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

[SouthAussie]

And I will add - the only people benefitting from the flip flop on the tariffs and the market taking a nose dive and then rebounding the next days are millionaires. They bought the dip and now are much richer than they were yesterday. While the average American is still just sitting there watching their 401K and wondering if they will have enough to retire. He only does things to benefit himself or his rich friends. Again IMO.

And Charles Schwab see it as still a very volatile market.


“It’s a normal reflexive bounce you tend to see after plunging into oversold territory so quickly,” said Kevin Gordon, senior investment strategist at Charles Schwab & Co. “We’re in an environment of extreme volatility, and that counts both the downside and upside.”

The Cboe Volatility Index soared past 50 Monday and was still near 40 early Tuesday, well above its long-term average. More than 29 billion shares exchanged hands in yesterday’s wild ride.

Rebound in US Stocks Meets Skepticism as Rally Chasers Pour In

 

[otto]

I hope that everyone understands what this tit-for-tat means.
China holds all the cards at the moment.


.... even a 54% hike on the price of an iPhone would propel it past $2,000.

About 30% of all U.S. textile imports come from China, which means that clothes could get a lot more expensive soon.

And sticker shock might be even worse for furniture, bedding, lamps, toys, games, sports equipment and paint — more than 50% of which originates in China.

On the flip side, the U.S. exports $24.65 billion in agricultural goods to China each year — all of which will now be taxed at 84%, likely dampening demand and damaging the American farm industry.

Here’s why Trump is still hitting China with huge 125% tariffs — and how much that could cost you

Everything you need to know about the escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing.

www.yahoo.com

China is focused on self-sufficiency (slow process) and renewed trade agreements. That means less reliance on the USA for agriculture products.

"Yesterday, Chinese state media went all out with news of new agricultural reforms. The headline in one of the largest state newspapers read: "China unveils 10-year agricultural master plan, prioritising food self-sufficiency and agrotech innovation."

With this new plan, China hopes to kill two birds with one stone. It is accelerating its efforts to become self-sufficient, something it has been doing for some time, and is doing so at the expense of goods it previously imported from the United States.

Because about 20 percent of all American products entering China in 2023 were agricultural goods. With the Chinese tariffs on American products, it is becoming less and less attractive to buy these goods in the US.
...

China’s drive for self-sufficiency accelerated during Trump’s first term.

In addition, China is targeting the European market. For example, Chinese Premier Li Qiang called the President of the European Commission, Von der Leyen [Apr 7]. According to a report of the meeting , China and the European Union agreed to work together on a fair and well-functioning trading system with a focus on a healthy trade balance."

Recordheffingen VS versnellen China's inzet op zelfvoorziening

Met wederzijdse heffingen van deze orde lijken beide landen bereid grotendeels afscheid te nemen van de handel met elkaar.

nos.nl

 

[indicolite22]

Where is Musk in all this mess? Is he no longer the shadow president?

 

[LoveyG]

some things that are happening are almost funny (as long as you don’t think about them too much - it’s just the ridiculousness of it all), but adding tariffs on pharmaceuticals when they’re already so expensive in the US is really nothing but sad. i really feel for all americans on a low income who rely on medication

Especially since they are also cutting Medicaid, which is where low income disabled people get medicines and medical treatment.

ETA: people who are not quite poor enough to qualify for help but can't afford insurance will be especially screwed as they pay totally out of pocket.

 

[Trooper]

Not beef, but lamb and mutton. New Zealand exports a lot of frozen sheep meat to the Middle East but that's essentially because they can't produce enough themselves.

Not quite correct... both New Zealand have their major export destination as China.. ... In fact, Australia exports the most lamb in the world.. 50% of it, actually...
China happens to be Australia's biggest customer , also. it's New Zealand's biggest customer.. The Middle East is a big customer . but not as big as China's custom is....for both nations.

Australia is bigger than New Zealand in the Middle East trade , as well.. Also, it is the biggest exporter of beef to Indonesia and the Philipino's and Malaysia. Lots of New Zeland sheep meats are exported Britain with Australian sheep products leading that market,also.

 

[Trooper]

Yep, I was waiting for this. China took the bait. imo

Trump announces 90-day tariff pause for most countries, raises China rate to 125% — as he blasts ‘yippy’ critics, boasts stock rebound ‘gotta be a record’

President Trump announced Wednesday that his heightened “reciprocal” tariff scheme was being paused for 90 days in response to overtures from dozens of countries — but duties on C…

nypost.com

President Trump announced Wednesday that his heightened “reciprocal” tariff scheme was being paused for 90 days in response to overtures from dozens of countries — but duties on Chinese imports would be ratcheted up to 125% due to a “lack of respect” from Beijing.

David Frum broadcasts around the world, and his take on Trump's cowardly folding, and choking is quite succinct and concise .

Treating Friends Like Enemies

Rahm Emanuel and Trump’s tariff chaos

www.theatlantic.com

David Frum.-------

................This past week, the Chinese learned

(1) exactly where Trump's pain points are;

(2) how much to squeeze them before he flinches, and

(3) how little America's partners and allies want to help this president.

Highly useful information.

( # 3 is the kicker.. that is the clearest message that , for example, Canada and Mexico are sending, in the most subtle way.. along with about 140 other nations, mine among them. )

 

[LoveyG]

Trump tariff updates: US president unveils 90-day pause for most countries

These were the updates for Wednesday, April 9, 2025, as Trump announced 125-tariffs on imports from China.

aje.io

As he stood outside the White House with NASCAR drivers, one reporter asked him how he chooses what to do.

