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

[otto]

"After the US raised tariffs to 145% in April 2025, cargo shipments from China fell by around 40% ... "

Trump’s China tariffs to trigger US supply chain shock

Supply chain problems for the USA! No one who voted for him saw that coming. Short term pain is taking shape.

 

[otto]

"I voted for Trump because he'll be better for the economy" they said.

Trump said that he's going to make people so rich that they won't know how to spend the money ... they'll be so rich.

 

[Trooper]

I was just listening to the BBC news and the next step in the tariff war is supply shortages in the USA. Companies like Walmart have already reduced their orders from China because tariffed products are too expensive. Inflation will follow. Apparently the USA is at a fork in the road. Continuing down this path means USA dollar will continue to lose value. Financial uncertainty means bankruptcies. Trump can turn it around if he sorts it out with China, but someone has to be brave enough to make that first phone call.

No one is going to sign a deal with Trump. He has broken every trade contract he signed. This is the core of the problem. No one can rely on any 'deal' struck with the USA. Business people learn from their experiences or they go to the wall. So it is highly unlikely that a serious contractual basis for trade will be proposed by anyone with the USA.

That sounds harsh, and radical but it is how it is. How the USA goes about what trade now is a mystery to me, and with whom is an even greater conundrum. Nations cannot afford the gamble. Nations outside the USA , that is. They are beholden to their constituents , even the CCCP, which Trump seems to do without..

Trade with the USA relies on the state of the liver of a peculiar and dysfunctional President.. A sad conclusion, but .. an inescapable fact.

China won't be taking any calls for quite some time. They have contracts and negotiations to undertake, they have treaties and trade partnerships to consolidate and underpin. Not a lot of spare time to deal with nutso stuff , they have serious business to engage in . Billions of yuan of trade and goods and services to arrange and deliver and disperse.

Somewhere on the internet was a picture from space of all the cargo ships stuck in the ports of China, with no cargo to take back to the USA.. it was a solid block, all the way down from Northern China to Kowloon.. This is how it is now.

 

[otto]

"After the US raised tariffs to 145% in April 2025, cargo shipments from China fell by around 40% ... "

Trump’s China tariffs to trigger US supply chain shock

Thank you for the link! This is exactly what was discussed on BBC.

" ...warnings from major retailers about potential price hikes and shortages ... inventory delays and cancellations.
...

While some US importers are turning to Southeast Asia for alternatives, economists fear the trade war could fuel inflation, cause job cuts, and further damage consumer sentiment."
(same link)

 

[SouthAussie]

Perhaps the USA should not have lived beyond their means for the past 20 years, spent less, managed finances better, and they wouldn't be in this situation. The crazy idea that the USA will solve their overspending by putting a tax on imported products is so simplistic it defies common sense.

Jimmy Carter said, a few years ago (2019), that the US has been busy having wars. China has been busy building infrastructure, high speed rail, and its economy.


“Since 1979, do you know how many times China has been at war with anybody?” Carter asked. “None. And we have stayed at war.”

He said the US has only enjoyed 16 years of peace in its 242-year history, making the country “the most warlike nation in the history of the world,” Carter said. This is, he said, because of Washington’s tendency to force other nations to “adopt our American principles.”

Carter said that China, in contrast to the US, had made massive economic progress by maintaining peace with its neighbors. “How many miles of high-speed railroad do we have in this country?” he asked.

The US has “wasted, I think, $3 trillion” on military spending. “It’s more than you can imagine. China has not wasted a single penny on war, and that’s why they’re ahead of us. In almost every way.”

US ‘most warlike nation in history’: Ex-US President Jimmy Carter

Former US President Jimmy Carter says America has only enjoyed 16 years of peace in its 242-year history, making the country “the most warlike nation in the history of the world.”

www.presstv.ir

 

[otto]

No one is going to sign a deal with Trump. He has broken every trade contract he signed. This is the core of the problem. No one can rely on any 'deal' struck with the USA. Business people learn from their experiences or they go to the wall. So it is highly unlikely that a serious contractual basis for trade will be proposed by anyone with the USA.

That sounds harsh, and radical but it is how it is. How the USA goes about what trade now is a mystery to me, and with whom is an even greater conundrum. Nations cannot afford the gamble. Nations outside the USA , that is. They are beholden to their constituents , even the CCCP, which Trump seems to do without..

Trade with the USA relies on the state of the liver of a peculiar and dysfunctional President.. A sad conclusion, but .. an inescapable fact.

