Canada, Greenland, Mexico, etc - USA Tariffs / Trade War commencing March 2025 #4

[Trooper]

My town today, in blood red Transylvania County, NC! Tiny but mighty!

I was really impressed by the protest in , of all places, Idaho... !!! ... IDAHO!!!

 

[Trooper]

( just to clear up the mystery of where Australian Iron Ore goes to, and why US tariffs are a mosquito bite, compared to our biggest market for steel.... )

But the real glory goes to the engineers of this bridge, and quite a few others, ....

• Mao Yisheng (茅以升):
  • A Chinese structural engineer and social activist, considered a pioneer in bridge construction.
    
    
  • He served as the chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee during the construction of the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, solving 14 difficult problems related to bridge construction.
    
    
  • He is known as the "founder of Chinese modern bridge engineering".
• This bridge is about 1,200 miles south west from Beijing...
  
  
  
• I do admire the cataloguing of the Engineer as not only a world class engineer, , but a social activist as well...

 

[Trooper]

Singapore, and Australia , so far, have decided not to impose reciprocal tariffs on the USA... this does not mean that they are against others bunging them on, it means that they both, so far, are able to make that choice, on the grounds that a reciprocal tariff on the USA harms and causes distress to ordinary Americans, and does not impede their trading strategy at this point in time, in other words, they can afford to ignore the nonsense currently., this decision may change over time, but that's where Singapore and AU currently stand..

 

[SouthAussie]

Singapore, and Australia , so far, have decided not to impose reciprocal tariffs on the USA... this does not mean that they are against others bunging them on, it means that they both, so far, are able to make that choice, on the grounds that a reciprocal tariff on the USA harms and causes distress to ordinary Americans, and does not impede their trading strategy at this point in time, in other words, they can afford to ignore the nonsense currently., this decision may change over time, but that's where Singapore and AU currently stand..

Yes, we export so relatively little to the US. Not worth getting involved in the US posturing.

Albo actually studied economics at the University of Sydney, prior to joining politics ...... "he graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics. Anthony knows the impact that a good education can have on your life." Link

Seems as though Albo has put a 5 point plan into place.

• Provide $50 million to sectors hit by tariffs
• Establish $1 billion economic resilience program
• Establish a critical minerals reserve
• Prioritise Australian-made products
• Strengthen anti-dumping laws

Albanese outlines five-point plan to respond to Trump's tariffs

The prime minister has outlined his government's strategy for responding to American tariffs, indicating further announcements in the weeks ahead.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Trooper]

Yes, we export so relatively little to the US. Not worth getting involved in the US posturing.

Albo actually studied economics at the University of Sydney, prior to joining politics ...... "he graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics. Anthony knows the impact that a good education can have on your life." Link

Seems as though Albo has put a 5 point plan into place.

• Provide $50 million to sectors hit by tariffs
• Establish $1 billion economic resilience program
• Establish a critical minerals reserve
• Prioritise Australian-made products
• Strengthen anti-dumping laws

Albanese outlines five-point plan to respond to Trump's tariffs

The prime minister has outlined his government's strategy for responding to American tariffs, indicating further announcements in the weeks ahead.

www.abc.net.au

Trump. who 's claim to fame is 'he was the dumbest student I ever had... is up against some disciplined thinkers.. Claudia Sheinbaum , Mexico's El Presidente, is an environmental engineer, She was one of the scientists and policymakers who shared the 2007 Nobel Prize for Peace for their work on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

and Mark Carney. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard University in 1988, then studied at the University of Oxford, where he earned a master's degree in 1993 and a doctorate in 1995.

And one must include Keir Starmer , a Knight of the realm, SIr Kier Starmer. British PM, Starmer graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Leeds in 1985 and gained a postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law degree at St Edmund Hall at the University of Oxford in 1986. He became a barrister in 1987 at the Middle Temple, becoming a bencher there in 2009.

