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

[MelmothTheLost]

Many users said they realised how much middle businesses and US-based companies have inflated prices for everyday goods."

'Going to China with an empty suitcase': US shoppers swap tips to beat tariffs

Chinese factories are trying to sell directly to American consumers on social media platforms in a bid to bypass the 145 per cent tariff hike imposed by Donald Trump.

www.abc.net.au

That's not necessarily the case, though. In China, private businesses only exist for as long as the owner remains in favour with the CCP and does what he's told. The CCP has a long history of manipulating its currency to make its exports unrealistically cheap, which is a genuine and fairly longstanding grievance by the US. China is also able to systematically dump exports on other countries at or below cost price in order to destroy targeted sectors in competitors. Everything in China is ultimately controlled by the CCP.

 

[SouthAussie]

That's not necessarily the case, though. In China, private businesses only exist for as long as the owner remains in favour with the CCP and does what he's told. The CCP has a long history of manipulating its currency to make its exports unrealistically cheap, which is a genuine and fairly longstanding grievance by the US. China is also able to systematically dump exports on other countries at or below cost price in order to destroy targeted sectors in competitors. Everything in China is ultimately controlled by the CCP.

Yes, it is likely purposeful Chinese tactics due to the ridiculous size of the tariffs. Trump should not expect little or no retaliation from China.

But it sounds as if - even with a large tariff - selling directly to US consumers will be cheaper than buying from a US middleman. And that is going to hurt the middleman, who is already being hurt by the tariffs. And it won't bring manufacturing to the US.

imo

 

[Trooper]

That's not necessarily the case, though. In China, private businesses only exist for as long as the owner remains in favour with the CCP and does what he's told. The CCP has a long history of manipulating its currency to make its exports unrealistically cheap, which is a genuine and fairly longstanding grievance by the US. China is also able to systematically dump exports on other countries at or below cost price in order to destroy targeted sectors in competitors. Everything in China is ultimately controlled by the CCP.

Switzerland manipulates it's currency, Vietnam, ditto, South Korea ditto... Swizterland is not run by the CCCP ., neither is South Korea. Vietnam, probably not. US grievance , (genuine or not, and it's probably because it is competition to China, and it is losing that competition, re export), on this matter is because it boosts their export economy... The US could do the same, if it wished... it is not a negative if it's necessary. Switzerland does it when it's necessary.

The USA is whining about AU not taking their beef. they want to dump their defective beef on AU to force us to buy it to even up their imbalance in trade..

The USA is moaning about this day and night, '''ooo we can't even sell a hamburger there'..sob,, sob.. Dumping a defective product on a trade partner. And a (former ) ally! So it's not just China dumping .. The USA is trying to make dumping their law!....

Britain used to be able to dump stuff on New Zealand and AU long ago, those days are well and truly over.

 

[Trooper]

It is worth keeping in mind what the strongest currencies in the world are at this point in time.. April, 2025...

1	Kuwaiti Dinar	Kuwait	KWD	£2.51
2	Bahraini Dinar	Bahrain	BHD	£2.05
3	Omani Rial	Oman	OMR	£2.01
4	Jordanian Dinar	Jordan	JOD	£1.09
5	British Pound Sterling	United Kingdom	GBP	N/A
6	Cayman Islands Dollar	Cayman Islands	KYD	£0.93
7	Gibraltar Pound	Gibraltar	GIP	N/A
8	Swiss Franc	Switzerland	CHF	£0.87
9	Euro	Eurozone countries	EUR	£0.84
10	United States Dollar	United States	USD	£0.77

USA #10. .. This needs to be kept in focus..... the US dollar is not the strongest currency, today. Quite a long way from the top, in reality.

 

[Yellowbelly]

China exhibiting a bit of venom.....

