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

[IzzyBlanche]

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

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

I heard someone on the radio (can't remember who) voicing their opinion that DJT nominating all of those clearly unqualified and even dangerous members of his Cabinet (Hegseth, Gabbard, Patel, RFKJ) was his way of testing Republican resistance against him.

They mostly all fell in line, which told him he can do whatever he wants, with no resistance to speak of.

Makes sense to me. This is my opinion of someone else's opinion.

 

[Trooper]

China fires back with fresh 50% tariff in stern rebuke to Trump’s escalation

Matching blows with Washington, Beijing’s tariff hike brings the accumulative tariff total to 84% on goods from US, as trade war rapidly intensifies.

www.scmp.com

China fires back with fresh 50% tariff in stern rebuke to Trump’s escalation​

Matching blows with Washington, Beijing’s tariff hike brings the accumulative tariff total to 84% on goods from US, as trade war rapidly intensifies.

Frank Tangin BeijingandFrank Chenin Shanghai
Published: 7:06pm, 9 Apr 2025Updated: 10:46pm, 9 Apr 2025

China will impose additional 50 per cent tariffs on all American imports in response to a similar level of tariff increases on its goods from US President Donald Trump, marking what threatens to be an end to normalised trade relations between the world’s two biggest economies.

At the same time, the world’s second-largest economy pledged to release new supportive policies in a timely manner amid external shocks.

Beijing’s move marked a clear signal that it would resolutely defend its interests and fight to the end, analysts warned as the tit-for-tat retaliation and the high tariffs risk a further decoupling with the US.

( this was the directive on Wednesday, Beijing time.. and that tariff begins to day, Beijing time.... that's the USA Wednesday,, )
​

 

[Snoopster]

Australia has the lowest rate available under the new program. There isn’t a lower rate. imo

Say what? This makes no sense. There is no basis for a tariff according to the "justification" for tariffs, yet the US is charging a tariff.

This is evidence that no country can trust the USA anymore. Such a sad and devastating development.

According to the USA, "no, according to our 'plan' you should be charging us, but, well we are unjustifiably angry and we are charging everyone!"

Please make it make sense. Because it doesn't.

 

[Herat]

Us peons are so stupid.

Yesterday's "false alarm" run on a rumor that there was a 90 day tariff extension was just a quick dry run to test how hungry the market was for good news.

Those with a lot of money to throw around quickly moved their money to take advantage of the real thing that was planned for today. Some people made a huge amount of money just before the announcement.

I hope to high hell that some financial journalists are probing their sources to figure out how this was planned. It was a massive scam at the expense of ordinary Americans who have already lost so much of their financial stability.

 

[Trooper]

Say what? This makes no sense. There is no basis for a tariff according to the "justification" for tariffs, yet the US is charging a tariff.

This is evidence that no country can trust the USA anymore. Such a sad and devastating development.

I know. Miss Belle got a bit muddled there.... Russia got the lowest. that is. it got Zero tariff, Apparently low means whatever measurement you believe in is the one that works !!

 

[Herat]

Say what? This makes no sense. There is no basis for a tariff according to the "justification" for tariffs, yet the US is charging a tariff.

This is evidence that no country can trust the USA anymore. Such a sad and devastating development.

According to the USA, "no, according to our 'plan' you should be charging us, but, well we are unjustifiably angry and we are charging everyone!"

Please make it make sense. Because it doesn't.

I think it's also evidence that no country can count on the US to be responsible and accountable partner in any capacity as long as DJT can sway the majority, in or out of the White House.

No country with responsible leadership can tolerate the capricious, lax, and useless data the US Government is giving out.

The President of Singapore gave such an elegant and learned discussion of trade and tariffs. He made me remember what a wise and circumspect leader can be like.

 

[Snoopster]

I'm pretty sure they (US admin insiders) are playing an insider trading game. The tariffs are on! The tariffs are off!

Bill Ackman (a hedge fund billionaire) criticized Trump just yesterday when the market tanked. After Trump's announcement that there was a 90 day pause, and the stock market rallied, he was celebrating Trump's "genius". It's pretty freakin embarrassing in my view.

 

[Trooper]

And one more thing... from the Editorial column of the Guardian..