And darling Emanuel Macron. of France .. Macron studied philosophy at Paris Nanterre University. He completed a master's degree in public affairs at Sciences Po and graduated from the École nationale d'administration in 2004. He worked as a senior civil servant at the Inspectorate General of Finances and investment banker at Rothschild & Co.

and so on...........Pedro Sanchez... of Spain...In 2012, Pedro Sánchez received his Doctorate in Economics from Camilo José Cela University, where he lectured in economics.

and Lawrence Wong, Singapore.... Wong pursued higher education in the United States, first at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics (1994), and then at the University of Michigan, where he earned a master’s degree in applied economics (1995). A decade later he completed a master’s in public administration at Harvard University (2004) ( Lawrence is a particular favorite of mine.. he is a superb administrator. ) .

 

[ReadySet]

I was really impressed by the protest in , of all places, Idaho... !!! ... IDAHO!!!

I know, right? I was there at rally of several thousand today in Boise!

 

[Trooper]

AU has finally dropped a warning to travelers to the USA...as expected , it was the phone bizzo that tipped the scales...

Latest update​

Still current at:06 April 2025
Updated:04 April 2025
Latest update:Entry requirements are strict. US authorities have broad powers to decide if you're eligible to enter and may determine that you are inadmissible for any reason under US law. Check US entry, transit and exit requirements. Whether you're travelling on a visa or under the Visa Waiver Program, ensure you understand all relevant terms and conditions before attempting to enter the United States.

Safety​

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and protests are occurring due to the potential for unrest and violence. Monitor media for information, follow the instructions of local authorities and abide by any curfews.
• Violent crime is more common in the United States than in Australia. Gun crime is also prevalent. If you live in the United States, learn and practice active shooter drills.
• There is a persistent threat of mass casualty violence and terrorist attacks in the United States. Be alert, particularly in public places and at events.
• Severe weather and natural hazards include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, landslides, avalanches, hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, extreme temperatures, wildfires, and floods. Monitor weather conditions and follow the advice and instructions of local authorities, including evacuation orders.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

The 14 year old child labor law changes are so very, peverse and strange. I find it devious, calculated, and intensely alarming.

Shouldn't we be making changes to preserve the mental health of 14 year olds, and their resistance to the drug culture? Shouldn't THAT be the priority now?

Searching (which ended up being an AI comment)
CANADA
"In Canada, the minimum age to work varies by province, but generally, children can start working at 14 years old in most provinces, though there are restrictions on the types of jobs and hours they can work, especially for those under 16"

MEXICO
In Mexico, the minimum legal age to work is 15, and employees are considered minors until they turn 18. Minors have a special set of employee benefits to protect them from burnout. Also, employers must always put minors' academic education before work."

Quite a surprise that, at least on the books, Mexico has a more stringent child labor law than the US or Canada.
Any Canadians know what jobs 14 year olds are allowed to do?

I'm not convinced that mid-teens doing some paid work is automatically "bad". From a UK perspective, until fairly recently it was quite normal for local newsagents to employ kids from 12 upwards to deliver newspapers for an hour or so before or after school. Until c2000 it was very normal for 14-16 year olds to have a "Saturday job", typically in retail or in a cafe. Obviously, we're not talking about 14 year olds having full time jobs in potentially hazardous situations, but we're in danger of underestimating the type of part time work teenagers could reasonably carry out and benefit from. I would imagine that most small family businesses relied on the teens in the family working a few hours when required.

A further point: here in the UK we have a whole generation of teenagers and young people who are seemingly overwhelmed by "anxiety" and what used to be called "failure to launch". Freaked out by anything and everything and generally terrified of ordinary life. Funnily enough, this has largely occurred at the same time as the very part time and "Saturday" jobs have declined drastically.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Bye bye, US tourism industry.

British tourist detained by ICE for 19 days warns against all US travel

Rebecca Burke told The Guardian that she was declared an illegal alien as she tried to leave the U.S.

www.newsweek.com

There were about 4m UK visitors to the US last year, down from 4.8m in 2019, ie just before Covid. So UK visitor numbers are still down on pre-Covid. Most UK visitors tend to be visiting family or going to very specific specific areas or attractions in the US, with a significant proportion of them visiting NY/California or just doing theme parks in Florida. In reality most of the US probably doesn't see a Brit from one year to the next.

