US Tariffs, Sigh!

[Geneva Olson]

When I started the thread it was with a focus on dealing with tariffs, both into the US and into Canada. Obviously this affected others as it has also impacted imports coming from other countries from around the world.

To Gino's point it has been quite some time since President Trump was elected. But like it or not the discussion has continued to devolve into a tit for tat.

As of August 29, 2025 the de minimis exemption on US bound imports has been cancelled and all commercial entries, regardless of value, are subject to a formal commercial entry. Depending upon a number of factors this may or may not add tariffs but the additional costs and headaches to process a commercial entry through a broker is going to have a huge impact on the movement of goods into the US. That being said, it will be just a matter of time before Canada ramps up its retaliation and makes coming into Canada with US goods even more costly.

As much of a pita this is an additional disappointment is the squandered relationships that have been developed over the decades that will be negatively affected. Like many of us we have family across the US. We also have many relationships that are a result of business connections that have evolved over the 30+ years. Often we'll call, chat about work for two minutes and then chew the fat about nonsense for another half hour or figure out where we'll find each other to have a beer at a Sabres game between periods.

Anyway, how can we get away from the rhetoric that has nothing to do with solving a problem and discuss developing opportunities to strengthen our relationships on this forum and through our business, family and friendship connections?

I'm hoping that if tariffs are going to raise prices on the vinyl, then perhaps other companies will start making vinyl here in the US. I know guillermo said something about oracal going up. When I looked back and the rolls of vinyl I get from oracal (651 black, white and red), they've consistently increased 10 dollars a roll over the years since 2019. So to me, that has nothing to do with tariffs.

That being said, there are plenty of petroleum companies here in Houston that make plastic. I'm sure that vinyl can be made here in the US. I haven't researched who does make vinyl in the US. But Trump has made deals to avoid tariffs if they make it over here.

We did have a rep come in selling fetergoni (sp?) from Italy. It's a little more expensive than Arlon slx. It's a cool product thought. We used a sample of it for a vintage stripe kit on an 80s conversion. But I cant see spending the extra 50 a roll just to get a similar product.

(this is me trying to stick to the subject)

 

[JamesLam]

I'm hoping that if tariffs are going to raise prices on the vinyl, then perhaps other companies will start making vinyl here in the US. I know guillermo said something about oracal going up. When I looked back and the rolls of vinyl I get from oracal (651 black, white and red), they've consistently increased 10 dollars a roll over the years since 2019. So to me, that has nothing to do with tariffs.

That being said, there are plenty of petroleum companies here in Houston that make plastic. I'm sure that vinyl can be made here in the US. I haven't researched who does make vinyl in the US. But Trump has made deals to avoid tariffs if they make it over here.

We did have a rep come in selling fetergoni (sp?) from Italy. It's a little more expensive than Arlon slx. It's a cool product thought. We used a sample of it for a vintage stripe kit on an 80s conversion. But I cant see spending the extra 50 a roll just to get a similar product.

(this is me trying to stick to the subject)

My thinking is that vinyl, like many laminates and roll adhesives is under such heavy environmental scrutiny that they have to be made overseas to avoid regulations and associated economic burden when attempting to be complaint.

 

[JamesLam]

My thinking is that vinyl, like many laminates and roll adhesives is under such heavy environmental scrutiny that they have to be made overseas to avoid regulations and associated economic burden when attempting to be complaint.

Fedrigoni​

 

[Geneva Olson]

Fedrigoni​

thank you! I can see it 100 times and still spell it wrong. what's even crazier was when I had to add the substrate profile into my printer, it was a totally different name. And I can't remember what that was. LOL

so much for the environment..right?
we already produce plastic here in Houston. So, I don't think there's a big leap from plastic to vinyl....? But I'm not an expert on making vinyl. I will say that trump has offered incentives to countries to bring their companies here to make the products to avoid tariffs. so maybe we will see that.

 

[John Miller]

The question that immediately came to mind was. The cost to move an entire manufacturing plant from overseas to the US, and the fact that, at least in the past, our presidents are only in power for 8 years max. OK; so I move to the US where labor costs considerably more at a substantial cost to my company and then 4 to 8 years later a different president with different views on tariffs is elected, the tariffs are lifted, then I have a manufacturing plant in a country that is expensive to operate in and foreign manufacturers sell my product for less. Moving to the US seems risky to me.

