Canada - USA Trade War commencing March 2025 #3

[SouthAussie]

Looks like Howard Lutnick is going to be the fall guy if these tariffs blow up in the face of the US.


As ‘Liberation Day’ nears, patience for the Commerce secretary is wearing thin across the Trump administration.

“I think people would take special pleasure in blaming him”

Lutnick spends substantial time in the Oval Office, hyping the president on his tariff strategy and “giving him bad advice — pushing more aggressive tariffs”

Lutnick is “a new voice at the table pushing crazy s ---”

“I don’t know anyone that isn’t p----d off at him.”

Trump world turns on Lutnick

 

[Mo Thuairim]

Italy’s interior ministry has written to police forces across the country to increase security at Tesla dealerships after 17 of the electric cars made by Elon Musk’s company were destroyed in a fire in Rome.

Italy’s state police anti-terrorism unit, Digos, is investigating whether the fire at the Tesla dealership in Torre Angela, a suburb in the east of the capital, was started by anarchists.

Firefighters worked for hours to put out the blaze in the early hours of Monday. Drone images showed a row of the burnt-out remains of the vehicles in a parking area of the dealership. Using his social media platform, X, Musk referred to it as “terrorism”.

There are 13 Tesla dealerships in Italy, all managed by the parent company, the majority of them in Rome, but also in other cities including Florence and Milan.

An interior ministry source said the circular was aimed at “raising awareness” of possible anti-Tesla protesters amid a global wave of vandalism in response to Musk’s political activities in the US. If needed, surveillance of dealerships would be increased, it said.

Italian police increase security at Tesla dealerships after 17 cars destroyed in Rome fire

Donald Trump’s tariffs will be ‘negative the world over’, European Central Bank’s Christine Lagarde says – Europe live

US tariffs will prove harmful ‘even for those who inflict’ them but can lead to negotiations, ECB chief says

www.theguardian.com

 

[ekc]

four oclock and til then the globe waits for the hammer to fall....what power!...remember when sleeper cells were a big deal? what happened to all the real threats....now delusions of grandeur at the expense of those who have a lot to loose sounds like the real threat today.....wonder what he (trump) will do when we all push back....hey lets blow up Iran thats the plan today isn't it....prepers are not looking so bad now...jat

 

[otto]

I've only read 2 pages here, and this is one of multiple posts by you, where you have referenced "Republicans" who enjoy taunting others. Do you really believe all republicans follow that line of thinking?

The democrats should perhaps focus on coming up with a contender for the next election who isn't the worst of two evils.

True, yesterday I mentioned "republicans" in relation to this article. Republicans are quoted as seeing humour when Trump "taunts Canadians". Republicans believe that anyone who is not amused suffers from "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and their "heads explode". I do believe that Republicans knew exactly who Trump is when they elected him twice, and they see him as representing their values, goals and sense of humour.

No one in the world can understand how a country with 340 million people has only two old men suitable to run for president, where both of them have some questionable (mental) health issues. Explain that, and then we can understand why the democrats, like the republicans, failed to present a suitable contender.

"The retired U.S. Army Major sat down with CBC News, along with five other Republican voters in rural Kentucky, for candid conversations about President Donald Trump's return to power. ...

I just think it's funny when there's a lot of people with TDS, Trump derangement syndrome," she says, referring to the derogatory term used to describe negative reactions to Trump that are seen as irrational. "Their heads explode, and I think it's funny when he says that kind of stuff and gets a rise out of them."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-voters-annexation-1.7498298

 

[Angela_Beckett]

Feel we the People of the World are sitting here just Al Filo del Agua, at the edge of the storm

 

[otto]

Experienced economists, whose reputations make them spokespeople on global economic affairs, are telling the USA government that tariffs are a mistake.

The goal of returning manufacturing to the USA is not a problem, but there's a logical order to doing that. Build manufacturing plants, train local tradespeople and engineers, establish USA-based manufacturing, then impose a tax on same-products that are imported. That works. Imposing tax because there's a hope to develop local manufacturing is ridiculous.

"Economists suspect that the US will shoot itself in the foot economically with all the tariffs. Parts and raw materials from abroad cannot simply be replaced by American alternatives. That is why the bill threatens to end up with American consumers. The American stock market in particular has been in the red for a long time , especially after Trump himself mentioned the word recession."

