Canada - USA Trade War commencing March 2025 #3

[keek]

That was very apparent in those Signal messages where they included a reporter in the chat. Deliberate messaging of "Blame Biden" to the American people.


"I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what – nobody knows who the Houthis are – which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed ...... "

Signal war plans chat: Five takeaways from leaked US top military meeting

What was discussed in the top-secret group that a journalist was accidentally added to?

www.bbc.com

The old ongoing script, over and over.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

That was very apparent in those Signal messages where they included a reporter in the chat. Deliberate messaging of "Blame Biden" to the American people.


"I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what – nobody knows who the Houthis are – which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed ...... "

Signal war plans chat: Five takeaways from leaked US top military meeting

What was discussed in the top-secret group that a journalist was accidentally added to?

www.bbc.com

He is literally obsessed.
Trump mentioned Biden 316 times in 50 days.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

But when Republicans spent the last four years crying and hating everything President Biden did and trying to cause an insurrection, that was perfectly acceptable, right? Why are Democrats expected to love everything Trump does but it was okay when Republicans did it? The word I’m searching for is HYPOCRISY. Or did I imagine that? They didn’t spend 4 years driveling LETS GO BRANDON?

This just reminded me of a song - “Who’s Crying Now”

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

This just reminded me of a song - “Who’s Crying Now”

So you agree it was fine for them to do but now it’s an issue? Thanks!

 

[indicolite22]

This just reminded me of a song - “Who’s Crying Now”

Don't worry, tanking the economy will hurt his voters, too.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

So you agree it was fine for them to do but now it’s an issue? Thanks!

Those are your words, not mine.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

Don't worry, tanking the economy will hurt his voters, too.

Yes @indicolite22 …. let’s just hope it is apparent to all. And acknowledged. MOO

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

Those are your words, not mine.

They are facts. Surely you don’t expect people of a different political ideology to love the things he doing? Sorry, I don’t need a facist unelected person like Elon Musk determining where funds go and what funds should get cancelled. Republicans love the Constitution until they decide they’ll make up the rules. Isn’t it Congress who is supposed to control this country’s purse strings? If Biden had George Soros running DOGE I’m sure every Republican would be a-ok with it. Like I said, hypocrisy. JMO

 

[Snoopster]

And look at the ones by the Dems. They’re so focused on hating everything President Trump does, that they can’t see the forest for the trees.

What is the forest vs the trees? I'm curious.

Trump has mischaracterized the trade deficit as a 'subsidy' to Canada to justify breaking the trade deal he signed in his last term (and which he described as "extremely fair and balanced").

Here are my key comments:
1) trade is not a subsidy. Each party gets something. One party might get a product or a service and the other party gets equal value in money. Even steven. In contrast a subsidy is where one party gives something and doesn't get anything in return. If the US doesn't want to buy Canada's oil or potash, then they don't have to.

2) Trump came up with fake "fentanyl issue" with Canada so he could get around the legal trade deal that is in place and that the US agreed to. Less than 0.5% of fentanyl seized in the US last year was from Canada. Perhaps the US should focus on the 99.5%, that didn't come from Canada.

3) Trade deficits get measured in various ways, depending on which goods and/or services are included in the numbers. Some stats being thrown out there by Trump and gang don't include many, if any, services. Canada, and many other countries buy a lot of services from US companies, from consulting to video streaming. These involve real money, just as hard goods do.

4) Why is it 'suddenly' that every major country is supposedly 'taking advantage' of the USA, not just Canada. Trump is telling Americans that they are the victim. It's a classic ploy used by fascists.

The "forest", in my view, is that Trump is trying to blackmail and bully other countries. He is hoping to weaken them economically, and, in Canada's case he wants to make Canada the 51st state and have access to Canada's resources (oil, aluminum, fresh water, potash, etc., etc.) as well as gaining access to the Arctic passage.

No "trees" here (well, I guess he's after Canada's lumber as well).

People are justified in speaking up against bullies.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

What is the forest vs the trees? I'm curious.

