Canada - USA Trade War commencing March 2025

[otto]

The back pedalling came after Ford applied a surcharge to electricity that the USA says it does not need. No one knows why the USA government is bothered by the price of electricity in Canada.

Tomorrow is another day, and there will be more tariffs in response to USA government tariffs.

"Speaking to reporters at Queen's Park Tuesday, Ford said Lutnick had "sent out an olive branch" for provincial and federal Canadian officials to meet in Washington to "discuss the future" in the wake of repeated tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. They are set to meet on Thursday, Ford said — and in return, Ontario agreed to suspend its 25 per cent surcharge on exports of electricity to Michigan, New York and Minnesota.

"With any negotiation that we have, there's a point that both parties are heated, and the temperature needs to come down," Ford said.

"They understand how serious we are about the electricity and the tariffs, and rather than going back and forth and having threats to each other, we have both agreed that cooler heads prevail. We need to sit down and move this forward."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/trump-ford-ontario-electricity-tariffs-trade-war-1.7480234

 

[Kudzuu]

I think they are asking for the name of the United States Trade Representative who is also said to be planning to attend.

Secretary Lutnick agreed to officially meet with Premier Ford in Washington on Thursday, March 13 alongside the United States Trade Representative
Fact Check Team: Companies shift operations to US amid escalating tariffs

That is me. Maybe I didn't make myself clear.

United States Trade Representative. Who might that be?

 

[MerlinFalcon]

Ford just announced that he is temporarily pausing the surcharge on hydro. He will be heading to Washington tomorrow or Thursday to speak with Trump about the situation. Will find an article when it's posted. He just announced this live.

edit: here's the article. Also, he isn't meeting Trump. He's meeting Secretary Lutnick.

Ontario suspending 25% surcharge on provincially generated electricity purchased by U.S. states

I think it's probably the practical move to make, but it is kind of ironic after he said this yesterday:


Doug Ford reveals tariff plans for U.S. electrical imports: 'We need to end the chaos'

Doug’s entire political career has been full of doing something big and then backing off under pressure. He really needs to take a step back and let the Feds do the talking. He’s just adding fuel to the fire.

 

[tlcya]

"The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State," Trump posted on Tuesday. "This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear."
Trump doubles planned Canada tariffs to 50%, markets slump amid recession fears

It is impossible to take this [self edit] seriously. He inhabits his own little fantasy land. JMO - and that of many many others.

 

[MerlinFalcon]

I don’t think Trump’s problem is dementia, I think it’s some type of mental illness combined with drug use. Blaming Biden for the stock market crashing over the past several days? Delusional.

 

[otto]

"The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State," Trump posted on Tuesday. "This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear."
Trump doubles planned Canada tariffs to 50%, markets slump amid recession fears

It is impossible to take this [self edit] seriously. He inhabits his own little fantasy land. JMO - and that of many many others.

Was that before or after he did the Tesla car commercial with Musk?

 

[dmac55]

deleted by me

 

[PrairieWind]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed due to no links to various statements of fact>

In a joint statement released by Lutnich and Premier Ford, they agree that "in response" Ford has suspended (temporarily removed) the surcharge.

Canada doesn't need money, Canada is not exploring bonds to fund Canada.

Canada has a 7.5% tariff on USA dairy. USA dairy contains hormones, which are banned in Canada. Canada has supply management and does not need or want USA dairy. If the USA attempts to dump more that 18% of total Canadian dairy production in Canada, the deterrent is a 270% tariff. That is a deterrent to prevent the USA from dumping cheap, low-quality product in Canada. The USA should keep their dairy in their country - that's the best option. Just keep it.

The next prime minister was elected by the Liberal Party, and a federal election will be announced soon. That is where Canadians will decide the next prime minister. Canada government is modeled after the UK, and no one expects the USA to understand that complex system.

<modsnip>

Canada is preaching to no one. The USA can do whatever it wants. Canadians don't care, unless the USA declares war against Canada.

Very little US dairy uses hormones anymore, and it in no way impacts the milk. It is a made up excuse for a tariff. Canada already imports more than it exports.

 

[PrairieWind]

Linked upthread - in response to the "olive branch" (per Ford's statement), there is a pause on the surcharge.

I'm still waiting to hear why this matters to the USA since the USA Federal Government has repeatedly stated that it does not need anything from Canada. The USA does not need Canadian electricity, so what is the problem?

"Today, United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Premier of Ontario Doug Ford had a productive conversation about the economic relationship between the United States and Canada. Secretary Lutnick agreed to officially meet with Premier Ford in Washington on Thursday, March 13 alongside the United States Trade Representative to discuss a renewed USMCA ahead of the April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline. In response, Ontario agreed to suspend its 25 per cent surcharge on exports of electricity to Michigan, New York and Minnesota."​

Governors of NY, Michigan and Minnesota (all democrats) have said they can transition to other power supplies with little impact. Makes one wonder why they weren't doing so already.

 

[Fabled Automatic]

Wondering if someone is going to ask about the confusion about the door being open or locked.

The back pedalling came after Ford applied a surcharge to electricity that the USA says it does not need. No one knows why the USA government is bothered by the price of electricity in Canada.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/trump-ford-ontario-electricity-tariffs-trade-war-1.7480234

Governors of NY, Michigan and Minnesota (all democrats) have said they can transition to other power supplies with little impact. Makes one wonder why they weren't doing so already.

I've been waiting to hear an answer from anyone as to why they care if we put a surcharge on our hydro and lumber. They've stated they don't need us for anything. So, 25%, 50%, or stop sending it altogether, what does it matter?