China tells US to ‘stop whining’ over tariffs as it reports GDP growth spurt

China Daily, the Communist party’s English-language mouthpiece, says US ‘has been living beyond its means for decades’

www.theguardian.com

China Daily, the ruling Communist party’s English-language mouthpiece, says the US ‘has been living beyond its means for decades’

The US needs to “stop whining” about being a victim after “taking a free ride on the globalisation train”, China’s official state media has said, as the trade war between the two countries continued to spiral.

Last week’s tit-for-tat tariff hikes appear to have paused, but the conflict between the two biggest economies is showing no signs of letting up.

On Tuesday evening China Daily, the ruling Chinese Communist party’s (CCP) English-language mouthpiece, published an editorial saying Donald Trump’s frequent claims of the US being “ripped off” were “hoodwinking the US public”.

“The US is not getting ripped off by anybody,” it said. “The problem is the US has been living beyond its means for decades. It consumes more than it produces. It has outsourced its manufacturing and borrowed money in order to have a higher standard of living than it’s entitled to based on its productivity. Rather than being ‘cheated’, the US has been taking a free ride on the globalisation train.”

It added, “The US should stop whining about itself being a victim in global trade and put an end to its capricious and destructive behaviour.”

The CCP has refused to capitulate to Trump’s demands to come to the table and renegotiate their terms of trade.

Firstly, you can't really argue with their analysis, and you could say much the same about the UK, actually. We've been living beyond our means for years as well. Secondly, this really isn't the language of people who are about to give up and bend the knee to The Don. He really has bitten off more than he can chew this time.

 

[Trooper]

Firstly, you can't really argue with their analysis, and you could say much the same about the UK, actually. We've been living beyond our means for years as well. Secondly, this really isn't the language of people who are about to give up and bend the knee to The Don. He really has bitten off more than he can chew this time.

Anyone , and I do mean anyone with a modicum of insight would see that. ( That he has bitten off more than he can chew ) ... I truly am astonished at the advice that Trump appears to be hearing. It surely was not from any China watcher, that is for certain, ,and yet, that would seem to be the major requirement.. ... the only requirement , really..

What a waste of people's hard work, and time, and effort and their very lives, actually. 350 mllion Americans treated like excreta, and for what? less than nothing. It's enough to make God himself cry.

 

[Yellowbelly]

There isn't time for another country to step in to hold the Olympics at such short notice. Brisbane won't have its facilities ready by 2028 and earlier Olympic villages tend to be repurposed or abandoned and allowed to fall apart.

China might be able to pull it off on the basis of throwing up facilities which would probably fall down the day after the closing ceremony but that would be a massive humiliation for the US.

As to the World Cup, which is due to start in about 15 months, I cannot see anyway to redistribute the fixtures at such short notice and prepare a new group of stadiums in Mexico and Canada to take on matches they weren't expecting to host. To give an idea of the scale of the problem, of the 16 host cities 11 are in the US, 2 in Canada and 3 in Mexico.

The only way the World Cup and Olympics don't happen in the USA is if Civil War II has broken out by then. Not totally impossible if Trump either tries to cancel the 2026 mid terms or obviously tries to rig them. Who knows how the people in a country full of guns would react if that happens.

The World Cup wouldn't be that hard to relocate. All you would need is a country with enough large football stadiums. I'm sure England would bite FIFAs hand off if offered it!

The Olympics would be more difficult to relocate if LA can't host them. Japan and France should still have most of the venues if the IOC needed another host in extremis.

 

[Yellowbelly]

U.S. Plans to Use Tariff Negotiations to Isolate China​

The idea is to extract commitments from U.S. trading partners to isolate China’s economy in exchange for reductions in trade and tariff barriers imposed by the White House.

https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/u-s-plans-to-use-tariff-negotiations-to-isolate-china-177d1528?mod=mhp

(the article is paywalled but you get the idea just from reading the intro)

Are these people living on the moon! The first thing they did in this trade war was punch their own allies in the face! Why would anyone now co-operate with them in bringing this cunning plan to fruition.

 

[Kemug]

I take it that no more has been heard about the special pins for the faithful to wear? I could easily believe 6 impossible things before breakfast these days. In fact I wondered when the "special salute" would be introduced.