Trump has mischaracterized the trade deficit as a 'subsidy' to Canada to justify breaking the trade deal he signed in his last term (and which he described as "extremely fair and balanced").

Here are my key comments:
1) trade is not a subsidy. Each party gets something. One party might get a product or a service and the other party gets equal value in money. Even steven. In contrast a subsidy is where one party gives something and doesn't get anything in return. If the US doesn't want to buy Canada's oil or potash, then they don't have to.

2) Trump came up with fake "fentanyl issue" with Canada so he could get around the legal trade deal that is in place and that the US agreed to. Less than 0.5% of fentanyl seized in the US last year was from Canada. Perhaps the US should focus on the 99.5%, that didn't come from Canada.

3) Trade deficits get measured in various ways, depending on which goods and/or services are included in the numbers. Some stats being thrown out there by Trump and gang don't include many, if any, services. Canada, and many other countries buy a lot of services from US companies, from consulting to video streaming. These involve real money, just as hard goods do.

4) Why is it 'suddenly' that every major country is supposedly 'taking advantage' of the USA, not just Canada. Trump is telling Americans that they are the victim. It's a classic ploy used by fascists.

The "forest", in my view, is that Trump is trying to blackmail and bully other countries. He is hoping to weaken them economically, and, in Canada's case he wants to make Canada the 51st state and have access to Canada's resources (oil, aluminum, fresh water, potash, etc., etc.) as well as gaining access to the Arctic passage.

No "trees" here (well, I guess he's after Canada's lumber as well).

People are justified in speaking up against bullies.

To your point #2 — https://www.cato.org/blog/fentanyl-smuggled-us-citizens-us-citizens-not-asylum-seekers

Here are facts:

• Fentanyl smuggling is ultimately funded by U.S. consumers who pay for illicit opioids: nearly 99 percent of whom are U.S. citizens.
• In 2021, U.S. citizens were 86.3 percent of convicted fentanyl drug traffickers—ten times greater than convictions of illegal immigrants for the same offense.
• Over 90 percent of fentanyl seizures occur at legal crossing points or interior vehicle checkpoints, not on illegal migration routes, so U.S. citizens (who are subject to less scrutiny) when crossing legally are the best smugglers.
• The location of smuggling makes sense because hard drugs at ports of entry are about 97 percent less likely to be stopped than are people crossing illegally between them.
• Just 0.02 percent of the people arrested by Border Patrol for crossing illegally possessed any fentanyl whatsoever.
• The government exacerbated the problem by banning most legal cross border traffic in 2020 and 2021, accelerating a switch to fentanyl (the easiest-to-conceal drug).
• During the travel restrictions, fentanyl seizures at ports quadrupled from fiscal year 2019 to 2021. Fentanyl went from a third of combined heroin and fentanyl seizures to over 90 percent.
• Annual deaths from fentanyl nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021 after the government banned most travel (and asylum).

 

[SouthAussie]

....... that they can’t see the forest for the trees.

I think this is very true.

The entire conglomerate of democratic countries (the forest) is saying "Be careful, what you are doing is not good for the US economy".
Goldman Sachs is saying "Be careful, what you are doing is not good for the US economy".
Other economists are saying "Be careful, what you are doing is not good for the US economy".

The US Govt (the trees) is saying "{shrug} ... let's tariff everybody!"

imo

 

[Charlot123]

I take it that for his entire life Trump has found that anything can be had for a price.

Interestingly, in business and relationships he overpaid.
But, IRL, it is true: economy rules. The problem is, if you are a personal bankrupt, there are ways to survive. If it is a country, and a huge one, what do you do?
Don't be surprised that one might turn to "not-such-great-friends", it has happened many times in history. The net result is what matters.
But, the president needs needs to turn to economists to consult.
I am afraid that Trump views "rich people" as "good economists"; in essence, it may not be the case.

