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

[Herat]

Trump is running the US, like it's a business and treating other countries like they are also businesses.
He's a ruthless businessman.

He's a failed businessman who had to declare bankrupsy 6 times.

He was never self-made, he always had money from his ruthless father, Fred, who was sued for racial discrimination in housing.

He tried to sue Forbes magazine when they refused to declare him a billionaire years ago, then he recently tried to sue them again when Forbes dropped him off of the list of America's richest 400 people.

Orange short-fingered vulgarian.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

He didn't say it was a great idea. He said he was pleased that the president was building his tariff agenda by using his (Golden's) tariff proposal (universal 10% tariff from which this above article is about - of course he'd be pleased!)
But he went on to say that tariffs are just one step and cannot be the only step and that the tariffs had to be paired with policies so that American families can prosper, it needs to benefit working class Americans.
At the very beginning, he also said he and his team were looking into the new Trump tariff policies and the details.
He's a blue dog democrat, financial stability is important to them. He will consider the American people, their livelihoods, savings, pensions, cost of living etc - Trump doesn’t give a toss, you know about you, your family, how this will impact you - Trump cares about himself and his rich friends. I think you all deserve so much more from your president
Maybe Golden could be the next presidential candidate

Moo
Ebm

Golden wouldn’t have proposed tariffs if he thought they were a bad idea. imo

 

[Summerliz03]

Golden wouldn’t have proposed tariffs if he thought they were a bad idea. imo

Some tariffs aren’t a bad thing. I think the tariff plan that Golden proposed with the 10% universal tariff is far better than Trumps tariff plan that is not rooted in reality and has no rhyme or reason. Using tariffs as a “punishment” on countries we have had a good relationship and who have been our trade allies for many years is never a good idea. The only thing Trumps tariffs will do is raise costs for Americans, create worldwide financial instability and ruin our relationship with our allies. Many very intelligent economists have all said this as well. IMO.

 

[Herat]

Some tariffs aren’t a bad thing. I think the tariff plan that Golden proposed with the 10% universal tariff is far better than Trumps tariff plan that is not rooted in reality and has no rhyme or reason. Using tariffs as a “punishment” on countries we have had a good relationship and who have been our trade allies for many years is never a good idea. The only thing Trumps tariffs will do is raise costs for Americans, create worldwide financial instability and ruin our relationship with our allies. Many very intelligent economists have all said this as well. IMO.

It is also threatening military alliances and cooperative military efforts.

 

[Vern]

I didn't realize until recently that Trump and the USA government are not interested in developing manufacturing and building jobs in the USA. They want foreign manufacturing companies to re-locate to the USA. The USA wants to poach manufacturing companies from other countries.

What a lazy approach!

This is what kills me. All these nations are going to send all their manuacturing to the US at the expense of having jobs in their own countries!!?? Good luck with that!

LOL. Trump can dictate in the USofA all he wants, but he doesn't really get to dictate to the rest of the world.

The rest of the world population is far > than 450 millon Americans.

I'm so sorry about his 'trade defecits' (they are not) too. I'm sorry that American consumers buy 450 millon people's worth of stuff from Canada each year while we Canadians only buy 40 millon people's worth of stuff from the USofA. It's called different population sizes. This guy, with 5 (is it only 5?) bankruptcies obviously doesn't understand simple economics or simple math.

And, last time I checked today, the Euro was up and the US dollar down. Only a matter of time until that Euro becomes the world's standard trading currency now IMO.

 

[Lyanna]

Some tariffs aren’t a bad thing. I think the tariff plan that Golden proposed with the 10% universal tariff is far better than Trumps tariff plan that is not rooted in reality and has no rhyme or reason. Using tariffs as a “punishment” on countries we have had a good relationship and who have been our trade allies for many years is never a good idea. The only thing Trumps tariffs will do is raise costs for Americans, create worldwide financial instability and ruin our relationship with our allies. Many very intelligent economists have all said this as well. IMO.

