Canada, Greenland, Mexico, etc - USA Tariffs / Trade War commencing March 2025 #5

[SouthAussie]

California becomes first state to sue over Donald Trump tariffs

The state - the 5th largest world economic power - says it is being disproportionately impacted by the tariffs.

www.bbc.co.uk

Good on Gavin Newsom. I didn't realise that California is the world's 5th largest economy. They will badly feel the negative effects of the tariffs.


California is the world's fifth largest economy - outpacing every US state and most countries - and is home to the largest shares of manufacturing and agricultural production in the US.

(from your link)

 

[Lyanna]

Good on Gavin Newsom. I didn't realise that California is the world's 5th largest economy. They will badly feel the negative effects of the tariffs.


California is the world's fifth largest economy - outpacing every US state and most countries - and is home to the largest shares of manufacturing and agricultural production in the US.

(from your link)

Was really pleased to read it. Was surprised at how large California's economy is too.
Concerned that there will be calls for his dismissal however, because apparently speaking up and speaking out is not something the White House aligns itself with

Moo

 

[detective.moon]

Former French President François Hollande believes that American scientists in France should be allowed to obtain refugee status on an accelerated basis. Hollande, who is currently a member of parliament, has submitted a bill to this effect. It states that long-term visas should be granted quickly to "scientists and researchers whose personal and scientific freedom is threatened".

Paris should ensure "fast, sustainable and simple" procedures, the ex-president said. "These scientists deserve a special status, a status as recognised refugees. Just as we recognise climate refugees."

[…]

Science magazine Nature conducted a poll last month that showed that 75 per cent of US researchers are "thinking about" moving abroad. Canada and Europe are said to be the favourite destinations.

[…]

Former president Hollande wants France to live up to its reputation as a 'land of freedom' and therefore generously welcome American scientists. But there are not only noble motives at play: there is also competition. Other countries such as China, the UK and Germany are also keen to take in the most successful American scientists.

A US brain drain with researchers crossing the ocean could be a huge boost for scientific research in Europe. "We can now suddenly attract talent that we would never be able to attract under normal circumstances," director Patrick Cramer of the German Max Planck Institute said recently.

"We are not the only ones who want Americans," Hollande observes. "We have to be quick because now people are being laid off and now research centres are closing their doors."

Fransen willen Amerikanen 'wetenschappelijk asiel' verlenen

Een wetsvoorstel moet het mogelijk maken snel visa te verlenen aan "wetenschappers van wie de persoonlijke en wetenschappelijke vrijheid wordt bedreigd".

nos.nl

 

[TootsieFootsie]

The White House is ok for Trump and Co to speak out and anyone who follows the Maga line.

But not for anyone who is even slightly critical.

 

[mmeynstyn]

OK....I guess I am slow to connect the dots. I recognized DJT was attempting to steal rare earth minerals from other countries like Ukraine, Greenland, and I suspect Canada. However, I didn't realize it all goes back to China. What is it with China?....IMO, they must not have bailed him out of his bankruptcies like Russia; or, maybe they did not let him build his towers in their country.

MSN

Responding to China's restrictions on minerals, Josh Ballard, CEO of rare earth and critical mineral development company USA Rare Earth, told Newsweek that China's recent export restrictions would have a profound impact on the U.S. economy.

"Your life as you know it would cease to exist without magnets. Neo magnets are in laptops, cell phones, motors, drones, medical devices, and many other items we use every single day. These powerful, small, high-energy magnets are essential to our technology. Impacted industries include defense, automotive, aviation, industrial, medical and consumer electronics industries."

 

[LovesPeace2]

As Ovechkin celebrated this achievement, marking yet another moment in his already illustrious career, he shocked the world by submitting a formal request to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), asking for permission for Russia to participate in the prestigious 2026 Five Nations Tournament.

https://viral.cafex.biz/posts/russian-superstar-alexander-ovechkin-shocked-world-submitting-request-international-ice-hockey-federation-iihf-allow-russia-participate-five-nations-tournament-tying-legendary-wayne-record-duong123?fbclid=IwY2xjawJt6xVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHj9wsg-mleNqv1X59JW5dAAckFg_uxaBJLuo8X0WTQlnYBqTflYNEFEiyLAz_aem_Iddnr3d90EUOWzlCu4RM3Q

Ummmmm hell no

 

[otto]

#4,693 example of Trump's unintended consequences.......( call it fate ,call it karma, call it human nature... )

Trump effect leaves Canada’s Conservatives facing catastrophic loss

Pierre Poilievre had hoped to be the next PM, but a sharp change in mood amid Trump tariffs has the party in turmoil

www.theguardian.com

Trump effect leaves Canada’s Conservatives facing catastrophic loss​

Pierre Poilievre had hoped to be the next PM, but a sharp change in mood amid Trump tariffs has the party in turmoil....

As recently as February, Poilievre enjoyed a 25-point lead over the governing Liberals. Pollsters estimated he and his party were on track for an unprecedented victory.