 

[Trooper]

Are these people living on the moon! The first thing they did in this trade war was punch their own allies in the face! Why would anyone now co-operate with them in bringing this cunning plan to fruition.

The White House either does not know, or can't quite register what he has heard, or has ignored the news that 160 nations have A L R E A D Y signed up with China for the Belt and Road trade agreement, are they deaf there in Washington??

I can't think of any country except Russia that Trump or his duncified side kick, Vance have not supremely ticked off, with unnecessary , ungrammatical, asinine and puerile slagging off with no provocation whatsoever .... no one cares for Trumps co operation, and anything he signs is as worth while as used toilet paper, it is meaningless. He breaks contracts. Who does business with a contract breaker? no one, , is who.

 

[SouthAussie]

The Olympic committee is trying to brace for anything - with confidence.


A top International Olympic Committee executive expressed confidence about overcoming any concerns about President Donald Trump’s trade and travel policies ahead of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Coventry, however, had previously made it clear she expects to be able to handle Trump, who is also calling on the IOC to bar transgender competitors.

“I think we cannot speculate at this stage,” he [Dubi] said during a virtual news conference, adding that Olympic organizing committees, along with “the sport movement in general, are constantly facing evolving circumstances.”

Are Trump's policies affecting the Olympics? Here's what the IOC says

Trump's tariffs and proposed travel restrictions could impact the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

www.deseret.com

 

[detective.moon]

Are these people living on the moon! The first thing they did in this trade war was punch their own allies in the face! Why would anyone now co-operate with them in bringing this cunning plan to fruition.

it seems like it’s working on panama i
wonder if there are more countries that rely on trade with the US a lot (more than they do on china and their belt and road trade program) that will want to stay on trump’s good side?

Why Panama is ending Belt and Road agreement with China hours after US top diplomat's visit

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Panama to reduce Chinese influence over the Panama Canal area or face potential retaliation from the Trump administration

www.theweek.in

Why Panama is ending Belt and Road agreement with China hours after US top diplomat's visit​

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Panama to reduce Chinese influence over the Panama Canal area or face potential retaliation from the Trump administration

 

[Lyanna]

Trump press secretary attacks Maryland senator for traveling to El Salvador – as it happened

US senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to see his wrongly deported constituent; Karoline Leavitt says ‘Kilmar Ábrego García will never live in the US again’

www.theguardian.com

Interesting how Trump doesn't feel the lady should remain teaching after everything bad she's done, yet he thinks it's perfectly acceptable to be a convicted felon and run the country.
Hmmmm

Moo
ETA I don't know what she's done that's so awful but I imagine it's all FAKE NEWS from the Trump administration anyway.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

The only way the World Cup and Olympics don't happen in the USA is if Civil War II has broken out by then. Not totally impossible if Trump either tries to cancel the 2026 mid terms or obviously tries to rig them. Who knows how the people in a country full of guns would react if that happens.

I agree that it's very unlikely that either event won't go ahead as planned. At least with the Olympics, once competitors, officials and visitors have actually entered the US, they should be able to remain there until the event is over.

Things are more complicated for the World Cup, however, because of the split of venues across three countries. Since when the event starts it won't be clear which teams will progress through to and then through the knockout stages, it will also be unclear which teams and their supporters will need to repeatedly move between the three countries as they progress. Each time supporters move into, out of and back into the US, they may run the risk of being detained at the border. That may deter many supporters, especially those travelling as a family with kids.

We'll have to wait and see how all the immigration stuff pans out over the next few months.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

The World Cup wouldn't be that hard to relocate. All you would need is a country with enough large football stadiums. I'm sure England would bite FIFAs hand off if offered it!

The Olympics would be more difficult to relocate if LA can't host them. Japan and France should still have most of the venues if the IOC needed another host in extremis.

