Tariffs and Treachery The Gods of Trade War Favour No One

The Gods of Trade Demand Sacrifice

Hark fellow raiders! I Ragnar Lothbrok have sailed the seas of commerce and plunder and I tell you these 'tariffs' are more treacherous than a North Sea storm. These merchants weep and wail about their 'supply chains,' but what of the longships that cannot sail? They moan about their 'holiday orders,' but what about the feasts we Vikings crave? The gods demand sacrifice and these tariffs are merely making sure that it is the consumers who will have to sacrifice. It seems that these tariffs are as reliable as Floki building a boat straight. 'What a crisis!'

Deals and Deceptions: A King's Ransom for Confusion

They speak of a 'pause' in these tariffs a glimmer of hope but like a mirage in the desert it vanishes upon closer inspection. These retailers they tell me that even with the tariffs reduced from 125% to 30% the taxes remain too high. It's like offering a thirsty man a sip of ale while keeping the barrel locked away. Stephen Lamar this CEO fellow says that this "de escalation deal moves us in the right direction." I say a blind man could see that it is more like a drunken stupor. The stacking of these tariffs feels as if they have set fire to our longboats before we even get to raid.

Empty Ports Empty Promises

Gene Seroka a leader from the Port of Los Angeles speaks of fewer shipping containers arriving. He frets about 'summer fashion' and 'back to school.' But where is the ale the mead and the loot? He warns of lower inventory and higher prices. It is like Haraldson telling me there is no land to the west. I say there is land and loot and ale for all and this situation will pass. Even though that means we must be ever more vigilant.

A Downward Spiral into the Maelstrom

This Paul Brashier speaks of a 'significant decline' since the end of the first quarter thanks to these high tariffs. He mentions 'front loading' and alternative sourcing but these are merely temporary diversions. Alan Murphy some kind of Sea seer or something says that the ocean carriers need to ramp up vessel capacity quickly. All I hear is a chorus of panic. But the Vikings never panic. We plan we raid and we adapt. We are like water ever changing and moving.

The Secondary Market: A Feast for the Scavengers

Ah the secondary market! Like picking the bones clean after a great battle. Brett Rose says he is seeing activity increase in this market with excess inventory circulating. He says this oversupply is helping to insulate pricing pressures but that cushion won't last forever. It's like Floki hoarding all the wood thinking winter will never end. It might last but eventually it will run out and then what?

Uncertainty Recession and the End of Days?

They speak of recession risks of consumer pullbacks and of small businesses unable to 'eat the costs' of these tariffs. They say that they are betting on an economic downturn with some saying a recession has already begun. And still the gods demand their taxes in full. Mark Baxa says we are in the midst of shifting sourcing and purchasing patterns whatever that means. But Ronnie Davis puts it best: 'Sometime this summer we'll know whether this 90 day lowering of tariffs holds.' If only we knew when the gods would bestow their favor and the plunder could start again. Until then we prepare for the storm.