The fact his proposal also included 5% increase or decrease per year, depending on the economy made sense.
It was a fair proposal unlike Donald's, but there was still a warning that it wouldn't work

Moo

 

[Cryptic]

I think the average American, especially MAGA Americans are just completely uninformed and uneducated on how tariffs work.

I think you are right. But.... I would go further:

The number of Americans (Republicans, Maga, Democrats, Antifa) who truly (key word) have an understanding of global macro economics and can truly articulate pro verse con positions on tariffs and the long term global economic order is very small

That number could be as low as several thousand out of 340 million. Most of these people are either professors or are wealthy finance types.

The rest of the population, both democrat, republican and..... me simply parrot general concepts advanced by one side or the other.

 

[Cryptic]

This is what kills me. All these nations are going to send all their manuacturing to the US at the expense of having jobs in their own countries!!?? Good luck with that!

I imagine that a willingness to do any number of things is going to vary country by country.

Likewise, over simplifications by either Trump acolytes or those opposed to Trump might not always apply.

In the end, the strategy seems to be:
A. impose the tariffs
B. open negotiations with individual nations regarding how the tariffs can be lowered.

The Canadian leadership has evidently shown a willingness to respond to part 'B'. Other countries may refuse out right. But.... I think most countries will choose to enter into "B" type discussions of some sort.

 

[LoveyG]

I think you are right. But.... I would go further:

The number of Americans (Republicans, Maga, Democrats, Antifa) who truly (key word) have an understanding of global macro economics and can truly articulate pro verse con positions on tariffs and the long term global economic order is very small

That number could be as low as several thousand out of 340 million. Most of these people are either professors or are wealthy finance types.

The rest of the population, both democrat, republican and..... me simply parrot general concepts advanced by one side or the other.

I don't even think it takes education, but rather just the ability to engage in critical thinking. We are losing our ability to think. MOO.

eta: MOO

 

[Cryptic]

This guy, with 5 (is it only 5?) bankruptcies obviously doesn't understand simple economics or simple math.

May be- but then again, maybe not.

In either case, it could be a mistake for a country seeking to negotiate with Trump to operate under the logic of:

- I dont like Trump.
- People whom I dont like are dim wits.
- As I dont like Trump, he must be a dim wit.

Sometimes the above holds true, but sometimes it does not. I have no idea of whether it holds with Trump.

As a side note, American general MaCarthur had alot in common with Trump: Ego maniac, All or nothing, My way or the highway type attitudes. Alot of people in the US military did not like him.

But.... as the Imperial Japanese found out, he was also over all competent.

 

[Cryptic]

I don't even think it takes education, but rather just the ability to engage in critical thinking. We are losing our ability to think. MOO.

eta: MOO

My bet is that being able to truly make informed decisions on global macro economics consists of:
A- Critical thinking (as you mentioned)
B- Education and Experience (hard to think critically about something one knows little about)
C- An intuitive ability to note connections in a vast, complex and confusing jumble.

Component C could be similar to chess grand masters, world class athletes ala:

- "I cant always fully explain how I know when to do what, but sometimes I just "know"..... ."

 

[Vern]

May be- but then again, maybe not.

In either case, it could be a mistake for a country seeking to negotiate with Trump to operate under the logic of:

- I dont like Trump.
- People whom I dont like are dim wits.
- As I dont like Trump, he must be a dim wit.

Sometimes the above holds true, but sometimes it does not. I have no idea of whether it holds with Trump.

Personally, I consider a minimum 5 bankruptcies and 35 felonies related to finances to be "lessons learned" on one's ability, or lack thereof, at economic competency. IMO.

To add, perhaps not calling a Prime Minister 'Governor', threatening to Annex the sovereign nation next door, threatening to collapse that nation by economic submission into being your "beloved 51st state", and violating the very Free & Fair Trade Deal with that country that you enacted as POTUS45 would result in that nation not out the very same guy who called himself an idiot. IMO.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1899526684455686211

https://twitter.com/x/status/1907754681847144803

Sorry, not sorry. Threaten anschluss of a sovereign nation then one gets what they earn/deserve.

Congress may be standing silent, but Canada is not.

 

[Vaderman]

Finally, we Americans have been liberated from our 401(k)s.

