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

[SouthAussie]

"Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has rejected an invitation from ambassador Xiao Qian to "join hands" with Beijing in "solidarity" after the US president threatened its rival with 125 per cent tariffs.

Mr Marles said Australia would pursue its own interests and focus on diversifying its trade, pursuing greater ties with Indonesia, India, the UK and the United Arab Emirates.

"I don't think we'll be holding China's hand," he said.

"We obviously don't want to see a trade war between China and the US … [but] it's about pursuing Australia's national interests, not about making common calls with China."

Trade Minister Don Farrell met overnight with his EU counterpart to reopen stalled talks on a free trade deal between Australia and the European bloc ... "

Marles says Australia will not 'join hands' with China against Trump

China's ambassador suggested Australia should stand in "solidarity" with China against tariffs, but Deputy PM Richard Marles said Australia would stand up for its own interests.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Yellowbelly]

The New York Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for all members of Congress to disclose any stocks they had bought in the past 24 hours. “I’ve been hearing some interesting chatter on the floor,” she wrote on X. “Disclosure deadline is May 15th. We’re about to learn a few things. It’s time to ban insider trading in Congress.”

Trump ignites ‘insider trading’ accusations after global tariffs U-turn

US president posted it was ‘a great time to buy’ on social media just hours before pausing tariff impositions

www.theguardian.com

Surely insider trading is already illegal under all circumstances? At least, it is in this country.

It strikes me that this now gives Trump, the wannabe mafia don, leverage over certain people -

"So, you want me to give you a pre-emptive pardon for your insider trading, do you? Well, what are you going to do for me in return..."

 

[Yellowbelly]

Here's some creative thinking. I doubt that Rhode Island can actually do this from the point that it ratified the US Constitution, but seeing as Trump's tariffs are only 'slightly constitutional' themselves, why not go for it!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1910050083103474156

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Surely insider trading is already illegal under all circumstances? At least, it is in this country.

It is, but the legislation is framed around insiders manipulating the share prices of specific entities rather than manipulating the market as a whole. Legislators could not foresee the possibility of a US president going completely Daggers (several stages beyond bonkers).

 

[Jade]

..

 

[Yellowbelly]

I remember looking up a lot of large ships and the scale of them after the Francis Scott Key bridge disaster in Maryland. I also spent over a decade of my young adulthood close to a coal port... Those ships are massive, too. They're certainly not something you could just whip up at any old shipyard. You'd need a dedicated facility, specially trained workers, equipment specifically designed for the task.

You'd also need a vast amount of resources to build one. Most of which you'd need to import.

MOO

The resources needed would be so vast that you would only invest that much money in a totally stable business environment where you would be confident of being able to make an economic return years hence. You're not going to make that sort of investment in a country led by somebody who changes his mind on a whim and believes six impossible things before breakfast.

 

[Herat]

The resources needed would be so vast that you would only invest that much money in a totally stable business environment where you would be confident of being able to make an economic return years hence. You're not going to make that sort of investment in a country led by somebody who changes his mind on a whim and believes six impossible things before breakfast.

Yes. If anything, the quixotic and unscientific way Trump uses tariffs would likely not inspire any confidence in major companies that their 5-10 year plans to develop and build a major industrial plant, or manufacturing plant, or major shipbuilding plant would have solid projections to be investing from. Who would want to stick their necks out for a $$ Billion-dollar project only to have him get a pique at the EU again and decide to alter the major trade or shipping arrangements?

It seems the best route for heavy industry is to give lip service and make some small moves, but keep the rest of their plans in cash until 2028 is over.

He's just painted the US economy into a losing situation that no amount of hype from Musk or Navarro can overcome.

 

[Yellowbelly]

Tariffs on Chinese goods now up to 145%.

Trump tariffs live updates: Wall Street stocks up at end of rollercoaster week

Trump says the US is "doing really well on our tariff policy", following fluctuations in global stock markets.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Herat]

Tariffs on Chinese goods now up to 145%.

Trump tariffs live updates: Wall Street stocks up at end of rollercoaster week

Trump says the US is "doing really well on our tariff policy", following fluctuations in global stock markets.

www.bbc.co.uk

The stupidity just won't stop.

 

[Summerliz03]

I don’t know the rules of posting links from X/Twitter but I can’t seem to find this posted anywhere else. This was posted by Margo Martin, who is the Communications Advisor and Presidential Special Assistant to the White House on her official blue check marked account. Yesterday, Roger Penske and other NASCAR drivers came to the White House for a visit. Listen to what Trump says at the end - straight up bragging about how much money these billionaires made yesterday during the stock market nosedive and recovery. Complete insanity that he’s just saying this stuff out loud.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1910041617160929304

 

[tlcya]

https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/trumps-buy-tip-social-media-tariffs-pause-made-120661711?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com/abcnews/library/media/520704794

The Potus is engaged in Blatant manipulation of the stock market and using these ever changing on again off again tariffs that he and he alone controls to do it. How are people okay with this?? It's absolute insanity and he doesn't even try to hide it?

 

[Herat]

Yes. If anything, the quixotic and unscientific way Trump uses tariffs would likely not inspire any confidence in major companies that their 5-10 year plans to develop and build a major industrial plant, or manufacturing plant, or major shipbuilding plant would have solid projections to be investing from. Who would want to stick their necks out for a $$ Billion-dollar project only to have him get a pique at the EU again and decide to alter the major trade or shipping arrangements?

It seems the best route for heavy industry is to give lip service and make some small moves, but keep the rest of their plans in cash until 2028 is over.

He's just painted the US economy into a losing situation that no amount of hype from Musk or Navarro can overcome.

Point in fact: He just added another 20% "existing" tariff on Chinese imports.

