Quite simply: de minimis import rules make no sense, they are inevitably abused by China in particular to import billions in untaxed goods. No foreign country has a right to sell things in America. China and EU and others impose their own arbitrary redtrictions and taxes on imports but for some reason if America does it, it gets worldwide press because for the longest time, it was just open season as we drained out manufacturing and gutted the base that built America in the first place.

We have laws on the books and they have to be enforced equally, whether you're shipping in entire containers or thousands of small direct mail packages.

Of course de minimis import rules make sense. Processing every $20 or $50 parcel through full customs would cost more in bureaucracy than it would raise in revenue. This is why many countries around the world have de minimis rules including Canada, the EU, and even China.

De minimis had nothing to do with draining out manufacturing; that's been happening for decades. Before 1993 the rate was $10.

And who cares about the "base that built America"? US unemployment was low! The US doesn't need these terrible jobs or look to the past for opportunity. There is plenty of opportunity available by looking forward.

> No foreign country has a right to sell things in America

Flipping this around: this is a limit on the rights of American citizens to purchase things from around the world. My argument is it's best for policy to center the rights of American citizens vs trying to curtail the rights of people who do not even live here.

Seems like the correct solution would be to just eliminate tariffs entirely then.. why shoot yourself in the foot by reducing trade when you can.. just not do that?

The irony is this comes from the conservative movement, who are purportedly neoliberal economists.. but then completely disregard a central plank of neoliberal theory.

consistency is low on the MAGA priority list