China won't be taking any calls for quite some time. They have contracts and negotiations to undertake, they have treaties and trade partnerships to consolidate and underpin. Not a lot of spare time to deal with nutso stuff , they have serious business to engage in . Billions of yuan of trade and goods and services to arrange and deliver and disperse.

Somewhere on the internet was a picture from space of all the cargo ships stuck in the ports of China, with no cargo to take back to the USA.. it was a solid block, all the way down from Northern China to Kowloon.. This is how it is now.

That is the other half of the problem today. The USA Government is untrustworthy, unreliable, dishonest, fickle, moody, and chaotic. The USA has violated trade agreements around the world, lashed out like a bully, and made numerous threats, so it's very difficult for any country to enter into any agreement with the USA until there is a new government.

 

[SouthAussie]

China won't be taking any calls for quite some time. They have contracts and negotiations to undertake, they have treaties and trade partnerships to consolidate and underpin. Not a lot of spare time to deal with nutso stuff , they have serious business to engage in . Billions of yuan of trade and goods and services to arrange and deliver and disperse.

Somewhere on the internet was a picture from space of all the cargo ships stuck in the ports of China, with no cargo to take back to the USA.. it was a solid block, all the way down from Northern China to Kowloon.. This is how it is now.

Have you read about the powerhouses alongside Xi? His Vice Premier, He Lifeng, and his newly appointed chief trade negotiator, Li Chenggang.

US businesspeople who recently met with He are super-impressed. "... predictable and confident in the wake of chaos in the U.S."

https://www.zawya.com/en/news/insights/amid-trump-tariffs-chinas-trade-and-economy-tsar-steps-into-spotlight-cf57mv6y

 

[Trooper]

That is the other half of the problem today. The USA Government is untrustworthy, unreliable, dishonest, fickle, moody, and chaotic. The USA has violated trade agreements around the world, lashed out like a bully, and made numerous threats, so it's very difficult for any country to enter into any agreement with the USA until there is a new government.

Trade exists on trust. Once that is gone, trade disappears.. It takes a lot of trust to load a ship with 15 million dollars of trade, and send it off across the Pacific, trusting that the buyer will pony up at the docking port in Los Angeles, or San Diego.. Without that belief, nothing leaves the home port. Trade doesn't work on dysfunction, and dishonesty and whim and sudden vengeful edicts.. it just does not. Never has. China is expert at trade , they've been doing it for centuries, .. they understand trust, implicitly.

No one can afford the gamble of doing trade with the USA. An awful thing to say but it is true.

 

[otto]

Jimmy Carter said, a few years ago, that the US has been busy having wars. China has been busy building infrastructure, high speed rail, and its economy.


“Since 1979, do you know how many times China has been at war with anybody?” Carter asked. “None. And we have stayed at war.”

He said the US has only enjoyed 16 years of peace in its 242-year history, making the country “the most warlike nation in the history of the world,” Carter said. This is, he said, because of Washington’s tendency to force other nations to “adopt our American principles.”

Carter said that China, in contrast to the US, had made massive economic progress by maintaining peace with its neighbors. “How many miles of high-speed railroad do we have in this country?” he asked.

The US has “wasted, I think, $3 trillion” on military spending. “It’s more than you can imagine. China has not wasted a single penny on war, and that’s why they’re ahead of us. In almost every way.”

US ‘most warlike nation in history’: Ex-US President Jimmy Carter

Former US President Jimmy Carter says America has only enjoyed 16 years of peace in its 242-year history, making the country “the most warlike nation in the history of the world.”

www.presstv.ir

And here we are again with the USA launching war against Canada and then every other population in the world, including the penguins.

The USA wants "to force other nations to adopt American Principles", and refuses to accept that other countries do not want that life. Other countries have their own culture and way of life.

Even the 51st state nonstarter is based on the premise that the USA is superior so obviously Canadians want to adopt American Principles. Everyone who repeats those 51st state taunts is similarly arrogant.

It seems that China has decided to humble the USA rather than grovel.

 

[Trooper]

Have you read about the powerhouses alongside Xi? His Vice Premier, He Lifeng, and his newly appointed chief trade negotiator, Li Chenggang.

US businesspeople who recently met with He are super-impressed. "... predictable and confident in the wake of chaos in the U.S."

https://www.zawya.com/en/news/insights/amid-trump-tariffs-chinas-trade-and-economy-tsar-steps-into-spotlight-cf57mv6y

and this bloke.. he looks about 20.. but he has a grip like a python on his expertise..

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[IzzyBlanche]

And here we are again with the USA launching war against Canada and then every other population in the world, including the penguins.

The USA wants "to force other nations to adopt American Principles", and refuses to accept that other countries do not want that life. Other countries have their own culture and way of life.

