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eruyesterday at 7:51 PM1 replyview on HN

Import tariffs and export tariffs have approximately equal influence on your economy. That's known as Lerner Symmetry. (A very narrow version of this can be proven in a mathematical sense, but the empirical effect is broader.)

For bilateral trade it doesn't matter much whether country A imposes import tariffs or country B exposes export tariffs.

Basically, the whole talk about retaliatory tariffs is silly.


Replies

mittenscyesterday at 8:16 PM

> Basically, the whole talk about retaliatory tariffs is silly.

Why?, retaliatory - in response to US, tarriffs - taxes, whether on export or import, as you noted, doesnt matter much. Effect depends on who needs to either sell or buy the tarrifed items the most.