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

[Trooper]

China got in first with those trade deals.
South Korea and Japan, I think, honour their trade deals. They are not known to go back on them.
They likely could get the best of both worlds.

imo

China, Japan and South Korea as a combined 'enemy ' is a formidable foe.... If these ' trade delegation' blokes are anything of the quality of Mr and Mrs Vance, with their moronic manners, their delusions, their unnecessary pompous , vacuous , bombastic approach to a 'deal'... well. You can plainly see that it simply will not work.

What the USA needs to do is hire sophisticated diplomats .. which might be in short supply in the USA these days, but that has more of a chance that any 'trade delegation ' that rocks up to Seoul , with the prevailing view, that they will be dealing with Peasants..

FAIL. written all over it .

 

[Kudzuu]

The two Greek letters on the right cancelled each other out, which they weren't supposed to do.

No they don't. The order of operations rules here. For clarity they should have put parentheses on the top (numerator). It isn't necessary, actually redundant on the bottom (denominator).

Do the subtraction first multiply the denominator then divide numerator (top) by the denominator (bottom).

The equation was adjusted to plug in the known values to produce the unknown Delta tau sub i which is the tariffs percentage.

It is imperative to put parentheses around the two subtracted values so people a little rusty on the order of operations aren't tempted to cancel. In fact the order of operations are to go to what is in the parentheses (or in this case the numerator). Then apply the order of operations:
Multiply
Divide
Add
Subtract

So only subtraction applies to the top
Multiplication on the bottom then you have a fraction you can convert to a percentage.

I need a chalkboard. Lol!
If they had included an example with numbers for the Greek letters it would have been clearer how to solve.

Buy hey confusion and intimidation is their game and they suck at mathematics. Imo

 

[SouthAussie]

No they don't. The order of operations rules here. For clarity they should have put parentheses on the top (numerator). It isn't necessary, actually redundant on the bottom (denominator).

Do the subtraction first multiply the denominator then divide numerator (top) by the denominator (bottom).

The equation was adjusted to plug in the known values to produce the unknown Delta tau sub i which is the tariffs percentage.

It is imperative to put parentheses around the two subtracted values so people a little rusty on the order of operations aren't tempted to cancel. In fact the order of operations are to go to what is in the parentheses (or in this case the numerator). Then apply the order of operations:
Multiply
Divide
Add
Subtract

So only subtraction applies to the top
Multiplication on the bottom then you have a fraction you can convert to a percentage.

I need a chalkboard. Lol!
If they had included an example with numbers for the Greek letters it would have been clearer how to solve.

Buy hey confusion and intimidation is their game and they suck at mathematics. Imo

Axios provided a pretty clear explanation of the equation. imo




"Corinth and Veuger write that if the tariffs had been calculated correctly, with the same ultimate goals in mind but using the right kind of elasticity figure, the levy on a country like Vietnam would have been 12.2% and not 46%."

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/06/trump-tariffs-error-aei

 

[otto]

China, Japan and South Korea as a combined 'enemy ' is a formidable foe.... If these ' trade delegation' blokes are anything of the quality of Mr and Mrs Vance, with their moronic manners, their delusions, their unnecessary pompous , vacuous , bombastic approach to a 'deal'... well. You can plainly see that it simply will not work.

What the USA needs to do is hire sophisticated diplomats .. which might be in short supply in the USA these days, but that has more of a chance that any 'trade delegation ' that rocks up to Seoul , with the prevailing view, that they will be dealing with Peasants..

FAIL. written all over it .

BBM
What the USA needs to do is hire sophisticated diplomats

Funny! I always thought that government officials should be, by definition, sophisticated diplomats. Today, the USA government has no diplomats, not even the president. The president resorts to profanity, shouting, and so many rude behaviours when he doesn't get what he wants. Vance is similarly rude, condescending and arrogant. There's little hope that any negotiation will go well.

 

[Kudzuu]

Axios provided a pretty clear explanation of the equation. imo

View attachment 577699


"Corinth and Veuger write that if the tariffs had been calculated correctly, with the same ultimate goals in mind but using the right kind of elasticity figure, the levy on a country like Vietnam would have been 12.2% and not 46%."

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/06/trump-tariffs-error-aei

 

[Kudzuu]

Excellent! Thanks.

 

[otto]

I just heard on live news that Trump is waiting for China to phone him, but China is not phoning.

Trump believes that China has to make a deal with the USA, that China wants to make a deal. Trump said that he's going to be nice, but China has to make a deal ... and China has to phone Trump.

 

[Trooper]

BBM
What the USA needs to do is hire sophisticated diplomats

Funny! I always thought that government officials should be, by definition, sophisticated diplomats. Today, the USA government has no diplomats, not even the president. The president resorts to profanity, shouting, and so many rude behaviours when he doesn't get what he wants. Vance is similarly rude, condescending and arrogant. There's little hope that any negotiation will go well.