 

[Vern]

I imagine that a willingness to do any number of things is going to vary country by country.

Likewise, over simplifications by either Trump acolytes or those opposed to Trump might not always apply.

In the end, the strategy seems to be:
A. impose the tariffs
B. open negotiations with individual nations regarding how the tariffs can be lowered.

The Canadian leadership has evidently shown a willingness to respond to part 'B'. Other countries may refuse out right. But.... I think most countries will choose to enter into "B" type discussions of some sort.

We've already negotiated deals with other nations. Our relationship with the US will never be the same. Our Prime Minister (who happens to understand economics) within the past hour:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1907908818815812091

 

[indicolite22]

May be- but then again, maybe not.

In either case, it could be a mistake for a country seeking to negotiate with Trump to operate under the logic of:

- I dont like Trump.
- People whom I dont like are dim wits.
- As I dont like Trump, he must be a dim wit.

Sometimes the above holds true, but sometimes it does not. I have no idea of whether it holds with Trump.

As a side note, American general MaCarthur had alot in common with Trump: Ego maniac, All or nothing, My way or the highway type attitudes. Alot of people in the US military did not like him.

But.... as the Imperial Japanese found out, he was also over all competent.

I would trust an opinion of someone who worked closely with Trump in his first administration. Reportedly Rex Tillerson called him a m***n and other former members have since agreed with him.

 

[Lyanna]

Trump imposes tariffs on uninhabited Heard and McDonald Islands near Antarctica

Australian prime minister surprised after remote external territories – including islands home to penguins – targeted by US president

www.theguardian.com

Interestingly, America imported over $1mil of product (in 2022) mainly machinery and electrical, from Heard Island and McDonald islands. There's only a fishery there with no buildings or human habitation.
Are they just making numbers up? There's something fishy going on with America's finances!

Moo
Ebm

 

[SouthAussie]

My bet is that being able to truly make informed decisions on global macro economics consists of:
A- Critical thinking (as you mentioned)
B- Education and Experience (hard to think critically about something one knows little about)
C- An intuitive ability to note connections in a vast, complex and confusing jumble.

Component C could be similar to chess grand masters, world class athletes ala:

- "I cant always fully explain how I know when to do what, but sometimes I just "know"..... ."

I personally think that your Component C is way over-complicating thing. Economics really isn't that confusing. Even on a global scale.

With the correct charting, the correct identification of a country's needs can be clearly seen, then the correct trade agreements can be put in place.

imo

 

[otto]

Found the last section interesting, Trump forgetting about his new tariffs affecting the cost of materials and components that will be needed for manufacturing and therefore imported because of the new levies (can't remember word for word what he said)

Moo
Ebm

Yes, Trump ignores some critical information. He wants to make USA products for export to other countries. The USA lacks raw materials for manufacturing, so USA must imports raw materials at high tariff. Then another tariff is added when the product is exported.

"His goal is to export more American products, but to make them you need raw materials and components from abroad," says Steven Brakman, professor of economics at the University of Groningen. "And these will also become more expensive with these levies. In his calculations of the size of the import levies, Trump forgets this effect."

The economist expects a recession of the worst kind, namely an economy that stagnates while at the same time prices rise. That is stagflation. Ultimately, what Trump is doing is a big experiment, says Brakman. "And we are going to wait and see what the final effect will be."

 

[SouthAussie]

According to the Washington Post, the White House budget office is assessing the cost of running Greenland and working out an estimate of how much revenue could be earned from its natural resources.

I know it has been said before, but who does he think he is?

Is it going to be Australia next? We have lots of minerals.

 

[Vern]

‘This is bad.' Port of LA expects tariffs to lead to less cargo, fewer jobs

The impacts of the new tariffs announced by President Trump were already visible at the Port of Los Angeles with the prices of key imports going up dramatically overnight, potentially hampering the rebuilding effort in the areas scorched by the January wildfires, a port official said Thursday.
...
“Overall, this is bad for the American consumer, American business and for the port complex here in Southern California,” Seroka said, adding the ports process some 40% of the nation’s imports and 30% of the exports.

-