Impacts of new announced USA tariffs on our favorite shave stuff?

[UDShaver]

VAT is like a sales tax on goods sold to the end consumer. It applies to all goods, without regard to where they are made.

I know that.

Why should the USA get nothing and they get 20%?

Most our States charge well less than 1/2 that and the Feds don’t get any.

I’m convinced the threat of tariff is sufficient, but it must be backed up and not be a bluff.

It’s negotiating….

But few if any shaving products would be affected at all.

China may be the largest exception. And should be.

 

[NorthernSoul]

I know that.

Why should the USA get nothing and they get 20%?..

You are not making sense.

It's a tax their citizens pay. It's fair if it applies to all goods regardless of origin. Therefore, it's not unfair trade.

Do we get a share of foreign countries income tax? No, because it's not our money.

 

[sidpost]

Gentlemen, This is an evolving situation. Trump is, first and foremost, a negotiator. I'll be greatly surprised if this situation remains the same 30 - 60 days or so from now (if that long).

The sun will still rise in the morning and set at night. In other words, relax, kick back, and don't let this get your ulcers riled up.

The real question is what will the collateral damage be in those 30~60 days if things do in fact change that fast? I'm not worried about Gillette but, small artisan makers may not have the resources to survive and what will the permanent changes be?

If the USA as a nation becomes untrustworthy, when tariffs end, people will still avoid us. This is happening now with nations that were going to buy F-35 fighter jets that are now looking for alternatives. There is a lot of talk in Europe about "kill switches" in them today which is a direct result of what is happening now with the Trump administration. Some of this is TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) but, it is also driven by his policies towards Ukraine and other European leaders along with a Tariff War. This sort of thing has a real effect on trade and the ability to get products affordably from other nations.

This same effect applies to everything including shave related products. If Russia had not invaded Ukraine, I would own a Russian safety razor today. Now, tariff or not, $5 or $50 or free, I won't own a Russian safety razor. However, this thought is not related to my original post regarding tariffs and their effect on us as my motivation in this matter is not tariff or money driven.

 

[sidpost]

Heh. Old news, now. They took de minimis off shipments from China. That means now there's duties and tariffs on everything even if it's a $12.00 razor. The days of $0.01 shipping are over. But you still get to wait 8 weeks to get it.

O.H.

Plus "convenience" and other fees. Like my water bill at an apartment I moved out of, they installed a water meter in every apartment unit. I used ~$1.95 worth of water each month, paid a $7.95 service fee, and a $2.95 transaction fee. They would have been better off raising my rent $20/month instead of this hassle and superficial 'money grab'

This is what I fear for my potential future shave related purchases out of the EU and China.

Also, when De Minimus was taken away, no mention was made of it being a China-only change.

 

[sidpost]

The EU tariffs on US good averaged out to 4.8%, according to the WTO, which is the highest available estimate. Most economists calculate it closer to 3%.

That is where target tariffs make a lot more sense to me. If you want to stop me from buying a Lambda Razor and want me to buy a Muhle or Guerilla, tariff that specific nation and product.

A blanket tariff that also stops me from buying artisan shave soaps and shave brushes has effects beyond the initial tax collected as it changes buying behaviors in significant ways, not necessarily good as well! This is what I tried to capture in my poll!

 

[sidpost]

I know that.

Why should the USA get nothing and they get 20%?

Most our States charge well less than 1/2 that and the Feds don’t get any.

I’m convinced the threat of tariff is sufficient, but it must be backed up and not be a bluff.

It’s negotiating….

But few if any shaving products would be affected at all.

China may be the largest exception. And should be.

The tariffs are not targeted specifically towards just China at this point. Sure the initial talking points were about $4 shirts from TEMU and Fentanyl but, what does that have to do with my shave products in the EU? Stopping a teenage girl from buying cheap fast fashion on TEMU should not impact artisan shave product makers in other nations.

If your target is in fact China, why the dust-up in the EU and its impacts on shave product users like ourselves? Did the Federal coffers suffer because I bought an Edwin Jagger 3One6 out of Europe for $56?

Do you really think we need VAT in the USA like Europe? We have a federal income tax so, lets add tariffs and VAT to the federal coffers? That is a good way to convert people over to cheaper disposable razors IMHO.