These are the kind of people Trump is sending out into the world as representing the USA...



MSN

A member of the Secretary of State’s security team was arrested in Brussels after becoming physically aggressive with a hotel staff member and confrontational with local police, according to a new report.

'''Marco Rubio and his security team were in Brussels last week for a NATO summit when the incident occurred, according to The Washington Examiner. The Diplomatic Security Service, of which the member was a senior agent, is “aware of the incident” and the “allegations are being examined,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement to The Independent.

 

[branmuffin]

His party have all let the guardrails slip. Be it for their own (other) reasons.
And Trump has been systematically dismantling the DOJ leadership and the military leadership, to adjust their reasoning.
Congress is acting like a Trump puppet.


For example, Leonard Leo advised on the choice of Supreme Court justices because he wanted anti-abortion laws put into place. Now he is very against the tariffs.

Leo was a key architect of the conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court that rolled back the federal right to an abortion.
For decades, as a leading figure in the Federalist Society and other conservative legal groups, Leo identified and promoted the careers of lawyers and law clerks who shared his views of the constitution.

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/24/nx-s1-5199049/federalist-society-conservative-supreme-court

imo

Leonard Leo is a member of the secretive Opus Dei organization along with the architect of Project 2025, Kevin Roberts. Both are members of the Federalist Society and/or the Heritage Foundation which is ironic to me considering the founding father's idea of a constitutional republic unencumbered by the rigid beliefs of governance by a monarchy and faith. I don't think a lot of people have any idea about the subversive nature of these faith based groups that have a grip on the current American government.

Kevin Roberts, architect of Project 2025, has close ties to radical Catholic group Opus Dei

Heritage Foundation leader has long received spiritual guidance from group and his policy goals align with its teachings

www.theguardian.com

 

[branmuffin]

yep, seems like neither china or the US will back down soon! where will it end?

some dutch politicians seemed worried we’ll be flooded with even cheaper chinese goods (as chinese companies won’t be able to sell in the US) and it could undermine other companies - but i don’t know how realistic these worries are at this point

Especially when people are hyper focused on the origins of a product. There was an image in our local paper that showed a section of the produce department in a grocery store where strawberries from Mexico that cost $5.99 were out of stock while the strawberries from USA that cost $3.99 hadn't been touched.

 

[SouthAussie]

I just heard on live news that Trump is waiting for China to phone him, but China is not phoning.

Trump believes that China has to make a deal with the USA, that China wants to make a deal. Trump said that he's going to be nice, but China has to make a deal ... and China has to phone Trump.

At this time, I imagine that China is too busy strengthening its other trade and investment deals, than to be calling Trump.


"China has bilateral investment agreements with over 100 countries and economies, including Austria, the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

China maintains 16 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with its trade and investment partners, and is negotiating or implementing an additional eight FTAs. China’s FTA partners are ASEAN, Singapore, Pakistan, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Iceland, Switzerland, Maldives, Georgia, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. China has also recently signed FTAs with Korea and Australia, both of which include a chapter on investment."

China - Trade Agreements | Privacy Shield

Describes bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that this country is party to, including with the United States. Includes websites and other resources where U.S. companies can get more information on how to take advantage of these agreements.

www.privacyshield.gov

 

[Herat]

Axios provided a pretty clear explanation of the equation. imo

View attachment 577699


"Corinth and Veuger write that if the tariffs had been calculated correctly, with the same ultimate goals in mind but using the right kind of elasticity figure, the levy on a country like Vietnam would have been 12.2% and not 46%."

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/06/trump-tariffs-error-aei

I saw the interview with Corinth last night and he was so elegant and simple, yet biting in his derision of the inability of a load of billionaire businessmen and consulting economists could not understand or complete a very simple math problem.

He is some kind of national treasure. I'll bet he and Warren Buffet get on really well.

 

[Herat]

These are the kind of people Trump is sending out into the world as representing the USA...



MSN

A member of the Secretary of State’s security team was arrested in Brussels after becoming physically aggressive with a hotel staff member and confrontational with local police, according to a new report.

'''Marco Rubio and his security team were in Brussels last week for a NATO summit when the incident occurred, according to The Washington Examiner. The Diplomatic Security Service, of which the member was a senior agent, is “aware of the incident” and the “allegations are being examined,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement to The Independent.

Rubio is very much out of his league in this job. He looks utterly miserable all the time and also terrified of his boss.

A lot like Hegseth.


Hire a stupid clown, get a really bad circus.