Wereld zet zich schrap voor Trumps heffingen: vijf vragen en antwoorden

Vanavond kondigt de Amerikaanse president een nieuwe serie aan heffingen op buitenlandse goederen aan.

nos.nl

 

[Yellowbelly]

In today's news, it would appear that Mr Trump wants to impose import tariffs onto drug dealers!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1907096069537669486

https://twitter.com/x/status/1907297455726580058

 

[JDG]

Could Canada and the U.S. strike a zero tariff deal? Ford says Carney is open to idea

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Prime Minister Mark Carney told him a zero tariff situation was possible if Trump agreed to drop all tariffs.

toronto.citynews.ca

Wonder if this will come to pass?

 

[otto]

In today's news, it would appear that Mr Trump wants to impose import tariffs onto drug dealers!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1907096069537669486

https://twitter.com/x/status/1907297455726580058

What? Tariffs on fentanyl? Nutter.

19 kilograms of fentanyl in 2024, that was later proven to include drugs found in Spokane (unrelated to Canada), changes nothing in the USA. That is simple common sense.

If those USA government officials agree that this small amount of fentanyl constitutes a national emergency, then they are obsessed with playing the victim & blame game ... which makes them unsuitable for public office.

 

[otto]

Could Canada and the U.S. strike a zero tariff deal? Ford says Carney is open to idea

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Prime Minister Mark Carney told him a zero tariff situation was possible if Trump agreed to drop all tariffs.

toronto.citynews.ca

Wonder if this will come to pass?

I hope everyone knows that the only reason that Canada is imposing tariffs is in response to USA tariffs. If the USA stops the tariffs, Canada stops the tariffs. There will always be supply management in Canada and the USA, which by definition requires tariffs to prevent flooding the market with cheap product to undermine the local industry. That should not change.

 

[Sillybilly]

'Can't imagine Alaska without Canada': Resolution would affirm Canadian sovereignty​

Republican Rep. Chuck Kopp of Alaska, which shares a border with the Yukon and is separated from the contiguous U.S. by Canada, says the state doesn’t support the president’s trade war and annexation bid against Canada.

He has proposed a joint resolution in the state legislature that would affirm Canada’s sovereignty and recognize the enduring, centuries-old ties between Alaska and Canada.

[...]

“The trust and affection that we hold for our Canadian neighbours extends to their identity as citizens of the sovereign nation of Canada ... we have a history that’s woven together.

“We can’t imagine Alaska without Canada.”

[...]

“I want to emphasize that Canada’s response to tariffs and our efforts to protect our economy and sovereignty are not a reflection of our feelings toward the American people,” he said about Canada’s promised retaliatory tariffs.

“We remain your greatest friends and your closest allies. We want to keep working together, just like we’ve done for the past 150 years.”

The president of the senate, Republican Sen. Cathy Giessel, ended the brief meeting by thanking Pillai.

“As a lifelong Alaskan, I agree with every word you said, 100 per cent,” she said.

“I can also say, genuinely, I love Canadians, because my youngest son is a dual citizen. He lives in a different province.”

 

[Yellowbelly]

Paul Krugman on the tariffs. He reckons the shock to the US economy will be bigger than that of the famous Smoot-Hawley tariffs of the 1930s.

Stop Looking for Methods in the Madness

There’s no plan, secret or otherwise, behind Trump’s tariffs

paulkrugman.substack.com

 

[Ontario Mom]

If those USA government officials agree that this small amount of fentanyl constitutes a national emergency, then they are obsessed with playing the victim & blame game ... which makes them unsuitable for public office.

I've stayed out of this thread for a million reasons but it's genuinely unfathomable that anyone could believe 42 pounds/19 kilograms of fentanyl is a "small" amount, regardless of which side of the border it's coming from. Considering the vile fentanyl crisis is at the heart (allegedly) of these tarrifs, I think it's vital for everyone to know just how deadly this drug is. My own family has buried 2 people in the last few years from this sickening drug so it's rather personal, I'll admit.

In this BBC article Record US fentanyl bust 'enough to kill 26 million people' from a few years ago, it's explained that 118 pounds of it is enough to kill 26 MILLION people.

A lethal dose for most people is literally a few grains, or less than 2mg. The math may be a wee bit off but if 118 pounds can kill 26 million people, that 42 pounds that so many are blowing off like it's not a big deal, is enough to kill roughly 8-9 million people. If that doesn't constitute a national emergency, I can't imagine what would.

My 2 cents FWIW.

 

[LoveyG]

Looks like Howard Lutnick is going to be the fall guy if these tariffs blow up in the face of the US.


As ‘Liberation Day’ nears, patience for the Commerce secretary is wearing thin across the Trump administration.