But with less than two weeks before Canada’s federal election, one of the sharpest polling shifts in the country’s political history now has the Conservatives trailing well behind the Liberal party. The abrupt change in the country’s political mood – largely the result of Donald Trump’s tariffs and threats to annex Canada – has prompted infighting within the Conservatives party as it faces what is likely to be a catastrophic loss.

(more at this website)

I believe the political shift is based on what the Conservative are saying. There was a French Language debate last night (English debate tonight) and no candidate was able to move the needle. When asked about pipelines and Indigenous rights, Poilievre said that 80% agreement from Indigenous people is good enough to build pipelines. Poilievre is against gun control. He wants to "Make Canada Great Again". He claims that Canada is "broken". Like Trump during his Congress speech, Poilievre mentions random people by first name, explains their personal issue, then announces legal changes he will make to address that person's issue.

It's not just tariffs. The problem is that Poilievre imitates Trump - the man who rules the USA with executive orders like a dictator. Compared to Trudeau, Carney is centrist. Poilivre is far-right.

 

[LovesPeace2]

‘I don’t think I’m going to have a choice’: Why some Americans are eying a move north - New Brunswick | Globalnews.ca

As U.S. President Donald Trump continues his 51st state rhetoric, it appears a rising number of Americans is considering a move to Canada.

globalnews.ca

For Salem Took, who lives in Maine, Trump’s re-election restarted conversations about moving to Canada — for various important reasons.

“I’m trans. That’s probably the biggest one. And I’m pretty well-documented,” said Took.

Took says the rising cost of living and federal program cuts are also concerns.

But the conversation comes with mixed feelings. Took owns a home with their partner, and their children are in school.

 

[LovesPeace2]

US slaps 245% retaliatory tariffs on Chinese goods as trade war intensifies - Times of India

International-Business News: China now faces tariffs of up to 245% on its exports to the United States, the White House said. The move, detailed in a fact sheet released late Tues.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

China now faces tariffs of up to 245% on its exports to the United States, the White House said. The move, detailed in a fact sheet released late Tuesday, came in retaliation to a series of aggressive actions by Beijing, including a ban on new Boeing jet orders by Chinese airlines.

 

[LovesPeace2]

I hope Ontario is watching this

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/army-fast-track-great-lakes-tunnel-permits-1.7511851

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has decided to fast-track permits for building a protective tunnel around an aging Enbridge oil pipeline that runs beneath a channel connecting two Great Lakes, stoking environmentalists' fears that the project will escape scrutiny, damage the sensitive region and perpetuate fossil fuel use.

 

[Herat]

US slaps 245% retaliatory tariffs on Chinese goods as trade war intensifies - Times of India

International-Business News: China now faces tariffs of up to 245% on its exports to the United States, the White House said. The move, detailed in a fact sheet released late Tues.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

China now faces tariffs of up to 245% on its exports to the United States, the White House said. The move, detailed in a fact sheet released late Tuesday, came in retaliation to a series of aggressive actions by Beijing, including a ban on new Boeing jet orders by Chinese airlines.

This isn't making much news right now, but it sounds like the WH today just made the usual kind of clumsy mess of a threat from DJT. Shaking fist and shouting about "245%" tariffs against some unspecified Chinese products.

The Chinese government is playing it quite cool: Essentially, "we have no idea what this is about, ask the WH to explain it".

It's so freakin' easy for China to keep exposing DJT as irrational and irresponsible and planting nonsense. How can any world leader make any agreements with this mess of a government?

White House's 245% tariff figure for some Chinese products causes confusion

The U.S. already imposed tariffs on some Chinese products of up to 100%. Add that to the 145% in new tariffs and some products face 245% tariffs.

www.usatoday.com

 

[branmuffin]

I take it you're a fan of repositioning cruises, then?

I am.

 

[otto]

US slaps 245% retaliatory tariffs on Chinese goods as trade war intensifies - Times of India

International-Business News: China now faces tariffs of up to 245% on its exports to the United States, the White House said. The move, detailed in a fact sheet released late Tues.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

China now faces tariffs of up to 245% on its exports to the United States, the White House said. The move, detailed in a fact sheet released late Tuesday, came in retaliation to a series of aggressive actions by Beijing, including a ban on new Boeing jet orders by Chinese airlines.

China announced that 125% tariffs has the same effect as 300% tarifs, so they would not increase that tariffs above 125%. The USA doesn't seem to understand that concept. This latest move also reveals that the only weapon the USA has is tariff, whereas China has many options - especially withholding rare earth elements.

The USA is shooting blanks at this point.

 

[branmuffin]

This is an interesting tariff issue that affects women rather than men = Higher tariffs on women's clothing for no reason at all:

Most manufactured apparel and footwear are classified by gender in the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), which sets out the tariff rates for all categories of merchandise imported into the United States.

Tariff rates on women’s clothing were, on average, 16.7% in 2022 — 2.9 percentage points higher than the 13.6% average tariff rate for men’s clothing, according to Gresser.

Breaking it down to individual items: Women’s suits in 2017, for example, were subject to a 15.1% tariff rate, while men’s suits were subject to a 13.3% tariff. Women’s underwear was hit with a 12.8% tariff, while men’s underwear had an 8.6% tariff.

