A lesson in tariffs and more Press letters to the editor

I would like to dispel the notion that tariffs punish countries like China. Tariffs, actually, are very inflationary and end up costing the U.S. consumer. The country doesn’t pay the tariff, the end user does because of the U.S. importer having to pay it and then charging a markup on it to the retailer and then to the consumer.

For instance, if we had a 50% tariff on Chinese goods, your TV that cost, let’s say $800 to import, would have a $400 tariff added, then the importer would have his profit added, say 20% or $240, and then the retailer would add his 20%, on which would be another $280, making the purchase price to the consumer $1,720 (+ higher sales tax). Without the tariff it would have been $800 + $160 + $192 or $1,152 (+ lower sales tax). If everything from China was taxed at this rate, these items would be more than 50% higher in cost, actually 67% (+higher sales tax)!

There are many goods that are almost entirely manufactured by overseas countries like China. Most clothes, Apple products, toys, LED products, etc., are not produced in the USA.

There may be occasional reasons why tariffs should be used, such as for national security, however this would be nothing like the effect of charging the tariffs on everything, which are really more like an additional sales tax to consumers.

Don Earl

Atlantic City

Support our educators

JD Vance’s angry, hurtful comments that teachers who don’t have children “disorient and really disturb” him are consistent with his long history of attacking families and public schools.

Teachers, teacher aides, paraprofessionals, school nurses, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitors, librarians, social workers, counselors and dozens of other essential school employees work every day to help kids learn and grow. So often they pay for supplies for children out of their own pockets to make sure they have what they need.

Vance doesn’t seem to understand that being an effective educator and not having biological kids are completely unrelated. I support our educators because they support our kids, and it’s upsetting that Donald Trump and JD Vance have such anger and disdain for people who do not share their views.

Jason Holder

Egg Harbor Township

Know child labor laws

With the school year back in full swing in Atlantic County, many teenagers are hitting the books during the day and clocking in at after-school and weekend jobs.

Whether you are a parent, a teacher or a member of the community, we all want to ensure that teens in our neighborhoods have safe, healthy jobs that do not stand in the way of their educational opportunities.

Teens have the same rights as all other workers — the right to a safe workplace, job safety training, required safety and personal protective equipment, the right to ask workplace safety and health-related questions and speak up without fear, the right to file complaints and to be paid fairly. It is the responsibility of employers to provide a safe workplace for teens and all workers.

Did you know that child labor laws prohibit workers under age 18 from using certain equipment? These laws also restrict the types of jobs and the hours that youth under age 18 can work. Know what is allowable and exercise your workplace rights. More information is available at youthrules.gov.

Everyone involved in a young worker’s life can play a role in keeping them out of harm’s way. By staying informed and raising awareness of federal child labor rules against dangerous jobs and excessive hours, we can ensure that teenagers’ jobs are good, safe jobs. Positive and age-appropriate work experiences can allow young people to develop skills and learn what it means to be part of the labor force. These are the kinds of good jobs that can get young workers on the path to good careers.

We call on parents, educators and others concerned about our community and the future of Atlantic County’s youngest employees to join together to keep teen workers safe.

Paula Dixon-Roderick

Area director, USDOL/Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Marlton