How We Lost Our New [Big Island] Home To Trump's Illegal Tariffs

[Durian Fiend]

DF - No word from Will. I'm losing a bit of faith in his story.
Can I ask why this is? Not trying to tell you what to think, just curious why Will not conversing with you personally changes what you believe?

He wouldn't have to converse with me personally.  Another option would be to respond publicly to the same question posted in the comments section online.  Also, his story was long on generalities and short on specifics.  So, I think it's possible he's exaggerating.

"...For a while we had sat with the numbers, recalculating, as if there might be a mistake or a different column to look at. There wasn’t. The realization had come slowly: this was the end of it..."

Edit: If a person strives to make a compelling economic argument, they do it with numbers along with words. For example, I greatly enjoy Paul Krugman's substack column.

[ironyak]

Gotcha - thanks. With all these discussions and demonstrations of people living in AI-curated media bubbles, I was just wondering what would trigger some skepticism if you're only being shown sources you tend to agree with.

Skepticism is good IMO, an essential piece of philosophy and science, as long as it applied equally and fairly to all info, not just that with which you initially disagree.

I do agree that Will could have done a better job in making clear his financial argument, but nothing about that makes me believe he didn't encounter shifting tariffs or that he obviously lives an economically-constrained and simple life, like many of those around him in upper Puna.

[Wao nahele kane]

You people have established 7 pages of jabberwockey based on a jibberish article because NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU have an objective bone amongst the lot. This is why Punaweb has become nothing short of a politically bias cess-pit of TDS sufferers who are more than willing to run as far as possible off reservation as long as there's Trump bashing involved and you have a local paper that gave you the greeenlight. You people are pathetic.

Here's a damn reality check for you...
In December 2024 (before Trump took office), prefabricated homes (classified under HS code 9406.90.0130 for metal structures) imported from China were subject to a base duty rate of 2.9% ad valorem, plus an additional 25% ad valorem under Section 301 tariffs (List 3). This resulted in a total effective duty of 27.9%. For wooden prefabricated homes (HS 9406.10.0000), the base rate was 2.6% ad valorem, plus the same 25% additional, for a total of 27.6%.These rates were unchanged from earlier in 2024, as the USTR's four-year review focused on increases in other sectors and did not modify HS 9406.Data sources:CBP Ruling N341297 (dated August 2, 2024): https://rulings.cbp.gov/ruling/n341297
USTR Section 301 List 3 (effective May 10, 2019, with 25% rate): https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enf..._20459.pdf
Harmonized Tariff Schedule (Chapter 94): https://hts.usitc.gov/view/Chapter%2094

2025-
In 2025, prefabricated homes (classified under HS code 9406.90.0130 for metal structures) imported from China were subject to a base duty rate of 2.9% ad valorem, plus an additional 25% ad valorem under Section 301 tariffs (List 3). This resulted in a total effective duty of 27.9%.For wooden prefabricated homes (HS 9406.10.0000), the base rate was 2.6% ad valorem, plus the same 25% additional, for a total of 27.6%.These rates remained unchanged throughout 2025, as the USTR's tariff modifications focused on other sectors (e.g., EVs, semiconductors, steel) and did not affect HS 9406. No specific exclusions applied to prefabricated buildings under the extended Section 301 exclusions.Data sources:Harmonized Tariff Schedule (Chapter 94, 2025): https://hts.usitc.gov/view/Chapter%2094?...5HTSARev25
hts.usitc.gov +2
USTR Section 301 List 3 (25% rate, unchanged in 2025): https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enf..._20459.pdf
bioshomes.com
Bios Homes report on tariffs impacting prefab buildings: https://bioshomes.com/global-building-ma...fs-in-2025
bioshomes.com

2026-
In 2026, prefabricated homes (classified under HS code 9406.90.0130 for metal structures, or similar subheadings for other prefab buildings) imported from China remain subject to a base duty rate of 2.9% ad valorem, plus an additional 25% ad valorem under Section 301 tariffs (List 3). This results in a total effective duty of 27.9%.For wooden prefabricated homes (HS 9406.10.0000), the base rate is 2.6% ad valorem, plus the same 25% additional, for a total of 27.6%.These rates have remained unchanged in 2026. The USTR's four-year review modifications (implemented in phases through 2024–2026) focused on strategic sectors such as EVs, batteries, solar products, semiconductors, steel/aluminum, and cranes/shipbuilding-related items—none of which include prefabricated buildings or HS Chapter 94 broadly. Section 301 exclusions were extended through November 10, 2026, but no specific exclusions apply to prefabricated homes or structures under HS 9406. No new tariffs or changes targeted this category in 2026 actions.Data sources:Harmonized Tariff Schedule (Chapter 94, 2026 Revision): https://hts.usitc.gov/view/Chapter%2094 (base rates unchanged; see notes on prefabricated buildings under heading 9406).
USTR Section 301 List 3 (25% rate, unchanged): https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enf..._20459.pdf
USTR extensions and modifications (exclusions extended to Nov 2026, no impact on HS 9406): https://ustr.gov/about/policy-offices/pr...estigation
General Section 301 status (no prefab changes noted): https://www.strtrade.com/trade-news-reso...s-on-china