How does one even want to be associated with someone who is so unprofessional and unrestrained?

Global trade is not some kind of WWE Wrestlemaniashow, even though he is acting like some kind of skeevey referee.

 

[Herat]

https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/trumps-buy-tip-social-media-tariffs-pause-made-120661711?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com/abcnews/library/media/520704794

The Potus is engaged in Blatant manipulation of the stock market and using these ever changing on again off again tariffs that he and he alone controls to do it. How are people okay with this?? It's absolute insanity and he doesn't even try to hide it?

I think he has to have some Big Fake Numbers for Navarro to use to pretend to be funding the Tax Bill increases at the "expense of China."

Truth: Any increase in tariffs is an increase on the American consumer.

It would be great if companies and merchants could add a line on their bills for a tariff fee, to show everyone exactly how much of their own money is going to pay for the Billionaire Tax Relief plans in Congress.

 

[Herat]

The stock markets and indices are all sliding back into negative territory today.

Proving that business and finance professionals are not buying his BS.

 

[Stunned]

I think he has to have some Big Fake Numbers for Navarro to use to pretend to be funding the Tax Bill increases at the "expense of China."

Truth: Any increase in tariffs is an increase on the American consumer.

It would be great if companies and merchants could add a line on their bills for a tariff fee, to show everyone exactly how much of their own money is going to pay for the Billionaire Tax Relief plans in Congress.

That would be an excellent idea!

 

[otto]

One of the underlying themes behind the tariffs is that the USA gov't views China as gaining too much global power, therefore the USA wants to undermine China. What some are projecting is a much strengthened China in both international trade, and hands-on assistance for developing nations.

"As countries everywhere grapple with their responses to Trump's sweeping tariffs — now on pause at the baseline 10 per cent for 90 days except for China — some analysts say the world may have no choice but to look toward Asia to bolster trade and co-operation, especially as the U.S. regime appears to be increasingly unpredictable.

Johnson, an American based in Shanghai, says Trump's recent actions will only "cement Chinese influence in supply chains in Asia and Africa." "Nobody, at least in this region, feels the U.S. has shared values with them any longer," he said.
...

"[China is] the only country with the money, people and technology that can assist developing nations," Johnson said, pointing out the U.S. has pivoted to demanding investment in its own country, like in autos, as opposed to expanding its overseas markets. Practically, countries who want investment and technology could presumably be forced to turn to China, as a tech leader and the world's second-largest economy."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-world-order-tariff-trump-china-1.7506095

 

[IzzyBlanche]

https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/trumps-buy-tip-social-media-tariffs-pause-made-120661711?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com/abcnews/library/media/520704794

The Potus is engaged in Blatant manipulation of the stock market and using these ever changing on again off again tariffs that he and he alone controls to do it. How are people okay with this?? It's absolute insanity and he doesn't even try to hide it?

BBMFF

Why should he? He's never been held accountable for anything in his life and, not unreasonably, expects he never will.

 

[otto]

The only reason that Trump paused tariffs is that the cost for the USA to borrow money increased. He wants to spend more money, so he does not want the interest rate for borrowed money to increase. Everything he does is self-serving, including announcing that investors should buy stocks 3-4 hours before pausing tariffs.

"The real reason for Trump's about-face is different from what his confidants would have you believe. Investors have started dumping US Treasuries in recent days. These government bonds are normally considered a very safe investment. When stock prices fall, as they have in the past week, investors often 'flee' to these securities.

Now the opposite was the case, a sign that investors were losing confidence in the creditworthiness of the American government. As a result, the interest that America has to pay to investors who lend money to the US also rose. After all, investors take more risk and want to see something in return. As a result, it becomes more expensive for the US to borrow money, a financial nightmare for Donald Trump who wants to keep money rolling.

In his first term, he let the national debt rise by eight trillion dollars (8,000,000,000,000 dollars). Now he wants to break through the debt ceiling to pay for his expensive plans - higher spending and tax cuts. As a businessman, Trump is more aware than anyone that expensive credit is a key obstacle. "I looked at the bond market, I saw people getting a little nervous last night," he admitted."

Trump's Pivot: Why He Paused Global Tariffs

 

[MontanaMan]

I do not know or understand why anyone would have trusted a game show host with the US Economy. As we can all see, it is tanking quickly. Trump never did have much political experience and is not a very intelligent person, anyway. I remember Trump from the 1970's, even. He wasn't a good person then and that has not changed. Hard to understand what anyone saw in this man that would indicate that he would make a great president. Trump showed us what he was about on Jan 6. That should have been enough. Instead, here we are enduring another four or more years of constant negativity. Sorry but, the man couldn't even lead himself out of a paper bag if he had to. The continuing and constant lies are getting old and tired, much like Trump himself.

 

[iamshadow21]

I do not know or understand why anyone would have trusted a game show host with the US Economy. As we can all see, it is tanking quickly. Trump never did have much political experience and is not a very intelligent person, anyway. I remember Trump from the 1970's, even. He wasn't a good person then and that has not changed. Hard to understand what anyone saw in this man that would indicate that he would make a great president. Trump showed us what he was about on Jan 6. That should have been enough. Instead, here we are enduring another four or more years of constant negativity. Sorry but, the man couldn't even lead himself out of a paper bag if he had to. The continuing and constant lies are getting old and tired, much like Trump himself.

I think a number of cleverer people thought they could manipulate him enough to use him as a puppet. And yes, you can manipulate him easily. But he's also pathologically impulsive, spiteful, and stubborn. Capricious, in that his best friend one day is his worst enemy the next.

And this is the man in power for the next four years.

I think a bunch of very rich people who were happy a few months ago are watching their stocks and shares fall and beginning to feel something like fear.

MOO