 

[gabagoo]

I'm hoping that if tariffs are going to raise prices on the vinyl, then perhaps other companies will start making vinyl here in the US. I know guillermo said something about oracal going up. When I looked back and the rolls of vinyl I get from oracal (651 black, white and red), they've consistently increased 10 dollars a roll over the years since 2019. So to me, that has nothing to do with tariffs.

That being said, there are plenty of petroleum companies here in Houston that make plastic. I'm sure that vinyl can be made here in the US. I haven't researched who does make vinyl in the US. But Trump has made deals to avoid tariffs if they make it over here.

We did have a rep come in selling fetergoni (sp?) from Italy. It's a little more expensive than Arlon slx. It's a cool product thought. We used a sample of it for a vintage stripe kit on an 80s conversion. But I cant see spending the extra 50 a roll just to get a similar product.

(this is me trying to stick to the subject)

I was under the impression that General Formulations vinyl were produced in the USA...am I wrong?

 

[Gino]

I was simply pointing out the fact that the right haven't stopped crying about 2020 to this day, but the left complaining for nine months is Dems still being bad losers? Trump was whining about it just this week after being easily manipulated by Putin into trying to take away voting by mail.
And the "No Proof" was just hilarious icing on the cake, since, you know, Trump had/has absolutely no proof of election fraud.

That's the kinda reasoning ya get from a liberal with no common sense or focus on anything. Your own party was complaining about biden all along, too. Even harris was embarrassed to be near him. She wasn't seen or heard from for at least 2 years, other than her cackling, which no one likes, but they put another dysfunctional person up for president, anyway. How & why would you defend your party when the people holding the reins don't do anything ?? Come up with a plan with sensible people and maybe you won't hafta look at another 'trump-type' person. And don't be another d!ckwad that says he got us through the pandemic.

 

[MikePro]

the only thing that got me through the pandemic, was touching grass.

 

[Gino]

Sure wasn't biden or that other fathead, fauci. The lies and madeup stories and how they'll save you. That getting vaccines and boosters was so stupid and so many people fell for it. My stepson took every vaccine and booster shots, wore a mask even when alone in the car. He got covid either 4 or 5 times. Yep, it sure helped him. When it all went pretty much away, I asked him..... well, are you glad ya took all those prevention method tricks ?? He said, you bet, as sick as I got, without the aides and stuff, I might've died.

 

[Geneva Olson]

Sure wasn't biden or that other fathead, fauci. The lies and madeup stories and how they'll save you. That getting vaccines and boosters was so stupid and so many people fell for it. My stepson took every vaccine and booster shots, wore a mask even when alone in the car. He got covid either 4 or 5 times. Yep, it sure helped him. When it all went pretty much away, I asked him..... well, are you glad ya took all those prevention method tricks ?? He said, you bet, as sick as I got, without the aides and stuff, I might've died.

My brother was so scared of covid he took 4 covid shots. He now has ALS and is bed ridden with a feeding tube. His doctor told him that he would have gotten ALS anyway, HOWEVER, the covid shot sped up the disease. It took 2 years from diagnosis to bedridden with a feeding tube. He regrets being so scared.

me- i took hydroxychloriquin and was sick for 3 days. my husband took nothing and had a 103.7 temp for 3 days and layed on ice packs. He got it a second time. I don't think I ever got it again.
I'm not EVER taking a vaccine for ANYTHING EVER AGAIN. (we did not take the vaccine)

 

[Geneva Olson]

I was under the impression that General Formulations vinyl were produced in the USA...am I wrong?

oh maybe...I'll have to look into that.

 

[Stacey K]

My brother was so scared of covid he took 4 covid shots. He now has ALS and is bed ridden with a feeding tube. His doctor told him that he would have gotten ALS anyway, HOWEVER, the covid shot sped up the disease. It took 2 years from diagnosis to bedridden with a feeding tube. He regrets being so scared.

me- i took hydroxychloriquin and was sick for 3 days. my husband took nothing and had a 103.7 temp for 3 days and layed on ice packs. He got it a second time. I don't think I ever got it again.
I'm not EVER taking a vaccine for ANYTHING EVER AGAIN. (we did not take the vaccine)

Funny, my parents got 2 shots. My Dad was SOOOOO mad at my sister and our families for refusing the shots he stopped talking to us for a bit. Finally, once all the correct information started coming out, he apologized and he often says now he's SOOO glad none of us took it. Both my boys tested positive for it but I never did. My sister got it quite bad and my ex husband did also but he took a bunch of zinc, etc. and felt better after a couple days. Quite a few of my friends so the ivermectim now. I haven't tried it. I did take the Shingles shot but holy balls did I get sick!!! I had chicken pox so bad when I was 21 I'm pretty scared of shingles.