So you've basically a story by an idiot publisher (civilbeat) about an idiot prefab house buyer who didn't bother to check the applied duty taxes upon what he agreed to buy from China. And it's all proposed as being caused by Trumps illegal tariffs. LMAOROF.

[Durian Fiend]

You people have established 7 pages of jabberwockey based on a jibberish article because NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU have an objective bone amongst the lot. This is why Punaweb has become nothing short of a politically bias cess-pit of TDS sufferers who are more than willing to run as far as possible off reservation as long as there's Trump bashing involved and you have a local paper that gave you the greeenlight. You people are pathetic.

Your reading comprehension is poor.  Some of us-namely me- have been questioning his numbers, not simply accepting his story at face value.  

You've overlooked the possibility that the prefab home he selected could be comprised largely from metal, not wood as your links address.   Also overlooked is the fact that storage and port fees for imports were increased significantly during the time he purchased the home and when it arrived in the US.  

Instead of a clear explanation of the increase in costs claimed by Bailey, IMO his agenda seemed to be, as you say, to slam Trump's illegal and stupid tariffs as a tax on American consumers.  Which, of course, is true.

[Moderator 2]

NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU have an objective bone amongst the lot.

Back at post #21 I said:
Will Bailey, who wrote the article, is probably the only person who can break down the exact cost details for you.

Subjective?
Objective?

[Punatang]

I, as a common sense centrist and independent voter, I would like to vouch for Durian Fiend's realtive objectivity and healthy skepticism for the commentary piece which leaned heavily toward interpretive storytelling.  Peeking through The Looking Glass, at least in Durian Fiend's case, the Jabberwocky moniker seems unfair. 


and stupid tariffs as a tax on American consumers.  Which, of course, is true. - Durian Fiend


That's a good thing though right?

   



Hehe - just some good hearted fun.  I have greatly appreciated Durian's quest for truth in this thread.  

Enjoy your Sunday all.

PS:  I can also vouch that Moderator 2 did berate me with that green stuff and it was kinda like they are representing it.

[HiloJulie]

You people have established 7 pages of jabberwockey...

Perhaps jabberwokey to you, factual to most.

First, a majority of your embedded links go to dead end websites. Further, while trying to justify tariff's in 2026, your embedded link takes one to the Federal Register, Vol. 84, No. 90 dated Thursday, May 9, 2019.

All that being said, the "Liberation Day Tariff's enacted in April of 2025, later deemed illegal by the SCOTUS, were ALWAYS "on top of" any and all pre-existing in place tariffs no matter who enacted them or continued them or even raised them PRIOR to Liberation Day.

An informative read. For those open minded in discussing facts:

https://www.bhfs.com/insight/liberation-...for-china/

[Wao nahele kane]

If you're on my ignore list, you earned it for being an unquestionable knucklehead and I don't need to see anything else you have to express. I made one temporary exception thus far to simply see the inspiration behind the idiotic subject title. This is what most of punweb looks like for me these days. 
   

[HiloJulie]

If you're on my ignore list, you earned it for being an unquestionable knucklehead and I don't need to see anything else you have to express. I made one temporary exception thus far to simply see the inspiration behind the idiotic subject title. This is what most of punweb looks like for me these days. 

So, yeah, I'd say that all of humanity is inherently discriminatory.

[Durian Fiend]

If you're on my ignore list, you earned it for being an unquestionable knucklehead and I don't need to see anything else you have to express. I made one temporary exception thus far to simply see the inspiration behind the idiotic subject title. This is what most of punweb looks like for me these days. 

So, yeah, I'd say that all of humanity is inherently discriminatory.

Ha!    That's quite an ignore list, and apparently something to be proud of in some circles.  

Can anyone else match or surpass our forest man in the realm of intolerance?