tax – The Hilltop Monitor https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu The Official Student Publication of William Jewell College Mon, 26 Jun 2023 16:05:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cropped-3-32x32.png tax – The Hilltop Monitor https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu 32 32 United States and China increase tensions in trade conflict https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/united-states-and-china-increase-tensions-in-trade-conflict/ https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/united-states-and-china-increase-tensions-in-trade-conflict/#respond Fri, 13 Apr 2018 13:00:23 +0000 https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/?p=5086 China and the United States are escalating action against one other due to trade disputes. The conflict, while not new, has intensified during Trump’s presidency due to allegations of unfair and exploitative trade. The recent actions have awakened fears of an impending trade war.

On March 9, Trump followed through on his promises to impose tariffs on steel imports. The tariffs taxed steel at 25 percent and aluminum at 10 percent. China called the tariffs a serious attack on international trade and threatened “firm action” if Chinese businesses were negatively impacted.

On April 2, Beijing imposed tariffs on U.S. imports worth about $3 billion. The tariffs taxed 120 products at 15 percent and another eight products at 25 percent, including pork and recycled aluminum. The next day, Trump threatened to strike back with a 25 percent tax on 1300 Chinese aerospace goods.

On April 4, China threatened retaliatory tariffs of 25 percent on U.S. products totaling around $50 billion. The products on the list include aircraft and automobile products, soybeans and chemicals.  They were approximately equivalent in value to the tariffs to which they were responding.

On April 5, Trump called for more tariffs worth around $100 billion, and China threatened further response. All of the tariffs threatened and imposed by China were specifically chosen in order to target products that may harm members of Trump’s base. They were aimed at states with Republican representatives in order to anger the base, which may pressure Trump to lessen tensions.

On April 9, Chinese President Xi JinPing renewed his pledge to reopen China’s markets for further trade and investment. He pledged to work to boost imports. The speech, while lacking any new claims or initiatives, was perceived as a conciliatory message in the escalating trade situation. Xi agreed to significantly lower import tariffs on vehicles, ease restrictions on foreign investment in auto and financial services and increase protection of intellectual property. The sentiment appeared to partially diffuse the situation, with Trump responding positively on Twitter.

The recent developments appear to indicate that the two countries navigated the trade conflict while avoiding a full-scale trade war.

Photo credits to Reuters / Damir Sagolj.

]]> https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/united-states-and-china-increase-tensions-in-trade-conflict/feed/ 0 Liberty City Council 2014 agenda includes new tax policies, growth promotion https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/liberty-city-council-2014-agenda-includes-new-tax-policies-growth-promotion/ https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/liberty-city-council-2014-agenda-includes-new-tax-policies-growth-promotion/#respond Fri, 14 Nov 2014 16:00:18 +0000 https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/?p=2870 The Liberty City Council meets on the second and fourth Monday of every month. The current council is pursuing goals established in 2008, as well as working to implement the ballot measures that were approved by Liberty voters Nov. 4, 2014.

The City Council of Liberty, Mo. splits the city into four wards. Respectively, two city council members represent each ward, elected in four-year terms. In addition to Mayor Lyndell Brenton, council membersare Paul Jenness, Harold A Phillips, Greg Duncan, Jeff Moore, Jeff Watt, Kevin Graham, Michael Hagan and Gene Gentrup. The mayor and city council both implement policy and community goals by determining the tax rate, establishing the budget and hiring department heads.

City Council meetings are open to the public and held on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in Liberty City Hall. Citizens are given the opportunity to speak in open meetings during citizen participation or public hearings.

The most recent goals were established Jan. 2008, and have been a guide for developing budgeting plans and the direction the city should take for future years’ work. They include maintaining and expanding infrastructure, encouraging civic education and collaboration, improving the city’s economic vitality and enhancing the distinct character and amenities of the city.

More specifically, the council’s 2014 legislative program takes these goals into consideration while moving forward to implement legislation for the city. These legislative endeavors include an economic development tax, public safety sales tax and a hotel transient tax. The economic development tax, approved in the most recent midterm election, will be a sales tax around three-eights of a percent on all retail sales made in the city of Liberty. This would directly fund improving public safety throughout the city.  The hotel tax, which recently approved in the midterm election, will bring Liberty, Mo. to the same tourist tax rates of surrounding cities, such as Independence, Mo. and Gladstone, Mo., while providing additional revenue for the city.

Again, the Liberty City Council expects to hear citizen opinions and foster citizen-council collaboration to acheive these goals;  the body encourages Liberty residents to attend meetings or contact their ward representatives with any questions or ideas.

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