 

[MikePro]

i was a best man at a wedding for a college best buddy, who has since cut ties with me over my refusal to take the covid vax. whatever, to each their own i guess.
...BUT he refused to let his parents see their grandchildren until just recently, now 5 years old, due to their not being vaccinated.
(i'll give anyone two guesses at his political affiliation)

fuck the hype, and fuck anyone that feigned moral superiority over it. we were all lied to, and the people peddling the lies ...were responsible for it all.
(i'll also give you one guess why i dgaf about what libtards have to say anymore)

 

[Geneva Olson]

i was a best man at a wedding for a college best buddy, who has since cut ties with me over my refusal to take the covid vax. whatever, to each their own i guess.
...BUT he refused to let his parents see their grandchildren until just recently, now 5 years old, due to their not being vaccinated.
(i'll give anyone two guesses at his political affiliation)

fuck the hype, and fuck anyone that feigned moral superiority over it. we were all lied to, and the people peddling the lies ...were responsible for it all.
(i'll also give you one guess why i dgaf about what libtards have to say anymore)

I love the whole "trust the science" narrative, when the basis of science is to actually question the hypothesis.

 

[JBurton]

fuck the hype, and fuck anyone that feigned moral superiority over it. we were all lied to, and the people peddling the lies ...were responsible for it all.
(i'll also give you one guess why i dgaf about what libtards have to say anymore)

I love the whole "trust the science" narrative, when the basis of science is to actually question the hypothesis.

You two do recall who initially promoted the jab right?

Trumps received COVID-19 vaccines at White House in January

Former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump received their COVID-19 vaccines in January at the White House, Fox News confirmed.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Geneva Olson]

You two do recall who initially promoted the jab right?

Trumps received COVID-19 vaccines at White House in January

Former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump received their COVID-19 vaccines in January at the White House, Fox News confirmed.

www.foxnews.com

Yea.. Fauci...your point? Oh. because..."trump". Just because I am a trump supporter doesn't mean I agree with everything he does. It's politics not a love affair. So, you think Trump made a medical decision?

 

[Geneva Olson]

The question that immediately came to mind was. The cost to move an entire manufacturing plant from overseas to the US, and the fact that, at least in the past, our presidents are only in power for 8 years max. OK; so I move to the US where labor costs considerably more at a substantial cost to my company and then 4 to 8 years later a different president with different views on tariffs is elected, the tariffs are lifted, then I have a manufacturing plant in a country that is expensive to operate in and foreign manufacturers sell my product for less. Moving to the US seems risky to me.

That's why I mentioned the plastics that we make here. It's not moving an entire manufacturing plant. For vinyl, it would be a turnaround on a unit in a plastic facility and making it into a vinyl unit. These presidents along with congress make policies that last into other presidential terms.

 

[MikePro]

You two do recall who initially promoted the jab right?

Trumps received COVID-19 vaccines at White House in January

Former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump received their COVID-19 vaccines in January at the White House, Fox News confirmed.

www.foxnews.com

promoted?
more like fast tracked something that the chicken-littles demanded
…but sure. i still never took it. honestly it was chivalry at first, figuring that there was no reason for me to rush in line while everyone else was clamoring to get it, and then I got covid and figured no point beyond that.
I've been vax'd every year of my life until then, annual flu shots and always got the flu from the shot and then again a cpl months later. Haven't had the flu since, and only had covid twice, but that rat bastard Fauci was getting paid $500k/yr to cover-up his role in the whole thing.

either way, lets keep cutting the red tape
government has proven time&again, that it needs to be smaller.

 

[JamesLam]

the only thing that got me through the pandemic, was touching grass.

It's like they new the pandemic was coming so they decriminalized it.

 

[JamesLam]

I love the whole "trust the science" narrative, when the basis of science is to actually question the hypothesis.

In high school and college when you put forth a 'statement of fact' you had to cite your source(s). Today the fact ends with the the statement itself. That's why I believe everything Oprahahaha has ever said.