I would expect some families to reconsider trips to Florida, though others may take the view that in 4 years time their kids will be too old for Disney and decide to go now anyway, and some school visits to NY to be replaced by trips to other cities.

 

[SouthAussie]

I'm not convinced that mid-teens doing some paid work is automatically "bad". From a UK perspective, until fairly recently it was quite normal for local newsagents to employ kids from 12 upwards to deliver newspapers for an hour or so before or after school. Until c2000 it was very normal for 14-16 year olds to have a "Saturday job", typically in retail or in a cafe. Obviously, we're not talking about 14 year olds having full time jobs in potentially hazardous situations, but we're in danger of underestimating the type of part time work teenagers could reasonably carry out and benefit from. I would imagine that most small family businesses relied on the teens in the family working a few hours when required.

A further point: here in the UK we have a whole generation of teenagers and young people who are seemingly overwhelmed by "anxiety" and what used to be called "failure to launch". Freaked out by anything and everything and generally terrified of ordinary life. Funnily enough, this has largely occurred at the same time as the very part time and "Saturday" jobs have declined drastically.

I think the problem with the proposed change in the Florida child labour law is it is to allow 14 year olds to work overnight, on school days. It was a heated Florida senate discussion, apparently. But the bill did advance in the end.

That wasn't clear in the post you were responding to, but that was what the original discussion was about (back in the threads).

Florida bill to allow teens to work overnight hours on school days moves forward

The proposal, which builds on the 2024 law, sparked heated debate, with critics of the plan saying it would lead to exploitation of children and proponents calling it a "parental rights" issue.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Kemug]

I am in Australia, and had been hoping to visit my daughter in the US in December, for my grandson's university graduation. Now I am thinking that I probably won't go, it is just too scary now

 

[Trooper]

There were about 4m UK visitors to the US last year, down from 4.8m in 2019, ie just before Covid. So UK visitor numbers are still down on pre-Covid. Most UK visitors tend to be visiting family or going to very specific specific areas or attractions in the US, with a significant proportion of them visiting NY/California or just doing theme parks in Florida. In reality most of the US probably doesn't see a Brit from one year to the next.

I would expect some families to reconsider trips to Florida, though others may take the view that in 4 years time their kids will be too old for Disney and decide to go now anyway, and some school visits to NY to be replaced by trips to other cities.

They could go to Disneyland, Paris... ( which is cleaner and more interesting than Orlando Disneyland , better maintained than Anaheim Disneyland ) sure, it's a bit of a crank now the Brits are not in the EU and have to endure the queue for 'foreigners' meanwhile watching in maximum envy as EU travelers skip thru in 4 minutes, but it's a lot better than spending 19 days in an ICE prison, for having a comment on your phone that Trump is a dill. I saw the menu that British lady had to eat when she was imprisoned for 19 days, cold potato and beans... dear God, the horror. And that was breakfast.. dinner was beans and cold potato.

 

[Trooper]

MSN

oh urk.... JP Morgan has raised it's forecast from 40% likelihood of a recession to the forecast of 60%.....

Noting the state of Wall Street this week, Groundwork Collaborative executive director Lindsay Owens declared in a Friday statement that "Trump has officially brought the economy to its knees."


''''After China announced new 34% tariffs on all American goods beginning next week, The Associated Press reported Friday that "the S&P 500 was down 4.8% in afternoon trading, after earlier dropping more than 5%, following its worst day since Covid wrecked the global economy in 2020. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 1,719 points, or 4.3%, as of 1:08 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 4.9% lower."

''''"The president single-handedly wiped out Americans' retirement savings overnight and subjected businesses to intense whiplash with his increasingly erratic and chaotic policies that continue to drive consumer and business uncertainty," she said. "To call this an economic downturn is an understatement; Trump is marching us straight into a depression."

