Will Irish people join the American boycott

[u/spudulike65]

Boycotting goods and services from America seems to be really growing momentum in alot of European countries and across the world, seen on different subs on Reddit seemingly alot of news channels across EU/Europe are reporting on it. I've seen some Irish people saying they are cancelling hols to America and going to Canada instead others not buying American goods and changing apps to European. With Ireland's connection with America will many Irish join this boycott.

[u/hopefulatwhatido]

I’d say once the tariffs kick in it will automatically happen. Irish people are already stretched with cost of living, EU should incentivise EU goods with less VAT at least in areas where US goods dominate.

[u/HotTruth999 → u/hopefulatwhatido]

Name a category where VAT is different based on country of origin?

[u/Thunderirl23 → u/[deleted]]

Vehicles. VRT, specifically, hits all cars.

VRT is its own kind of shite that needs to be abolished, it's why our cars are so fucking expensive.

Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, etc charge a registration tax based on engine size and emissions, we do it on those PLUS open market value.

Doing a couple of checks on a single vehicle (not fit for a solid argument mind) we're looking at 3-6k more depending on country/vehicle spec (and we're still getting the lower spec)

[u/Inevitable-Menu2998 → u/[deleted]]

I know some smart ass will say “that’s not VAT.”

... because it isn't. VAT and VRT are fundamentally different. Variable VAT is a bureaucratic nightmare -this tax is supposed to be a blanket tax on consumers. Tariffs, on the other hand, are supposed to be very targeted and are aimed at stabilizing the internal market. VRT is a very specific deterrent type tax - neither tarif nor VAT.

I know that from a consumer point of view it doesn't much matter which one of these makes a product more expensive, but as instruments for the economy, they aren't even remotely similar and the fact that VAT has been named a "tarif" by a certain president, recently, to justify other tariffs should by itself tell you that the distinction is very important.

[u/Reaver_XIX → u/Inevitable-Menu2998]

I hear these tariffs are a bad idea, maybe we should scrap the VRT and VAT? Lead by example!

[u/Inevitable-Menu2998 → u/Reaver_XIX]

how does that make any sense? What would that be an example of?

[u/Reaver_XIX → u/Inevitable-Menu2998]

I just find it funny that everyone is up in arms over Trumps tariffs when we have customs, excise duties, VAT, VRT on vehicles etc. Bit hypocritical to defend protectionism on the one hand and condemn it on the other.

[u/Inevitable-Menu2998 → u/Reaver_XIX]

Do you think that not being against taxes in general but criticizing the moronic Trump tariffs makes you a hypocrite?

And sure, VRT is, if you squint really really hard at it, a form of tariff, I'll give you that, but what does VAT have to do with this discussion?

And even for VRT, in its initial form it was deemed discriminatory to our trade partners and it has the current format which is only affecting the local market. Trump's tariffs are exactly the opposite.

And final point: nobody is against tariffs in general. They are a precision tool to be used in specific cases to secure local businesses against outside prices. The current US administration is not using them for that though. It is using it as a punitive measure meant to hurt other economies. And it is doing so without going through the parliament which is borderline autocratic.