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

[Mo Thuairim]

Except for the fact that we need to know what's going on, I almost wish the media would black out everything. It's the constant spotlight on him and the international reactions to everything he does that keeps him motivated. It's all about him. Not just in the US but now the whole world is talking about him. He's in heaven. MOO.

Agree but I'm not sure he'd love the name Orange Monday.

 

[Mo Thuairim]

'Everything is on the table,' says Scott Bessent on negotiations around EU 'non-tariff barriers'​

“Everything is on the table,” Bessent said when asked whether the European Union needed to lower non-tariff barriers including value-added taxes (VAT).

Everything is on the table. The academic literature shows that it’s actually the non-tariff barriers which are harder, both harder to quantify and … they’re more insidious because they’re hidden, they’re obfuscated.

His reference to “non-tariff barriers” mirrors Donald Trump’s comments from the Oval Office yesterday about his qualms with “non-monetary tariffs” regarding the EU, but he was less vague than Bessent, suggesting that EU standards, rules and regulations were “non-monetary barriers” for US companies trying to trade with the bloc.

“It’s not only tariffs, it’s non-monetary tariffs. It’s tariffs where they put things on that make it impossible for you to sell a car. It’s not a money thing. They make it so difficult – the standards and the tests,” Trump said.

“So they come up with rules and regulations that are just designed for one reason: that you can’t sell your product in those countries and we’re not going to let that happen. Those are called non-monetary barriers,” he said.

The European Union still wants to avoid a trade war with the United States despite Donald Trump’s administration’s rejection of the “zero for zero” offer on all industrial goods put forward by Brussels, an EU spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on Monday that the European Union needed to lower its non-tariff barriers, including those created by value-added taxes and food safety regulations, if it wanted to reach a deal.

“The situation hasn’t changed. We want to avoid tariffs … we are waiting for our American counterparts to engage in a meaningful way,” he said.

Trump discusses ‘major’ tariffs on pharma imports at Republican dinner – as it happened

This live blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

Is Value-Added Tax a tariff? What is the purpose of the VAT?

Value-Added Tax (VAT) is a consumption tax, similar to sales taxes in the United States, and is used in over 170 countries worldwide. It is applied on a non-discriminatory basis, regardless of where a product is made. Any company selling goods for consumption in the EU—whether foreign or domestic—must pay VAT. EU produced goods pay exactly the same VAT as any imported goods. VAT is not a trade measure, let alone a tariff. It is clearly not a measure applied exclusively to foreign goods like an import tariff.

How does the WTO consider internal taxes like VAT and are they allowed?

The EU's VAT system is fair and non-discriminatory, applying equally to both domestically produced and imported goods. Any company selling goods for consumption in the EU—whether foreign or domestic—must pay VAT. EU produced goods pay exactly the same VAT as any imported goods. As such, VAT is a domestic, non-discriminatory tax, which is allowed by the WTO, GATT Article III, since its creation in 1947.

Questions and Answers on the US reciprocal tariff policy

What is the current value of EU-US trade and investment?\n\nTotal bilateral trade in goods reached €851 billion in 2023. The EU exported €503 billion of goods to the US market, while importing €347 bill

ec.europa.eu

 

[Lyanna]

What a silver-tongued diplomat Vance is.

China slams 'ignorant and impolite' US VP Vance over 'peasants' comments​

China has condemned US Vice President JD Vance as "ignorant and impolite", after he referred to the US borrowing money from "Chinese peasants".

"China's position on China-US economic and trade relations has been made very clear," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

"It is surprising and sad to hear such ignorant and impolite words from this vice president," he added.

[...]

Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Mr Vance defended those tariffs as an antidote to a "globalist economy" he said had not worked for ordinary Americans.

"We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture," the Vice President said.

"That is not a recipe for economic prosperity. It's not a recipe for low prices, and it's not a recipe for good jobs in the United States of America," he said.

[...]