 

[Seni]

Head of United Nations said that developing countries will not be able to meet 10% tariff

Leonard Leo is a member of the secretive Opus Dei organization along with the architect of Project 2025, Kevin Roberts. Both are members of the Federalist Society and/or the Heritage Foundation which is ironic to me considering the founding father's idea of a constitutional republic unencumbered by the rigid beliefs of governance by a monarchy and faith. I don't think a lot of people have any idea about the subversive nature of these faith based groups that have a grip on the current American government.

Kevin Roberts, architect of Project 2025, has close ties to radical Catholic group Opus Dei

Heritage Foundation leader has long received spiritual guidance from group and his policy goals align with its teachings

www.theguardian.com

Wow, brings back memories! Was a teen student in Spain when they tried to recruit me. Hugely powerful , Universidad de Pamplona totally Opus. Think it has weakened since in Europe

 

[branmuffin]

Back in 2020, China signed free trade agreements with 14 Asia Pacific countries .... "Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea signed the deal, alongside members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand."

I am not sure how realistic the Dutch concerns are either. I don't feel that we are flooded with cheap Chinese goods. We still all buy Japanese cars, Japanese TVs, Swedish furniture, etc etc.

I think a lot of the fear of trading with China comes about because China is 'the enemy'.

I think China will likely just adjust its output of goods to suit its markets.

imo

China and 14 Asia-Pacific countries agree historic free trade deal

Signing of RCEP unites nations totalling 2.2 billion people and covers 28% of global trade

www.theguardian.com

I remember reading a couple of years ago about the vehicles that are in Hawaii. The most popular vehicle in Hawaii is a Toyota. Everything Toyota.

Click on the Hawaii map and see the most popular vehicles sold.

Most Popular Cars in America | Edmunds

These are the top selling cars in America for this year. The most popular car in your state might surprise you.

www.edmunds.com

They feel more closely aligned by their cultural heritage to Japan rather than the US. More than 40% of Hawaiians are of Japanese heritage.

 

[Seni]

I remember reading a couple of years ago about the vehicles that are in Hawaii. The most popular vehicle in Hawaii is a Toyota. Everything Toyota.

Click on the Hawaii map and see the most popular vehicles sold.

Most Popular Cars in America | Edmunds

These are the top selling cars in America for this year. The most popular car in your state might surprise you.

www.edmunds.com

They feel more closely aligned by their cultural heritage to Japan rather than the US. More than 40% of Hawaiians are of Japanese heritage.

NOthing to do with heritage. Toyota is best

 

[Trooper]

At this time, I imagine that China is too busy strengthening its other trade and investment deals, than to be calling Trump.


"China has bilateral investment agreements with over 100 countries and economies, including Austria, the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

China maintains 16 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with its trade and investment partners, and is negotiating or implementing an additional eight FTAs. China’s FTA partners are ASEAN, Singapore, Pakistan, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Iceland, Switzerland, Maldives, Georgia, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. China has also recently signed FTAs with Korea and Australia, both of which include a chapter on investment."

China - Trade Agreements | Privacy Shield

Describes bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that this country is party to, including with the United States. Includes websites and other resources where U.S. companies can get more information on how to take advantage of these agreements.

www.privacyshield.gov

Australia benefited mightily this week, when China suddenly smacked down a horrible surprise on the USA, by, without so much as an ' excuse me' overnight, cancelled the LNG imports from the USA.. Common sense tells you that the Chinese already had their ducks in a row, that is, they had an arrangement signed sealed and delivered before they pulled the plug on the USA.

I figured that Kevin Rudd, the Australian Ambassador to Washington , a fluent speaker of Mandarin , went down for his daily stroll to the Chinese Embassy, for a private chat with the Trade Minister of China , a dear little bloke called Wang Wentao, clever chap. on the secure line to Beijing, . and then called Canberra with the .. well. .... good news , 1.5 billion dollars each quarter.. no small change..... !! once that was agreed to, Xi pulled the plug!

( I might add . the USA 's current Ambassador to Australia has aquitted herself with tremendous grace and charm and exceptional intelligence.....)

 

[Stunned]

Are we winning yet?

 

[Trooper]

Are we winning yet?

Any day now!!

 

[SouthAussie]

Are we winning yet?

I don't think he will win against China. It was a foolish battle to pick.

The Communist Party will 'live' a lot longer in China than Trump's own party likely will last. China has the power and money to outlast Trump. And I don't think China is thinking of firing 90,000 of their Army troops.

Australia has a lot of experience with China. Their might is right at our doorstep. We do not cede to them, but we use maximum diplomacy to keep things calm.

Army Planners Are Weighing Force Reductions of Up to 90,000 Active-Duty Soldiers

The Army is quietly considering a sweeping reduction of up to 90,000 active-duty troops, a move that underscores mounting fiscal pressures at the Pentagon and a broader shift in military strategy away from Europe and counterterrorism.

www.military.com

imo