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I think that any Vic exempt form CAFE standards or protected from import competition by huge terifs, should require a commercial license to operate. Give the automakers a choice, sell the vehicle outside of their special safe space, or shrink the market that can buy it drasticaly.
or protected from import competition by huge terifs
Europe never opened their chicken market.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax
The Chicken Tax is a 25 percent tariff on light trucks (and originally on potato starch, dextrin, and brandy) imposed in 1964 by the United States under President Lyndon B. Johnson in response to tariffs placed by France and West Germany on importation of U.S. chicken.[1] The period from 1961 to 1964[2] of tensions and negotiations surrounding the issue was known as the "Chicken War", taking place at the height of Cold War politics.[3]
Eventually, the tariffs on potato starch, dextrin, and brandy were lifted,[4] but since 1964 this form of protectionism has remained in place to give US domestic automakers an advantage over imported competitors.[5] Though concern remains about its repeal,[6][7] a 2003 Cato Institute study called the tariff "a policy in search of a rationale."[4]
Largely because of post–World War II intensive chicken farming and accompanying price reductions, chicken, once internationally synonymous with luxury, became a staple food in the U.S.[12] Prior to the early 1960s, not only had chicken remained prohibitively expensive in Europe, but it had also remained a delicacy.[13] With imports of inexpensive chicken from the U.S., chicken prices fell quickly and sharply across Europe, radically affecting European chicken consumption.[13] In 1961, per capita chicken consumption rose up to 23% in West Germany.[13] U.S. chicken captured nearly half of the imported European chicken market.[13]
Subsequently, the Dutch accused the U.S. of dumping chickens at prices below cost of production.[13] The French government banned U.S. chicken and raised concerns that hormones could affect male virility.[13] German farmers' associations accused U.S. poultry firms of fattening chicken artificially with arsenic.[13]
Coming on the heels of a "crisis in trade relations between the U.S. and the Common Market,"[13] Europe moved ahead with tariffs, intending that they would encourage Europe's postwar agricultural self-sufficiency.[14] European markets began setting chicken price controls.[13] France introduced the higher tariff first, persuading West Germany to join them—even while the French hoped to win a larger share of the profitable German chicken market after excluding U.S. chicken.[3] Europe adopted the Common Agricultural Policy, imposing minimum import prices on all imported chicken and nullifying prior tariff bindings and concessions.
Beginning in 1962, the U.S. accused Europe's Common Market of unfairly restricting imports of American poultry. By August 1962, U.S. exporters had lost 25% of their European chicken sales.[13] Losses to the U.S. poultry industry were estimated at $26—$28 million[3] (equivalent to $251.53—$270.88 million in 2022).
TTIP came probably as close as things have been, but ran into opposition from European poultry farmers again.
Petty tit for tat terrif policy isn’t the point. The US truck market is deeply distorted by that terrif in a way that makes it difficult to get smaller utility vehicles. Especially considering that the terrif is on all trucks, even ones made in countries outside the European market that do buy American chicken, like Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
Besides most American chicken can’t be sold in the EU anyway due chlorine washing being illegal there.
ran into opposition from European poultry farmers again.
And consumers. We don't want your chickens because the EU has standards.
They're placed to block competition. It's called a non-tariff barrier to trade.
So we don't block you cos we have standard on food safety? We block you as part of a trade barrier? We force our own farmers to follow rules on food safety but if we tell the US to do the same we're putting up barriers to trade?
Do you see how arrogant you sound? The EU has strong consumer protection laws and reputation.
I love comments criticizing trucks from Lemmy users who haven’t seen sunshine or touched grass in a year.
Do any kind of outdoor activity, maintain a property or mild home renovation on the regular with your sedans and we’ll see how long it takes before they look beat to shit or have mechanical issues.
As others have pointed out, the outdoor activities aren't that big a deal. It's homeowner shit that they're good for. Granted, I still think the full-size flagship models are pointless, mine's just a mid-size. I can transport small engine equipment (ride on mowers, snowblowers) that wouldn't fit in 99% of roofed vehicles. I can throw pavers, gravel, mulch, dirty tools, gas cans etc. in the bed without worrying about cleaning the interior or stuff getting into cracks, or noxious smells. All my plant waste from trimming and raking goes right in the bed and down to the local transfer station.
I had a spent oil jug crack in my SUV once and it took months for it not to smell like a mechanic's garage, not to mention the sludge stuck in corners that I literally could not get rid of and the permanent stain in the upholstery.
Favorite truck I ever owned was an early 80s Silverado. 8' bed, cloth bench seat, power/computerized nothing. Simple, functional, throw some bricks and sticks in the back without a second thought of scratches and dents...
Fancy crap on a truck is just that much more to go wrong, but I'm sure it makes you real comfy.
Anyone remember light pickups? I had one of the last Nissan hardbody trucks, and I loved that darned thing. I abused the heck out of it and it lasted forever. There's nothing really like it now. Supposedly the rebooted Toyota Stout will be in this range, but I suspect it won't really be the same kind of truck.
There's some funky high tariff on light duty pick ups, that killed importing them.
25% - thanks lobbyists and purchased politicians.
As I mentioned on another thread, I'm trying to reduce my car dependency by walking and cycling more often but I do intend to buy "one more" car; preferably a 80s/90s Toyota pickup but a Land Cruiser 80 series is also in the cards.
Serious question: are people actually posting on Tumblr enough for us to make memes?
Those Ford rangers were death traps back then.
I had an 88 Chevy S-10 with the little Iron Duke 4. The rear glass was the headrest. It didn't have enough power to use 5th gear and maybe got 20mpgs. People look back on these trucks with rose tinted nostalgia but they werent that great.
When I was riding, I had a Chevy S10 and a fold-up trailer that I could haul up to 4 motorcycles with, looked like the small truck on the left.
I can't even imagine trying yo use one of today's trucks to accomplish the same thing. It would be a nightmare.
These things are marketed to carry people and stuff, and they're bad at both.
Oh man I saw a pair of tiny trucks like those at the junkyard made. Made me sad, they were gutted for parts.