 

[Trooper]

This just reminded me of a song - “Who’s Crying Now”

French far-right leader handed five-year ban from office

A Paris court has convicted French far-right leader Marine Le Pen of embezzling money from the European parliament.

www.abc.net.au

Well.. the Right Wing in France is certainly crying now.. as expected, Marie le Pen 's trial resulted in a verdict that has the Right wing reeling in shock, but it was always expected, the evidence was unassailable, and Mdme le Pen's ridiculous attempts to cover up her crime only revealed it more clearly..

Annnnnyways, she is out of politics for 5 years, and that, in France, is a death knock, things move along at a great pace, so it is reasonable to assume that she is finished , done, and dusted. Which is a great relief to one hell of a lot of French citoyens.....

 

[Trooper]

I think this is very true.

The entire conglomerate of democratic countries (the forest) is saying "Be careful, what you are doing is not good for the US economy".
Goldman Sachs is saying "Be careful, what you are doing is not good for the US economy".
Other economists are saying "Be careful, what you are doing is not good for the US economy".

The US Govt (the trees) is saying "{shrug} ... let's tariff everybody!"

imo

Quite a few MAGA chums are definitely seeing the trees and the wretched forest, at the same time, and without binoculars, Rand Paul is up on his hind legs, trying to pound sense into Trump, with not much success but at least, he's having a go, and him from Kentucky, too.!..

Rand Paul’s advice to Trump on tariffs: ‘The more we trade … the less we fight’​

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) spoke out against President Trump’s imbalance on tariffs arguing that established levies have kept the world a stable place with a secure market.

( Paul is not wrong there, it is what has kept stability, generally speaking.. without it, it creates instant instability, and that instability begins and increases right there in the USA.. )

 

[musicaljoke]

Quite a few MAGA chums are definitely seeing the trees and the wretched forest, at the same time, and without binoculars, Rand Paul is up on his hind legs, trying to pound sense into Trump, with not much success but at least, he's having a go, and him from Kentucky, too.!..

Rand Paul’s advice to Trump on tariffs: ‘The more we trade … the less we fight’​

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) spoke out against President Trump’s imbalance on tariffs arguing that established levies have kept the world a stable place with a secure market.

( Paul is not wrong there, it is what has kept stability, generally speaking.. without it, it creates instant instability, and that instability begins and increases right there in the USA.. )

Paul Rand can see things. He's an ophthalmologist. heh!

I wonder if there are any economists on the Trump team? Their economic platform seems rather scrambled, like they are children playing some kind of board game.

 

[Trooper]

With this damning of Le Pen, France can be the ‘anti-Trump’. It’s a bold path others should follow| Alexander Hurst

The far right leader is banned and disgraced. European leaders can seize this moment to show voters they will fight for them, says Guardian Europe columnist Alexander Hurst

www.theguardian.com

An interesting viewpoint on RightWIng politics and it's inevitable outcome... and the choices communities have in dealing with it, to achieve a peaceful existence..

''''''The French justice system chose courage over surrender. The law was clear, and so was the court in its sentencing: no special treatment for Marine Le Pen, no deference to the powerful, no using a candidacy for office as an excuse to break the law with impunity.

For more than a decade, from 2004 to 2016, Le Pen’s reactionary rightwing party – named the Front National until 2018, when it became the Rassemblement National (RN) – operated an organised scheme to embezzle public funds by creating fictitious parliamentary assistant jobs at the European parliament, and to break other financial rules, in effect using European public money to finance a debt-ridden party domestically. Under a French anti-corruption law passed in 2016, the guilty verdict rendered against Le Pen comes with a sentence of ineligibility to run for office. The ban is for the next five years, effective immediately, which means that the sentence will hold all the way through an appeals process and will almost certainly torpedo any chance of her running for president in 2027.

Many will see parallels between the RN’s response to this verdict and the way that Donald Trump rallied the anger of his base last summer, after a court in New York found him guilty of a criminal hush-money scheme during the 2016 election. Indeed, Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old likely successor to Le Pen (who led RN during the summer’s unanticipated legislative elections), is already playing the victim card, declaring that French democracy has been “killed”.''''''