The Guardian view on Trump’s trade war: no one will win, but China is taking the long view | Editorial

Editorial: Beijing is braced for turbulence due to swingeing tariffs. But it sees a bigger, more promising story of US hegemonic decline

www.theguardian.com

'''Now it vows to “fight to the end” and has imposed an additional 50% tariff on US goods – taking the total to 84% – in retaliation for tariffs that Mr Trump now says will hit 125%.


Do not expect it to falter first. Concessions would likely be taken as a sign of weakness, encouraging the US to turn up the pressure. Xi Jinping is also a strongman who has dialled up nationalism as economic growth has slowed. Backing down would be humiliating, especially when the US vice-president, JD Vance, speaks dismissively of “Chinese peasants”.

Above all, Beijing believes that when this storm has passed, few will regard the US as a dependable economic or security guarantor, and China will appear a more predictable, if not more likable, partner. At February’s Munich security conference – where Mr Vance’s sneering attack on European allies made the headlines – China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, pledged that China would be “a steadfast constructive force” and “factor of certainty in this multipolar system”.

Some countries may feel forced to live with Beijing’s own trade and investment restrictions, and its use of economic coercion for political purposes. Others may simply drift from America’s orbit.

This is a transformational moment in the global order. China expects to suffer. But it will not be entirely unhappy as it watches the US advance its own decline.

 

[mmeynstyn]

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

Surprisingly (or not), he opposes the tariff schtuff going on, especially with China.

https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/elon-musk-peter-navarro-donald-trump-reciprocal-tariffs-us-china-tariffs-125040800268_1.html

 

[Herat]

Thanks for that Guardian article, Trooper:

"Above all, Beijing believes that when this storm has passed, few will regard the US as a dependable economic or security guarantor, and China will appear a more predictable, if not more likable, partner. At February’s Munich security conference – where Mr Vance’s sneering attack on European allies made the headlines – China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, pledged that China would be “a steadfast constructive force” and “factor of certainty in this multipolar system”.

WOW. That very much reflects my concern of how the credibility of the US as the major global economic force is at huge risk because of DJT.

Let's not forget that Putin has not had to lift one finger to facilitate the start of the destruction of the US economic power.

 

[Herat]

I'm pretty sure they (US admin insiders) are playing an insider trading game. The tariffs are on! The tariffs are off!

Bill Ackman (a hedge fund billionaire) criticized Trump just yesterday when the market tanked. After Trump's announcement that there was a 90 day pause, and the stock market rallied, he was celebrating Trump's "genius". It's pretty freakin embarrassing in my view.

Its pretty freakin' criminal in my views.

 

[Trooper]

Well ... its nearly 11.00 am Thursday in Bejing, and XI has not reneged on the tariff China has placed on the USA... .. nothing has attracted his attention as to thinking about pursuing a reduction.. China just barrelling along!! He has not rung the USA either, Donald must be crying into his Mac n Cheese...

 

[Trooper]

Thanks for that Guardian article, Trooper:

"Above all, Beijing believes that when this storm has passed, few will regard the US as a dependable economic or security guarantor, and China will appear a more predictable, if not more likable, partner. At February’s Munich security conference – where Mr Vance’s sneering attack on European allies made the headlines – China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, pledged that China would be “a steadfast constructive force” and “factor of certainty in this multipolar system”.

WOW. That very much reflects my concern of how the credibility of the US as the major global economic force is at huge risk because of DJT.

Let's not forget that Putin has not had to lift one finger to facilitate the start of the destruction of the US economic power.

'''few will regard the US as a dependable economic or security guarantor, and China will appear a more predictable, if not more likable, partner.''''

Any one could guarantee that Canada and Mexico and Panama and China will not.. . not at any price.. Mr. Carney was not kidding when he said 'it is over'...

 

[Snoopster]

Its pretty freakin' criminal in my views.

Martha Stewart went to prison for insider trading.
But I'm guessing no one in the admin (or their insiders) will be charged. Yet they are yanking the market up and down.
I can only hope there will an investigation one day (presuming that the USA will still be a democracy, which I suspect they won't be.). All JMO, of course.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Say what? This makes no sense. There is no basis for a tariff according to the "justification" for tariffs, yet the US is charging a tariff.

This is evidence that no country can trust the USA anymore. Such a sad and devastating development.