“Instinctively more than anything else,” Trump said. “You almost can’t take a pencil to paper. It’s really more of an instinct than anything else.”

So, what anyone else would call acting on impulse or on a whim. But with the wellbeing of billions of people in the balance.

Super.

MOO

His instincts are crap. No wonder so many bankruptcies.
We'd be better off if he was using a Magic 8 Ball. At least those aren't always wrong.

 

[indicolite22]

Fox Business reporter says it’s the ‘White House who capitulated’ on tariffs

‘I want to tell you right now that Donald Trump outsmarted the world,’ Charles Gasparino said. ‘But that's not really what happened here’

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Trooper]

It is 7.53am Thursday, in Beijing right now.... so far, Beijing has not publicly responded to Trumps about face but , from keeping an eye on what China does, and when it does it, from a perspective of an interested observer, I am putting my money of Beijing not even referring to this wormish kind of turn.. ..

China didn't put the tariffs on the USA 'in retaliation ' and for that reason. they will not be lifting them in the foreseeable future.. They have made their decision, informed the receiver of their decision, and because they have discussed and confirmed their agreement thru the committee about it, that decision stands until the next meeting.

They'll get back to the business of today, which is, keeping 1.2 billion people in food, keeping the construction of China on pace, and keeping an eye on the weather.

 

[Seni]

UN head said the 10% tariff for developing countries would have devastating effect

David Frum broadcasts around the world, and his take on Trump's cowardly folding, and choking is quite succinct and concise .

Treating Friends Like Enemies

Rahm Emanuel and Trump’s tariff chaos

www.theatlantic.com

David Frum.-------

................This past week, the Chinese learned

(1) exactly where Trump's pain points are;

(2) how much to squeeze them before he flinches, and

(3) how little America's partners and allies want to help this president.

Highly useful information.

( # 3 is the kicker.. that is the clearest message that , for example, Canada and Mexico are sending, in the most subtle way.. along with about 140 other nations, mine among them. )

The Atlantic podcast article is very well expressed.

 

[LoveyG]

I haven't watched all the videos posted today so forgive me if this is a repeat. The beginning of this one I know has been posted but if you stay with it, you will see congress questioning whether the White House is engaging in market manipulation. Anyway, it made me happy to see that.

Actually, this link takes you to the right spot:

 

[IzzyBlanche]

Dear Leader is NOT to be hampered by silly "Law"!

House GOP approves bill to restrict the reach of US judges

Republicans have taken up Trump's demand to limit the power of judges after the president faced several preliminary losses to begin his second term.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Stunned]

Trump tariff updates: US president unveils 90-day pause for most countries

These were the updates for Wednesday, April 9, 2025, as Trump announced 125-tariffs on imports from China.

aje.io

As he stood outside the White House with NASCAR drivers, one reporter asked him how he chooses what to do.

“Instinctively more than anything else,” Trump said. “You almost can’t take a pencil to paper. It’s really more of an instinct than anything else.”

So, what anyone else would call acting on impulse or on a whim. But with the wellbeing of billions of people in the balance.

Super.

MOO

I call it insanity. IMO

 

[Seni]

I call it irresponsible governance,

How is it possible?

 

[IzzyBlanche]

I call it irresponsible governance,

How is it possible?

Because no Republicans have the spine to try to stop him. It's just that simple.

 

[Seni]

And where is the WTO in all of this?

 

[Seni]

Because no Republicans have the spine to try to stop him. It's just that simple.

Yes, agreed It would not be democratically possible in most countries.

Trump gets up in the morning and says "kiss my ass"

 

[musicaljoke]

Aren't we getting towards a point where trade in goods between China and the USA is pretty much impossible.

I don't think so. The two economies are inseparable. Each country will just pay double what they were paying previously. It's really quite insane, but there you are.

 

[Herat]

David Frum broadcasts around the world, and his take on Trump's cowardly folding, and choking is quite succinct and concise .

Treating Friends Like Enemies

Rahm Emanuel and Trump’s tariff chaos

www.theatlantic.com

David Frum.-------

................This past week, the Chinese learned

(1) exactly where Trump's pain points are;

(2) how much to squeeze them before he flinches, and

(3) how little America's partners and allies want to help this president.

Highly useful information.

( # 3 is the kicker.. that is the clearest message that , for example, Canada and Mexico are sending, in the most subtle way.. along with about 140 other nations, mine among them. )

Trump is playing go fish and China is at 4 dimensional Klingon Chess, although they only need to play gin rummy to completely flummox him.

 

[Herat]

David Frum broadcasts around the world, and his take on Trump's cowardly folding, and choking is quite succinct and concise .

Treating Friends Like Enemies

Rahm Emanuel and Trump’s tariff chaos

www.theatlantic.com

David Frum.-------

................This past week, the Chinese learned

(1) exactly where Trump's pain points are;

(2) how much to squeeze them before he flinches, and

(3) how little America's partners and allies want to help this president.

Highly useful information.

( # 3 is the kicker.. that is the clearest message that , for example, Canada and Mexico are sending, in the most subtle way.. along with about 140 other nations, mine among them. )

Yeah. China doesn't even have to try to make some huge Sino-EU trade agreement. They know where the alignments already are and everyone is just stabilizing their position against the US. There will be a bit of showy Chinese envoy visits to Europe, Singapore, Vietnam and visa versa, but 99% of the world learned a huge lesson today about how easy Trump is to play. The other 1% are MAGA.

Trump will be crushing on the Masters Golf Tournament starting tomorow, so he'll be able to hide out at his rich white man's club and pretend he doesn't know how badly he bobbled this. If you don;t think this market manipulation was calculated so as to not interfere with golf, you haven't been watching Trump.