It's very unlikely the UK could step up for the World Cup as we (or at least Glasgow) are hosting the Commonwealth Games in July and August next summer.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

it seems like it’s working on panama i
wonder if there are more countries that rely on trade with the US a lot (more than they do on china and their belt and road trade program) that will want to stay on trump’s good side?

Why Panama is ending Belt and Road agreement with China hours after US top diplomat's visit

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Panama to reduce Chinese influence over the Panama Canal area or face potential retaliation from the Trump administration

www.theweek.in

Why Panama is ending Belt and Road agreement with China hours after US top diplomat's visit​

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Panama to reduce Chinese influence over the Panama Canal area or face potential retaliation from the Trump administration

China's Belt and Road initiative has been running out of steam for some years now. Italy and the Philippines pulled out of it in 2023 and Thailand is a lot less keen on it than it was originally.

Belt and Road: Italy pulls out of flagship Chinese project

Italy was the only G7 major economy to join China's flagship trade and infrastructure project.

www.bbc.co.uk

Philippines drops China's Belt and Road as tensions flare – DW – 11/08/2023

The Philippines dropped out of projects under China's global infrastructure scheme, saying it would seek other sources after Beijing failed to provide funding. The pullout comes amid tensions in the South China Sea.

www.dw.com

China's Belt and Road crediblity collapsing fast in Thailand - Asia Times

BANGKOK – China's Belt and Road Initiative projects are being scrutinized in Thailand after Myanmar's 7.7 earthquake pancaked a 30-floor building 966

asiatimes.com

 

[Mo Thuairim]

Look who's asking for a TAXPAYER FUNDED bailout. The same farmers who voted for the piece of shih screwing them over right now with his tariffs.

"Farmers across the United States say they could face financial ruin – unless there is a huge taxpayer-funded bailout to compensate for losses generated by Donald Trump’s sweeping cuts and chaotic tariffs.

Rural counties rallied behind Trump in 2024, giving him a majority in all but 11 of the 444 farming-dependent counties last year, averaging 78% support, according to analysis by Investigate Midwest.

Trump’s vote share rose among farming communities, despite his last trade war which required a $23bn taxpayer bailout for farmers in 2018-19.

Yet anxiety is mounting among the agricultural base."

‘Shock to the system’: farmers hit by Trump’s tariffs and cuts say they need another bailout

And the EU is now looking at importing more soya beans from Argentina to replace those from Louisiana if trade negotiations with the US don't work out. It would be another big blow to farmers if it happens.

 

[Yellowbelly]

Paul Krugman, saying much the same stuff that we've been saying, in case anybody needed validation from an actual economist.

Why Trump Will Lose His Trade War

His people don’t know what they’re doing or what they want

paulkrugman.substack.com

 

[Yellowbelly]

China's Belt and Road initiative has been running out of steam for some years now. Italy and the Philippines pulled out of it in 2023 and Thailand is a lot less keen on it than it was originally.

Belt and Road: Italy pulls out of flagship Chinese project

Italy was the only G7 major economy to join China's flagship trade and infrastructure project.

www.bbc.co.uk

Philippines drops China's Belt and Road as tensions flare – DW – 11/08/2023

The Philippines dropped out of projects under China's global infrastructure scheme, saying it would seek other sources after Beijing failed to provide funding. The pullout comes amid tensions in the South China Sea.

www.dw.com

China's Belt and Road crediblity collapsing fast in Thailand - Asia Times

BANGKOK – China's Belt and Road Initiative projects are being scrutinized in Thailand after Myanmar's 7.7 earthquake pancaked a 30-floor building 966

asiatimes.com

The Philippines thing was rather Trumpian on China's part. They've been bullying The Philippines in the South China Sea for years. Oddly enough, The Philippines decided that they'd rather not do deals with people who kept punching them in the face.

 

[detective.moon]

Professor and authoritarianism scholar Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins WIRED to answer the internet's burning questions about dictators and fascism.

i thought this video was interesting! she talks about how dictatorships function and how they start, and she talks specifically about trump and xi jinping too