China slams 'ignorant' Vance over 'peasants' comments

China has condemned US Vice President JD Vance as "ignorant and impolite", after he referred to the US borrowing money from "Chinese peasants".

www.rte.ie

He is as equally disgusting as Trump. Ignorant doesn't even begin to describe vance.
Moo

 

[Angela_Beckett]

About Peter Navarro, the "mastermind" behind this whole mess

"top White House trade adviser, has developed a reputation in Washington as a Rasputin-like China hawk who whispers anti-China musings in President Trump’s ear.

This week, Washington learned about the mysterious anti-China voice that has long whispered in Mr. Navarro’s ear: Ron Vara.

Ron Vara has appeared as a cryptic voice of economic wisdom more than a dozen times in five of Mr. Navarro’s 13 books, dispensing musings like “You’ve got to be nuts to eat Chinese food” and “Only the Chinese can turn a leather sofa into an acid bath, a baby crib into a lethal weapon and a cellphone battery into heart-piercing shrapnel.”

But Ron Vara, it turns out, does not exist. At least not in corporeal form. He is apparently a figment of Mr. Navarro’s imagination — an anagram of Mr. Navarro’s surname that the trade adviser created as a Hitchcockian writing device and stuck with as something of an inside joke with himself"

Peter Navarro Invented an Expert for His Books, Based on Himself (Published 2019)

President Trump’s trade adviser frequently cited Ron Vara, a fictional source who was a critic of China, in his writings.

www.nytimes.com

 

[otto]

China today has signaled it is going to fight Trump's threat of increased tariffs but will still keep the lines of communication open, as is prudent. In addition to increasing internal consumption and manipulation of currency, China has also made advances to be a trade partner with Japan, Korea, the EU, UK, and Canada.

"“You just slapped my face and I’m not just going to call you and beg your pardon.”

" On April 7, Xi called for strengthened efforts to “fully unleash” the country’s consumption potential to spur growth. The Chinese leader said revitalizing consumption, expanding domestic demand and enhancing investment efficiency are on top of the country’s agenda, state-run broadcaster China Central Television reported on April 7, without specifying when and where he made those comments.

“We believe that before we can sit down to negotiate a deal we have to fight, because the other side wants to fight first,” Wu Xinbo, director at Fudan University’s Center for American Studies in Shanghai, said of China’s stance. On the possibility of a Trump-Xi call, Wu said: “You just slapped my face and I’m not just going to call you and beg your pardon.”

Stocks tumbled on concerns over the trade war’s impact on the global economy. Asia capped the worst day since 2008. A gauge of Chinese shares listed in Hong Kong fell into a bear market, while the city’s benchmark Hang Seng Index plunged the most since 1997. Europe’s Stoxx 600 tumbled more than 6% at one point"

China is working on manipulating the yuan. At the same time, China may widen its diplomatic outreach by building stronger economic ties elsewhere. Last month, trade officials from China, Japan and South Korea jointly called for open and fair trade. During a recent visit to Brussels, Chinese Vice Finance Minister Liao Min expressed a willingness to work with the European Union to defend the multilateral trading system. T

The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa also made similar overtures about partnering with Canada

More interesting comments in the article:

Xi Declares China Ready to Fight Trump’s Trade Tariffs - TT

President Xi Jinping’s decision to quickly retaliate against Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs sent the world a clear message: If the U.S. wants a trade war, China is ready to fight.

www.ttnews.com

“You just slapped my face and I’m not just going to call you and beg your pardon.”

China describes it perfectly! That is exactly what the USA has done to Canada and so many other countries. The USA came into our space, slapped us, and then stood there waiting for us to apologize and beg. When we don't, the taunting republicans laugh themselves silly claiming that our heads are exploding, that we suffer Trump derangement syndrome, and they'll take what they want regardless.

 

[Herat]

Expert predict a $1000 Apple phone will cost $3500 after April 9 if the threatened China tariffs are not eased.

Very interesting video. He comments that it is impossible for Apple to untangle itself from China quickly. Basically, it would cost Apple $30 billion USD and 3 years to come up with US plants that would only manufacture about 10% of an iPhone. He says these tariffs will change the future of Apple , whose massive success at technology is [was?} the face of the US to much of the wold.

The graph of how many and where there are factories in China that produce or assemble iphones is amazing.