 

[Lyanna]

I am confused by the White House March 28, 2025 list of ‘Ten Wins’ for this administration. The first cites the following:

“The Trump Administration directed the successful apprehension of a key MS-13 gang leader — an illegal immigrant living in Virginia and operating as one of the top three MS-13 leaders in the U.S.

IIUC it has otherwise been reported that an MS-13 leader was deported. And that deportation release was seen my some as a missed opportunity. Reference CNN online March 24, 2025 article by Evan Perez and Priscilla Alvarez entitled “‘Historical loss’: Alleged gang leader evades US justice with deportation to El Salvador”

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/24/politics/ms-13-leader-deported-el-salvador-boasberg-order/index.html

See also The Times March 27, 2025 online article by Charlotte McDonald-Gibson and Joshua Thurston entitled ‘Trump administration arrests alleged MS-13 gang leader - It comes as Kristi Noem tours an El Salvador prison, now home to hundreds of migrants deported from the US‘. That article seems to indicate the administration at first was citing the arrest. And that charges were then later dropped.

Trump administration arrests alleged MS-13 gang leader

It comes as Kristi Noem tours an El Salvador prison, now home to hundreds of migrants deported from the US

www.thetimes.com

SMH. MOO

I've reached the conclusion that what this administration says is either a) untrue, b) half true but we will never get the full story or c) totally insane.
Why would they drop the charges though? That's curious and interesting.
moo

 

[Charlot123]

And look at the ones by the Dems. They’re so focused on hating everything President Trump does, that they can’t see the forest for the trees.

You know, the sad conclusion is, each party has been making economic mistakes. The Democrats have the problem with insidious taxes and lack of transparency about spending. The Republicans favor the rich. But the net result is the same. So I think we should stop being so split about the parties. Plus, if you trace their voting, you see how they perfectly align when there is a need.
I see several problems, 1) we vote for our "representatives", ship them to DC and there is no true accountability of them to us; 2) we are so divided that we can't ask them all as the group of elected officials, why? The moment we all, regardless of color, gender, political views ask all of them, why is our minimum wage so low, we can get something. As long as we are eyeing each other with suspicion, nothing will be done for us. We are split "the Roman way", "divide and rule". 3) I, too, now have questions about "who was making the decisions?" in Biden’s time. Because i voted for Biden and Kamala. If Biden could not, it ought to have been Kamala, not some unelected family members. But, it is not only about "the Dems" because we have two houses. Who are supposed to vote. And now they are Republican, which means, people in power for a long time, "seasoned", can agree or veto on the President's decisions. Where are they?
We have the right to ask only the elected representatives for accountability. An appointed person can easily jump off that wagon. But our elected officials can be held accountable.

 

[LovesPeace2]

Doug Ford calls Wednesday ‘Termination Day’ amid tariff threats

Premier Doug Ford is warning Ontarians to “fasten” their seatbelts ahead of an expected Wednesday announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding another sweeping round of tariffs.

www.ctvnews.ca

an interview with Newstalk 1010 on Monday, Ford said he asked U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for a heads up on what Ontario could expect during a call last week but received no specifics.

“[Lutnick] said he didn’t know. Either he is blowing smoke or he really doesn’t know, and I think it is the latter. I think you are bang on. Sometimes Mr. Trump doesn’t know either. So let’s fasten our seatbelt and lets get ready,” Ford said.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

I've reached the conclusion that what this administration says is either a) untrue, b) half true but we will never get the full story or c) totally insane.
Why would they drop the charges though? That's curious and interesting.
moo

Difficult to fathom for certain @Lyanna ….. and I am unable to ascribe any valid reason for such. And in light of the release and deportation, the results seem incongruent with a self-described ‘win’. As no charges were prosecuted.

The Times March 27 article cited above did contain a statement indicating the following:

“This month, the US dropped charges against Cesar Lopez-Larios, another alleged MS-13 leader, and deported him as part of a deal with President Bukele of El Salvador, a top ally of Trump in Latin America.”

It isn’t entirely clear if this is even referring to the same individual. And one can only surmise that might be intentional? And also have to wonder how much of these dealings are ‘on the record’ and vetted. IMO. MOO