 

[SouthAussie]

They could go to Disneyland, Paris... ( which is cleaner and more interesting than Orlando Disneyland , better maintained than Anaheim Disneyland ) sure, it's a bit of a crank now the Brits are not in the EU and have to endure the queue for 'foreigners' meanwhile watching in maximum envy as EU travelers skip thru in 4 minutes, but it's a lot better than spending 19 days in an ICE prison, for having a comment on your phone that Trump is a dill. I saw the menu that British lady had to eat when she was imprisoned for 19 days, cold potato and beans... dear God, the horror. And that was breakfast.. dinner was beans and cold potato.

Yes, there are other Disneylands in the world. We were in Japan about 5 months ago and visited Disneyland there and Universal Studios (as well as lots of beautiful Japanese places).

For Australians, the currency conversion was more favourable than the US currency, Japan is the cleanest country ever, the people were lovely and helpful, the food was great, and there was no gun violence to fear.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

They could go to Disneyland, Paris... ( which is cleaner and more interesting than Orlando Disneyland , better maintained than Anaheim Disneyland ) sure, it's a bit of a crank now the Brits are not in the EU and have to endure the queue for 'foreigners' meanwhile watching in maximum envy as EU travelers skip thru in 4 minutes, but it's a lot better than spending 19 days in an ICE prison, for having a comment on your phone that Trump is a dill. I saw the menu that British lady had to eat when she was imprisoned for 19 days, cold potato and beans... dear God, the horror. And that was breakfast.. dinner was beans and cold potato.

Disneyland Paris is certainly an option, but it's a different offering. Typically, UK families go to DP for a short break rather than a couple of weeks. DP also sits in theme park isolation, whereas there are other familiar parks in and around Orlando which families tend to visit as well. There's also the weather question - Paris tends to have very similar weather to the southern UK.

Yes, it's a bit more of a hassle for Brits to travel to the EU now, but there's no chance of people being held in custody for weeks on end for minor immigration issues.

 

[Trooper]

Yes, it's a bit more of a hassle for Brits to travel to the EU now, but there's no chance of people being held in custody for weeks on end for minor immigration issues.

edited by me for focus....

I was a British tourist trying to leave America. Then I was detained, shackled and sent to an immigration detention centre

Graphic artist Rebecca Burke was on the trip of a lifetime. But as she tried to leave the US she was stopped, interrogated and branded an illegal alien by ICE. Now back home, she tells others thinking of going to Trump’s America: don’t do it

www.theguardian.com

worth a read.....

 

[Kemug]

Mrs T is a very loyal wife.

 

[Trooper]

Mrs T is a very loyal wife.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

edited by me for focus....

I was a British tourist trying to leave America. Then I was detained, shackled and sent to an immigration detention centre

Graphic artist Rebecca Burke was on the trip of a lifetime. But as she tried to leave the US she was stopped, interrogated and branded an illegal alien by ICE. Now back home, she tells others thinking of going to Trump’s America: don’t do it

www.theguardian.com

worth a read.....

Well, quite. If one can believe the Grauniad (debateable), the problem arose because she did not have the correct visa to enter Canada so was bounced back to the US and only then came to the notice of US immigration/border officials.

I suspect the issue is that some of the arrangements, such as Workaway or WWOOF, under which people enter countries are somewhat ambiguous in terms of what they actually are. The individual is offering services for payment in kind rather than in cash so it would appear to qualify as work. I would imagine that many people participating in these arrangements are on dodgy ground in some countries but usually get away with it - until they don't and it hits the news.

 

[Trooper]

Well, quite. If one can believe the Grauniad (debateable), the problem arose because she did not have the correct visa to enter Canada so was bounced back to the US and only then came to the notice of US immigration/border officials.

I suspect the issue is that some of the arrangements, such as Workaway or WWOOF, under which people enter countries are somewhat ambiguous in terms of what they actually are. The individual is offering services for payment in kind rather than in cash so it would appear to qualify as work. I would imagine that many people participating in these arrangements are on dodgy ground in some countries but usually get away with it - until they don't and it hits the news.

I would certainly doubt the story if it was in the Spectator..... no debate about it, at all. But, let's face it, the Spectator would not print anything like that in a million years...