VAT is most similar to our Sales Tax so, frankly a 20% tariff on my EU shave purchases plus US Sales tax will be a deal breaker for me with a lot of potential purchases going forward.




Again, the effects I was trying to capture in my poll. What will DE wet shavers do in today's marketplace?

 

[tube_guy]

The EU tariffs on US good averaged out to 4.8%, according to the WTO, which is the highest available estimate. Most economists calculate it closer to 3%.

I'd be very interested in learning exactly how these economists calculated their "average" tariff value.

 

[silverlifter]

I'd be very interested in learning exactly how these economists calculated their "average" tariff value.

Weighted mean applied tariff is the average of effectively applied rates weighted by the product import shares corresponding to each partner country. Data are classified using the Harmonized System of trade at the six- or eight-digit level. Tariff line data were matched to Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) revision 3 codes to define commodity groups and import weights. To the extent possible, specific rates have been converted to their ad valorem equivalent rates and have been included in the calculation of weighted mean tariffs. Import weights were calculated using the United Nations Statistics Division's Commodity Trade (Comtrade) database. Effectively applied tariff rates at the six- and eight-digit product level are averaged for products in each commodity group. When the effectively applied rate is unavailable, the most favored nation rate is used instead.

Source: European Union - Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All Products - 2025 Data 2026 Forecast 1988-2021 Historical - https://tradingeconomics.com/european-union/tariff-rate-applied-weighted-mean-all-products-percent-wb-data.html

 

[UDShaver]

The tariffs are not targeted specifically towards just China at this point. Sure the initial talking points were about $4 shirts from TEMU and Fentanyl but, what does that have to do with my shave products in the EU? Stopping a teenage girl from buying cheap fast fashion on TEMU should not impact artisan shave product makers in other nations.

I didn’t say they were. AFAIK only the exception for products -$800 applies to China.

If your target is in fact China, why the dust-up in the EU and its impacts on shave product users like ourselves? Did the Federal coffers suffer because I bought an Edwin Jagger 3One6 out of Europe for $56?

AFAIK the =$800 still applies so it remains unaffected.

Do you really think we need VAT in the USA like Europe? We have a federal income tax so, lets add tariffs and VAT to the federal coffers? That is a good way to convert people over to cheaper disposable razors IMHO.

I didn’t say that either.

VAT is most similar to our Sales Tax so, frankly a 20% tariff on my EU shave purchases plus US Sales tax will be a deal breaker for me with a lot of potential purchases going forward.

Most similar to but not the same. I made that distinction earlier.

Again, the effects I was trying to capture in my poll. What will DE wet shavers do in today's marketplace?

Bupkis.

At this point, unless they are from China.

Look, rational parties can disagree about tariffs. I agree with Rand Paul 99 44/100ths % of the time.

And if international trade were free and fair, I’d still agree with him.

But it isn’t, so I don’t.

 

[tube_guy]

Source: European Union - Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All Products - 2025 Data 2026 Forecast 1988-2021 Historical - https://tradingeconomics.com/european-union/tariff-rate-applied-weighted-mean-all-products-percent-wb-data.html

That source does not indicate how the average values were calculated, at least in any kind of easily understandable way. That source only indicates that the average values are weighted in some way.

The fact that that source shows pretty dramatic changes in the average value every year likely means the weighting is having a very large impact on the result. It's very unlikely that actual tariff percentages are really changing that dramatically on an annual basis. I'd guess the value of products sold in a particular sector has an impact on the sector's weighting. Unfortunately, the value of the tariff itself has an effect on that, which would make the average result far less useful.

And if the tariffs on one product are being spread out over other products that have no tariff applied, I don't think that's really a fair assessment either. But it depends on what a person is trying to accomplish with the average tariff value.

 

[never-stop-learning]

The real question is what will the collateral damage be in those 30~60 days if things do in fact change that fast? I'm not worried about Gillette but, small artisan makers may not have the resources to survive and what will the permanent changes be?

If the USA as a nation becomes untrustworthy, when tariffs end, people will still avoid us. This is happening now with nations that were going to buy F-35 fighter jets that are now looking for alternatives. There is a lot of talk in Europe about "kill switches" in them today which is a direct result of what is happening now with the Trump administration. Some of this is TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) but, it is also driven by his policies towards Ukraine and other European leaders along with a Tariff War. This sort of thing has a real effect on trade and the ability to get products affordably from other nations.

