed by the plaform

- France small packages tax : circumvented

-  Duty fee on low value items : not applicable with logistics warehouses. They will pay normal duty fee, so already included.

Total price : 50 + 4 = 54 €

Sorry to say that, but chinese are smarter for circumventing taxes than others.

We come up with new taxes to counter the Chinese, but in the end it’s the small retailers who get taxed, not the Chinese.

I agree with 

"Our advantage over people in the US is that we have the whole EU market to choose from, duty free"

And we have either all the chinese platforms...

Buying outside EU or chines platforms is too expensive.

IMAO : I'm not getting involved in politics. This is purely a cost analysis.

If I get into politics, I would say that Iran war is increasing a lot my car fuel cost, and other costs. But this is an other story.

Ugg. I wish there was a single libertarian that voted differently than a Republican in congress in a meaningful way. Other than bland paul. No, you can’t walk around in a thong and say you are conservative. It doesn’t work like that. You can do it because people weren’t all conservatives in the past and have you that right. This isn’t politica, this is common sense this is just spoiled boomer talk being called out. There is literally no picking and choosing your morals like a spoiled baby And no I don’t want to pay more for things under a false premise. Case closed.

And I think there are a lot of people in this country that under this conservative administration don’t feel safe at all. I’m sorry my friend but the libertarian party of the 80’s is DEAD AND BURIED I think it’s simply a desire for the 80’s and 90’s nostalgia the libertarians I know Would pull out their guns and shoot you dead on the beach If they had it their way!

I actually feel much safer with the current administration running things than the previous administration. The democratic party isn't the same party it once was in the 80's and 90's either. That party morphed into ridiculousness.

I’m glad @guestguest feels safer under your current dictator cos the rest of the world and half of US doesn’t see it that way. As an outsider from UK I don’t have to like Dem or Rep but as others are pointing out your freedom of expression is being eroded. Good job none of us on here likes being on a beach in minimal swimwear.