There’s no single reason why tariffs on women’s clothing are higher than men’s, but the policy has taken shape over decades.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/business/womens-clothes-pink-tariffs/index.html

I think it has to do with sizing. Men's clothing sizes, at least off the rack, are pretty constant. Pants: waist in inches, leg length in inches. Very few variations. Same with tops. Pretty plain t-shirts, sweaters both in S, M, L, and XL. Shirts, a few more variations: neck and sleeve measurements. Women's stuff is all over the map. We have Junior, Misses, Maternity, Plus size. Some pants come in waist size, some in sizes like 0, 2, 4, 6, etc. Then S, M, L, etc. Then Junior sizing: 5, 7, 9, etc. Bathings suits, especially two piece came as a set. Now with so many breast implants and just generally bigger busts you buy a size 6 bottom and size 10 bra. Oh, bras, yep, think of the sizing. 30AA, 32B, 36C, 40DD. Do they have special machines to make them?

 

[Herat]

China announced that 125% tariffs has the same effect as 300% tarifs, so they would not increase that tariffs above 125%. The USA doesn't seem to understand that concept. This latest move also reveals that the only weapon the USA has is tariff, whereas China has many options - especially withholding rare earth elements.

The USA is shooting blanks at this point.

I think that DJT will "raise" Chinese tariffs again, with some more nonsense that sounds like he is fully in charge and using great power to smash the Chinese markets. Something like "500%" as a headline, but in some fine print it will apply only to some scented pink envelopes or something equally silly and inconsequential.

He seems to think that brinksmanship = strength, when it is quite the opposite.

China is giving him all the paint he needs to completely paint himself into the corner.

 

[branmuffin]

Sorry, I couldn't listen. She is a professor of Italian history, therefore is only qualified to talk about Mussolini in the 1920s -1940s. He, Hitler and Franco imposed their different doctines on newly formed nations carved out of the ruins of WWI, that had never experienced a functioning democracy, amid widespread fear of communism spreading from the Russian Revolution.

There are many type of authoritarianism. This video features 2 scholars who have studied current politics, not that of 100 years ago;

JMO

Her definitions of them are right on the money, though, regardless whether she use situations of a century ago. She included many modern day strong men including Putin, Beslusconi, Maduro. I'm surprised she left out Duterte.

 

[Herat]

Fed Chairman Powell addressed potential challenges to remove Federal Reserve appointees yesterday, essentially saying it is not going to happen.

Trump is hugly annoyed because Powell got the jump on him and his impression of imperious absolute power.

Financial analysts are saying it is an "absolutely bonkers" idea to remove Powell before the end of his term next year. Very short-sighted and without consideration of the world-wide consequences. Typical of Trump. He should also be very very wary.

Firing Powell leaves Trump wide open for All The Blame for the US and Worldwide Economic Disaster.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/17/trump-powell-fired-fed-00295552

Trump hammers Federal Reserve chief Powell: ‘Termination cannot come fast enough!’

U.S. president lashes his central bank nemesis for not cutting interest rates fast enough.

www.politico.eu

My financial anxiety is going through the roof and we are still 83 days or so from the threatened European tariffs.

I feel a panicky need to hoard, and about all I can afford is to hoard the kind of dental floss I have to use.

 

[branmuffin]

This is interesting, from the article:

“Some people ask, ‘Why not manufacture in the U.S.?’” Placko said in an impact statement. “I wish we could. But the infrastructure to support full-scale boardgame production — specialty dice making, die-cutting, custom plastic and wood components — doesn’t meaningfully exist here yet. I’ve gotten quotes. I’ve talked to factories. Even when the willingness is there, the equipment, labor, and timelines simply aren’t.”

I'm struggling to understand what the issue is with gaming dice. This is essentially moulded plastic with spots or other images on. Is there really no small company or workshop in the US that could produce dice, regardless of how many sides they have?

Maybe I'm missing something, but the components mentioned in the article are pretty basic. Wood. Plastic. Small metal castings. How difficult would it be to make boards for board games? Player tokens? Dice?

I would think the production of dice would be fairly scrutinized considering high rollers in casinos expect all dice conform to certain standards to avoid cheating. Same with playing cards.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

I would think the production of dice would be fairly scrutinized considering high rollers in casinos expect all dice conform to certain standards to avoid cheating. Same with playing cards.

I agree about the need for casinos to ensure the security of dice and cards used, and would expect these come from very specific suppliers with rigorous production and quality control standards. But that surely isn't required for producing pieces for board games or dice for role play games. I mean, does anyone scrutinise the dice when they play Monopoly or Cluedo at Christmas?

 

[Lilibet]

My financial anxiety is going through the roof and we are still 83 days or so from the threatened European tariffs.

I feel a panicky need to hoard, and about all I can afford is to hoard the kind of dental floss I have to use.

I read an article recently listing some of the things to stock up on (not hoard):

TP
Over the counter meds—for pain and colds
Laundry detergent
Soap
Toothpaste

There was more but that’s what I wrote down. We’ll buy a little extra of one thing each week. Did TP (of course!) last week.