This same effect applies to everything including shave related products. If Russia had not invaded Ukraine, I would own a Russian safety razor today. Now, tariff or not, $5 or $50 or free, I won't own a Russian safety razor. However, this thought is not related to my original post regarding tariffs and their effect on us as my motivation in this matter is not tariff or money driven.

You can choose to get yourself all worked up about a situation over which you have no control, or you can relax and see how things play out.

 

[brucered]

This thread is more of a back and forth debate on economics and tariffs than anything closely related to shaving.

Ignoring soon.

 

[UDShaver]

You are not making sense.

Allow me to clarify.

It's a tax their citizens pay. It's fair if it applies to all goods regardless of origin. Therefore, it's not unfair trade.

The distinction is that unlike a State sales tax in the US, which goes to the State that imposes it, from 0 (DE) to 5% (MD) and so on, the VAT is an EU National sales tax.

The EU is gettin (about) 20% from our goods and the US Federal Government is getting far less, that is, prior to the new tariff regime.

Do we get a share of foreign countries income tax? No, because it's not our money.

Hopefully my clarification dispels your conclusion.

I’m confident compromises will be made.

Relax, and have a nice shave!

 

[Phoenixkh]

So tariffs are a US National Sales Tax on imported goods?

 

[DesertIguana]

So tariffs are a US National Sales Tax on imported goods?

Nope try again they not a SALE TAX.

 

[CdnShaveGuy]

This thread is more of a back and forth debate on economics and tariffs than anything closely related to shaving.

Ignoring soon.

As a colleague of mine at work used to say to me, when she saw me stressed, after going to meetings watching the "Battle of Wits" between various stakeholder interests... "Relax, Just Eat some Popcorn, and Watch the Show"

 

[brucered]

As a colleague of mine at work used to say to me, when she saw me stressed, after going to meetings watching the "Battle of Wits" between various stakeholder interests... "Relax, Just Eat some Popcorn, and Watch the Show"

My favorite popcorn gif

 

[NorthernSoul]

Relax, and have a nice shave!

Thanks, I guess that's why we're here!

Allow me to clarify.

The distinction is that unlike a State sales tax in the US, which goes to the State that imposes it, from 0 (DE) to 5% (MD) and so on, the VAT is an EU National sales tax.

The EU is gettin (about) 20% from our goods and the US Federal Government is getting far less, that is, prior to the new tariff regime.

That's not quite accurate. Each member state in the EU collects VAT according to uniform minimum guidelines, but the actual rates differ by member state. For instance, France collects ~20% and Sweden collects ~25%. Does that mean Sweden is "ripping us off" more than France? No, the money they owe us is just the price for the goods sold. The U.S. is not owed a share of the VAT.

 

[UDShaver]

Thanks, I guess that's why we're here!



That's not quite accurate. Each member state in the EU collects VAT according to uniform minimum guidelines, but the actual rates differ by member state. For instance, France collects ~20% and Sweden collects ~25%.

That’s precisely why I said about 20%.

Does that mean Sweden is "ripping us off" more than France? No, the money they owe us is just the price for the goods sold. The U.S. is not owed a share of the VAT.

I didn’t say we were owed a share of their VAT.

I (and others) suggest that the US Federal Government impose a Tariff commensurate with the VAT + any additional tariffs the EU (and others) impose on our exports.

As a starting point in negotiating trade that is more fair.

It’s neither complicated nor outrageous.

 

[sidpost]

You can choose to get yourself all worked up about a situation over which you have no control, or you can relax and see how things play out.

I'm not "worked up" just concerned about the people this will impact negatively that SHOULD NOT BE TARGETED! If China or TEMU are your target, why target everyone else with a blanket 10% tariff for example?

Why for example, was Canada tariffed like it was as one example of many? If you want American cars in Berlin, attack German cars with tariffs, not small businesses in Germany with modest sales in the USA.

What has Muhle, Merkur, Edwin Jagger, FaTip, ... done to the American market?

Yes I also hope it is all a business tactic that will go away soon before small business are irreparably harmed.