I think Trump is going to destroy Apple unless he gives them a waiver from the tarffs. Which, of course, opens the floodgates to every other major US company that makes it's products elsewhere. Trump will enjoy playing Emperor with massive US companies. It will keep his Nero-like fascisst brain very happy while the rest of us galley slaves have to make it through this ordeal.

Emperor Trump - governing by or

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/08/politics/video/trump-tariffs-apple-iphone-prices-digvid

 

[Herat]

“You just slapped my face and I’m not just going to call you and beg your pardon.”

China describes it perfectly! That is exactly what the USA has done to Canada and so many other countries. The USA came into our space, slapped us, and then stood there waiting for us to apologize and beg. When we don't, the taunting republicans laugh themselves silly claiming that our heads are exploding, that we suffer Trump derangement syndrome, and they'll take what they want regardless.

It's not really the US that did this.

It is Trump and Trump, alone.

We are not marching in the streets to bring down China. We are marching to bring down the tyrant, Trump.

 

[Yellowbelly]

What a silver-tongued diplomat Vance is.

China slams 'ignorant and impolite' US VP Vance over 'peasants' comments​

China has condemned US Vice President JD Vance as "ignorant and impolite", after he referred to the US borrowing money from "Chinese peasants".

"China's position on China-US economic and trade relations has been made very clear," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

"It is surprising and sad to hear such ignorant and impolite words from this vice president," he added.

[...]

Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Mr Vance defended those tariffs as an antidote to a "globalist economy" he said had not worked for ordinary Americans.

"We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture," the Vice President said.

"That is not a recipe for economic prosperity. It's not a recipe for low prices, and it's not a recipe for good jobs in the United States of America," he said.

[...]

China slams 'ignorant' Vance over 'peasants' comments

China has condemned US Vice President JD Vance as "ignorant and impolite", after he referred to the US borrowing money from "Chinese peasants".

www.rte.ie

It's a sad state of affairs when I find myself cheering on the Chinese against the Americans.

 

[indicolite22]

He is as equally disgusting as Trump. Ignorant doesn't even begin to describe vance.
Moo

What a silver-tongued diplomat Vance is.

China slams 'ignorant and impolite' US VP Vance over 'peasants' comments​

China has condemned US Vice President JD Vance as "ignorant and impolite", after he referred to the US borrowing money from "Chinese peasants".

"China's position on China-US economic and trade relations has been made very clear," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

"It is surprising and sad to hear such ignorant and impolite words from this vice president," he added.

[...]

Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Mr Vance defended those tariffs as an antidote to a "globalist economy" he said had not worked for ordinary Americans.

"We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture," the Vice President said.

"That is not a recipe for economic prosperity. It's not a recipe for low prices, and it's not a recipe for good jobs in the United States of America," he said.

[...]

China slams 'ignorant' Vance over 'peasants' comments

China has condemned US Vice President JD Vance as "ignorant and impolite", after he referred to the US borrowing money from "Chinese peasants".

www.rte.ie

How does his wife feel to have a racist husband? Did he call Indians peasants yet?

 

[Yellowbelly]

Seems like we all need to get back on Team Musk!

Elon Musk torches Trump aide Peter Navarro: "moron"

Musk was responding to comments Navarro had made about Tesla.

www.newsweek.com

 

[indicolite22]

Seems like we all need to get back on Team Musk!

Elon Musk torches Trump aide Peter Navarro: "moron"

Musk was responding to comments Navarro had made about Tesla.

www.newsweek.com

It was a matter of time when Musk's business interests would prevail over his thirst for power. I still wouldn't trust him.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

There is no redeeming for Elon Musk, he's done too much damage to too many people.

 

[Herat]

It's a sad state of affairs when I find myself cheering on the Chinese against the Americans.

That's where I am, too, sadly.

Any improvement in the global financial markets is because China has taken a strong stance to restore confidence in its export business and its labor force.

The networking China has done with other Pacific rim countries, European and UK countries, African countries, and now Canada is going to be very apparent and noted world-wide.

I was just remembering an article I read that noted China made a huge amount of tomato-based products that were sold in Italy, canned tomatoes and tomato paste, especially. So China is already there for Europe.

Trump does not really understand what kind of enemy he is about to make.