Even the 51st state nonstarter is based on the premise that the USA is superior so obviously Canadians want to adopt American Principles. Everyone who repeats those 51st state taunts is similarly arrogant.

It seems that China has decided to humble the USA rather than grovel.

I don't disagree with any of your main points, but may I politely point out once again:

it is NOT the USA as a whole.

It's the self-proclaimed stable genius elected to the White House and his minions.

I really appreciate it when you say the US government, which I believe you can abbreviate USGOV, in place of the USA, because we are far from united in backing this.

 

[Trooper]

Have you read about the powerhouses alongside Xi? His Vice Premier, He Lifeng, and his newly appointed chief trade negotiator, Li Chenggang.

US businesspeople who recently met with He are super-impressed. "... predictable and confident in the wake of chaos in the U.S."

https://www.zawya.com/en/news/insights/amid-trump-tariffs-chinas-trade-and-economy-tsar-steps-into-spotlight-cf57mv6y

a bit of background of your man Li Chenggang...

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[SouthAussie]

I don't disagree with any of your main points, but may I politely point out once again:

it is NOT the USA as a whole.

It's the lunatic elected to the White House and his minions.

I really appreciate it when you say the US government, which I believe you can abbreviate USGOV, in place of the USA, because we are far from united in backing this.

Or as Jimmy Carter put it .... "Washington". Meaning the govt.

 

[IzzyBlanche]

It's been said here before, but Trump thinks he's going to win a war against a country that has won wars for literally thousands of years?

Heh heh.

While he throws his tantrums, China is reported to be expanding its influence worldwide, including in Africa.

If push comes to shove, whom will the African countries side with? China, or the country whose leader referred to them as "skithole countries"?

 

[IzzyBlanche]

Or as Jimmy Carter put it .... "Washington". Meaning the govt.

Agreed, but USGOV takes only two more keystrokes than USA.

 

[SouthAussie]

a bit of background of your man Li Chenggang...

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Sounds as if the US govt is going to be sitting down talking trade with one very experienced Chinese negotiator.

Just like they were sitting down talking 'all things Ukraine" with very experienced Russian negotiators.

imo

 

[Trooper]

It's been said here before, but Trump thinks he's going to win a war against a country that has won wars for literally thousands of years?

Heh heh.

While he throws his tantrums, China is reported to be expanding its influence worldwide, including in Africa.

If push comes to shove, whom will the African countries side with? China, or the country whose leader referred to them as "skithole countries"?

While the west has been sending off missionaries to Africa, China has been sending off engineers, to be specific, railway engineers.. Africa, from Botswana up to Egypt is criss crossed with Chinese built railways, one running west to east from Angola thru the Congo, to Uganda, and down thru Kenya. .. Mugabe had to give it up to the Chinese to built his railways thru Zimbabwe... railways thru parts of Somalia, and up to Ethiopa...

All in all, the railways have done more for Africa than all the prayers and hopes .. it opened up markets for small producers, it mobilised good and services, it broadens peoples' horizons.. if push came to shove, the railway builders would win hands down, and then some.

 

[IzzyBlanche]

While the west has been sending off missionaries to Africa, China has been sending off engineers, to be specific, railway engineers.. Africa, from Botswana up to Egypt is criss crossed with Chinese built railways, one running west to east from Angola thru the Congo, to Uganda, and down thru Kenya. .. Mugabe had to give it up to the Chinese to built his railways thru Zimbabwe... railways thru parts of Somalia, and up to Ethiopa...

All in all, the railways have done more for Africa than all the prayers and hopes .. it opened up markets for small producers, it mobilised good and services, it broadens peoples' horizons.. if push came to shove, the railway builders would win hands down, and then some.

I think it's safe to say that China knows how to play the long game.

Trump and Co. do not.

 

[Lilibet]

I don't disagree with any of your main points, but may I politely point out once again:

it is NOT the USA as a whole.

It's the lunatic elected to the White House and his minions.

I really appreciate it when you say the US government, which I believe you can abbreviate USGOV, in place of the USA, because we are far from united in backing this.

Yes, and we are heartbroken and deeply depressed about what is happening in the U.S. thanks to the president and his minions. That’s why we’re sensitive about being lumped together with him. Just say POTUS (Pres of the US) and we’ll feel less upset. Thanks!

 

[Kemug]

I wonder what level and type of employment Trump might be able to find in some other country? I don't think he'd rise very far in China. But perhaps there is a third world country somewhere in need of a TV host? Or a real estate developer? I'm thinking maybe Heard Island, he wouldn't have much competition there. And he might even know where it is by now.