“I think people would take special pleasure in blaming him”

Lutnick spends substantial time in the Oval Office, hyping the president on his tariff strategy and “giving him bad advice — pushing more aggressive tariffs”

Lutnick is “a new voice at the table pushing crazy s ---”

“I don’t know anyone that isn’t p----d off at him.”

Trump world turns on Lutnick

Hmm makes you wonder if this is the guy shorting the market. You know, the billionaire who's mother-in-law collects social security? (just saying, my grandfather declined social security payments because he didn't need it. He said it should be reserved for people who do need it.)

Billionaire Trump Aide Uses Mom-in-Law, 94, to Defend DOGE Social Security Cuts

Howard Lutnick argued that the only ones concerned about Elon Musk targeting Social Security are fraudsters.

www.thedailybeast.com

 

[indicolite22]

If Canada didn't have natural resources to plunder, Trump wouldn't care about fentanyl coming from the North.

 

[Stunned]

Sad but true. IMO

 

[otto]

I've stayed out of this thread for a million reasons but it's genuinely unfathomable that anyone could believe 42 pounds/19 kilograms of fentanyl is a "small" amount, regardless of which side of the border it's coming from. Considering the vile fentanyl crisis is at the heart (allegedly) of these tarrifs, I think it's vital for everyone to know just how deadly this drug is. My own family has buried 2 people in the last few years from this sickening drug so it's rather personal, I'll admit.

In this BBC article Record US fentanyl bust 'enough to kill 26 million people' from a few years ago, it's explained that 118 pounds of it is enough to kill 26 MILLION people.

A lethal dose for most people is literally a few grains, or less than 2mg. The math may be a wee bit off but if 118 pounds can kill 26 million people, that 42 pounds that so many are blowing off like it's not a big deal, is enough to kill roughly 8-9 million people. If that doesn't constitute a national emergency, I can't imagine what would.

My 2 cents FWIW.

Interesting!

If 118 pounds of fentanyl kills 26 million people, then 7793 pounds of fentanyl will kill 1700 million people. 7793 pounds is what was stopped at the Mexican border.

I'll go back to my original point. In the USA, especially amongst Republicans, gun law states that the manufacturer and supplier of guns is not responsible for murder rates. The gun buyer and user is 100% responsible. Murderers have mental health issues.

Similarly, drug suppliers are not responsible for drug use. Drug users are responsible for drug abuse. They too have mental health issues.

Canada is not responsible for mental health problems in the USA. Canada cannot solve USA drug and murder rate problems. Drug users who run out of one illegal drug will find another one to replace it. Canada cannot fix that. National health care is the best option.

 

[indicolite22]

Did Musk really step down or is this a belated April Fool's joke?

Elon Musk dramatically steps down from DOGE in shocking move

President Donald Trump has told his Cabinet and inner circle that Elon Musk is stepping back from his government role.

www.dailymail.co.uk

ETA:

Trump Tells Inner Circle That Musk Will Leave Soon

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/04/02/trump-musk-leaving-political-liability-00265784

The president remains pleased with Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency initiative, but both men have decided in recent days that it will soon be time for Musk to return to his businesses and take on a supporting role, according to three Trump insiders who were granted anonymity to describe the evolving relationship.

 

[otto]

Did Musk really step down or is this a belated April Fool's joke?

Elon Musk dramatically steps down from DOGE in shocking move

President Donald Trump has told his Cabinet and inner circle that Elon Musk is stepping back from his government role.

www.dailymail.co.uk

ETA:
Trump Tells Inner Circle That Musk Will Leave Soon

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/04/02/trump-musk-leaving-political-liability-00265784

Maybe his job is done and he has wiped out 1% of expenses, so it's time to stop the free-fall of his Tesla brand.

 

[Lyanna]

Did Musk really step down or is this a belated April Fool's joke?

Elon Musk dramatically steps down from DOGE in shocking move

President Donald Trump has told his Cabinet and inner circle that Elon Musk is stepping back from his government role.

www.dailymail.co.uk

ETA:

Trump Tells Inner Circle That Musk Will Leave Soon

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/04/02/trump-musk-leaving-political-liability-00265784

The president remains pleased with Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency initiative, but both men have decided in recent days that it will soon be time for Musk to return to his businesses and take on a supporting role, according to three Trump insiders who were granted anonymity to describe the evolving relationship.

He appears to be leaving earlier than originally planned? Think it was 120 days he was given in his role with DOdGEy
How long before the snide comments between them both start I wonder?

Moo