 

[Lyanna]

How does his wife feel to have a racist husband? Did he call Indians peasants yet?

I was thinking about Mrs V.
Really hope in a spousal argument he doesn't resort to derogatory language. Sadly though considering that he clearly can not control emotions and resorts to hideous insults on a world stage, I imagine, he very much does say things like that behind closed doors.
Poor woman.

Jmo, imo and moo

 

[Herat]

dbm

 

[otto]

I was thinking about Mrs V.
Really hope in a spousal argument he doesn't resort to derogatory language. Sadly though considering that he clearly can not control emotions and resorts to hideous insults on a world stage, I imagine, he very much does say things like that behind closed doors.
Poor woman.

Jmo, imo and moo

What surprised me most, when I first heard about her, is that although she is an accomplished woman in her own right, she appeared as a political prop in Greenland. She was not sent to Greenland as an intelligent working representative of the USA government. It appeared that she was sent there as a housewife with children who wanted to watch community dog sled races with her son, and to be the friendly family face of the USA. It appeared as though everything she is was stripped away so she could be presented as equal to the local Indigenous People - which is not true.

"She graduated with a BA in history from Yale University and was also a Gates Scholar at Cambridge University, where she came away with an MPhil in early modern history. It was as a student at Yale Law School in 2010 that she met Vance, when they joined a discussion group on "social decline in white America".

Usha Vance: Who is the Second Lady of the United States?

The Vances met as students, when they joined a discussion group on “social decline in white America”.

www.bbc.com

 

[detective.moon]

american big tech is now worth 1816 billion dollars less, especially apple has been hit hard

Big Tech na heffingen 1816 miljard dollar minder waard, vooral Apple hard geraakt

Apple heeft zijn productie deels verplaatst van China naar onder meer India en Vietnam, landen die nu ook te maken krijgen met hoge importtarieven van Donald Trump.

nos.nl

but will it lead to more production in america? nope. apple is now planning to source more iphones from india

https://www.wsj.com/tech/apple-iphone-production-china-tariffs-6cc37f40

and as an emergency solution apple has flown five flights full of iphones to the US in three days ahead of the tariffs

How Apple 'flew' 5 flights full of iPhones from India and China in 3 days to beat Trump Tariffs - The Times of India

Mobiles & Tablets News: Anticipating new tariffs imposed by the US, Apple swiftly transported iPhones and other products from India to the US to maintain current pricing. Thi

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

[TootsieFootsie]

MSN

The Independent

Trump Tariffs threaten 35,000 jobs, entire towns in South Africa's citrus sector, farmers group says​

 

[MrsWatson]

Aren't the Waltons big Republican donors? You know, the family that owns Wal-Mart? Wonder how they feel about the China tariffs? IIRC, about 60% of their merchandise is sourced in China.

 

[Lyanna]

What surprised me most, when I first heard about her, is that although she is an accomplished woman in her own right, she appeared as a political prop in Greenland. She was not sent to Greenland as an intelligent working representative of the USA government. It appeared that she was sent there as a housewife with children who wanted to watch community dog sled races with her son, and to be the friendly family face of the USA. It appeared as though everything she is was stripped away so she could be presented as equal to the local Indigenous People - which is not true.

"She graduated with a BA in history from Yale University and was also a Gates Scholar at Cambridge University, where she came away with an MPhil in early modern history. It was as a student at Yale Law School in 2010 that she met Vance, when they joined a discussion group on "social decline in white America".

Usha Vance: Who is the Second Lady of the United States?

The Vances met as students, when they joined a discussion group on “social decline in white America”.

www.bbc.com

She was defo used as a prop jmo. Although, I thought it was more to do with the massive and disturbing wave of illegal deportations. Again, moo, jmo and imo - it was the same weekend iirc.
She's a smart woman
I don't remember seeing as much about the VP in British media in the past as seeing this one and he's an awful human being! How did he flip so much, he was very anti trump before. What's changed? Bet he's been promised the presidency, they'll step Trump down in a couple of months due to mental decline, put him there as Trump can't fulfil his role as president and voilà - meet the 48th, President Vance.
Maybe I've had too much sun today

Moo, jmo, imo
Ebm