According to the USA, "no, according to our 'plan' you should be charging us, but, well we are unjustifiably angry and we are charging everyone!"

Please make it make sense. Because it doesn't.

I know. Miss Belle got a bit muddled there.... Russia got the lowest. that is. it got Zero tariff, Apparently low means whatever measurement you believe in is the one that works !!

Lol I should have been clearer, maybe?

Greer said “Australia has the lowest rate available under the new program”

Aaron Rupar cut part of that sentence for some reason. To fit his narrative. Lack of punctuation was a giveaway. I knew there was more and I fixed it.

 

[Lilibet]

Questions about insider trading.

Democrats grill officials on insider profits from Trump's tariff reversal

“Who’s benefiting? What billionaire just got richer?”

www.motherjones.com

Leading Democrats are raising questions about whether insiders profited from the market swing that followed President Donald Trump’s sudden reversal on sweeping tariffs he recently announced on imports from foreign countries.

“Who in the administration knew about Trump’s latest tariff flip flop ahead of time?” Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) asked in a Bluesky post Wednesday. “Did anyone buy or sell stocks, and profit at the public’s expense? I’m writing to the White House—the public has a right to know.”

Schiff Wants Tariff Pause Investigation Over Insider Trading

The Senator tells TIME he is concerned Trump engaged in insider trading or market manipulation with his abrupt reversal of tariffs.

time.com

Senator Adam Schiff on Wednesday called on Congress to investigate whether President Donald Trump engaged in insider trading or market manipulation when he abruptly paused a sweeping set of tariffs, a move that sent stock prices skyrocketing.

“I’m going to do my best to find out,” Schiff, a California Democrat, tells TIME. “Family meme coins and all the rest of it are not beyond insider trading or enriching themselves. I hope to find out soon.”

 

[Snoopster]

Lol I should have been clearer, maybe?

Greer said “Australia has the lowest rate available under the new program”

Aaron Rupar cut part of that sentence for some reason. To fit his narrative. Lack of punctuation was a giveaway. I knew there was more and I fixed it.

This STILL doesn't make sense to me.
WHY does the US have a program, that they said was based on their trade deficit with other nations, that charges a country that they have a trade surplus with?

It makes no sense, other than that the USA decided to be a bully to all nations, no matter the circumstance.
Please tell me what I am missing.

ETA: And, Russia, America's supposed enemy got a zero tariff. The inconsistencies are telling. Trump is supporting the enemy and not the 'friends'. Why???

 

[Trooper]

Lol I should have been clearer, maybe?

Greer said “Australia has the lowest rate available under the new program”

Aaron Rupar cut part of that sentence for some reason. To fit his narrative. Lack of punctuation was a giveaway. I knew there was more and I fixed it.

Yes, but YOU said it was the lowest rate IN YOUR OPINION. Perhaps you didn't know that Russia got no tariff, ... although it was headline news..

 

[Charlot123]

I guess Republican leadership has no problem with T rambling on and acting in demented fashion. They obviously are fine with it.

Sometimes I think they are fishing in troubled water. Sometimes I think they have no plan and hope that he does.

 

[Herat]

'''few will regard the US as a dependable economic or security guarantor, and China will appear a more predictable, if not more likable, partner.''''

Any one could guarantee that Canada and Mexico and Panama and China will not.. . not at any price.. Carney was not kidding when he said 'it is over'...

Trump has already set in motion some "offical investigation" of the two Panamanian Canal ports that were going to be sold to the US based Blackrock, Inc. a huge investment company. He's getting Rubio and Hegseth involved in it.

There are allegations of improper various and sundry licensing issues, failure to comply with some regulations, etc. All in all signaling that Trump is going to try to force the Chinese out of the Panama Canal by having Panama remove the license of the company that owns the port operations, CK Hutchison.

CK Hutchison is owned by Li Ka-Shing, a Hong Kong billionaire with a business and investment company. Before any of this tariff stuff started, the Hong Kong family wanted to liquidate their global port ownership and management company, which had 43 ports in significant areas for shipping and trade. As China controls Hong Kong, this gave China an insight as to what was happening world-wide with shipping, and they did not want the Hong Kong family to sell to Blackrock, so China managed to put a halt to the sale which was up to the point of document disclosure.

Now, this may end up being a very volatile situation. Tit-for-tat aggression.