I'm all for cooling things down and working together. What I don't tolerate well is disingenuous bargaining (i.e. "I didn't need you anyways"). That's schoolyard nonsense.

 

[Trooper]

“If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by.”
― Sun Tzu

Rupert Murdoch, who made Trump is fed up with him already.. says, in the Wall St Journal, this tariff stuff is demented.... I see Rupe is now siccing Peter Doocey on the craziness, for one reason.. Rupe does not like losers... Soon as you look like a loser, it's goodnight Irene, and without Rupert, and Fox, and all the ridiculous chorus of cheerleaders , all of whom are so ill educated in even the English language, will be screaming at each other..

Napoleon Bonaparte is famously quoted as saying, "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." And Napoleon knew a thing or two about unforced errors, in the end, which sunk him and sent him off to exile on Elba, he took on General Winter, an adversary he had no possible chance of winning...

Trump is reacting, in uncontrolled panic at this point.. reacting to his own idiocy, which must be painful, but no one 's fault but his. There are many many more mistakes he is going to make, he thinks upping the ante will solve it , nope. China, and Xi are watching all this with gobsmacked eyes, they have plans of their own that they may implement, and when they do, it will not be with shouting and peeved sulky twitters....

 

[SouthAussie]

The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting this morning that Trump has refused to exempt Australia from tariffs on steel and aluminium we sell to the US. (We have been trying to negotiate)

Our defence minister, Richard Marles, says it makes no sense but we will diversify. He said that during Trump's previous presidency, it took Australia 9 months to turn his tariff ideas around.




US tariffs ‘make no sense’, says Marles

 

[Trooper]

The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting this morning that Trump has refused to exempt Australia from tariffs on steel and aluminium we sell to the US. (We have been trying to negotiate)

Our defence minister, Richard Marles, says it makes no sense but we will diversify. He said that during Trump's previous presidency, it took Australia 9 months to turn his tariff ideas around.


View attachment 570175

US tariffs ‘make no sense’, says Marles

He's doing a Napoleon, fighting on many fronts. . Mexico, Canada, Panama, Denmark, Australia, South Africa,, he has no clue what he's up against, and I don't think many Americans are aware of the resistance that will be baked in for generations to come. .. They seem to have no clue that their own lives are about to be upended, in ways that are most unpleasant and uncomfortable, Trump could care less about that, they are truly on their own, , it's every dog for himself in the USA>. and they DON"T EVEN HAVE HEALTH CARE!!!

It is pitiful, pitiful, and the cost, like any war will outshine any gain,.

 

[Trooper]

The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting this morning that Trump has refused to exempt Australia from tariffs on steel and aluminium we sell to the US. (We have been trying to negotiate)

Our defence minister, Richard Marles, says it makes no sense but we will diversify. He said that during Trump's previous presidency, it took Australia 9 months to turn his tariff ideas around.


View attachment 570175

US tariffs ‘make no sense’, says Marles

We'll join BRICS ...make it BRIACS... big market, great customers, buyers who pay their bills on time, Buyers who like regulations and rules.. hell, the USA is a dead end, for manufacturing now. It will just sink back into history like Moldavia, or Albania.. ... when did you last buy anything from Albania??

As for the shipping passage near Greenland, if anyone thinks that Russia, or China is going to let the USA run that channel they need a big dose of wake the hell up, in jig time.. NEVER going to happen.

 

[Trooper]

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I watched this with complete disbelief.. do Americans truly believe that Tariffs are a tax CUT to Americans?? are there really people out there, ANYWHERE who believe this truly arithmetically illiterate position??? is that possible?? Can any one explain this to me??

 

[SouthAussie]

He's doing a Napoleon, fighting on many fronts. . Mexico, Canada, Panama, Denmark, Australia, South Africa,, he has no clue what he's up against, and I don't think many Americans are aware of the resistance that will be baked in for generations to come. .. They seem to have no clue that their own lives are about to be upended, in ways that are most unpleasant and uncomfortable, Trump could care less about that, they are truly on their own, , it's every dog for himself in the USA>. and they DON"T EVEN HAVE HEALTH CARE!!!

It is pitiful, pitiful, and the cost, like any war will outshine any gain,.

Yep ... as you say, he is juggling way too many balls. There is no doubt that he is going to drop all or most of them.

imo

 

[LoveyG]

Do you remember during Trumps first term when messages came out about there being adults in the room? I'm hoping this time around there are psychiatrists in the room. If so, maybe they are talking with Canada about how to get around Trump's fevered brain to end this tariff business. Maybe that's why Ford is backing down. I imagine they would need to make it look like it was his idea.

 

[Herat]

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I watched this with complete disbelief.. do Americans truly believe that Tariffs are a tax CUT to Americans?? are there really people out there, ANYWHERE who believe this truly arithmetically illiterate position??? is that possible?? Can any one explain this to me??

Kai Ryssdal of Marketplace called her out for this at the end of today's broadcast.

He was biting in his comment. I'll post it when I can find the exact quote.

It was along the lines of "Americans will pay the tarriffs. What Karoline Levitt says is wrong."

I was left with the distinct impression that Trump and the White House are running scared at what they have threatened and in the worst kind of double-speak, have decided to openly lie about it.

 

[Trooper]

Well.. it's getting down to crunchtime with the Potash..... anyone with a garden knows that you have to start digging it in around early spring, if you want prime crops. you cannot let time slip by.. Every farmer in the USA knows this, your canola man, your wheat, your soy, your market crops, your big money makers, alfalfa, milo, corn, right now, you have to have the money to buy it, or you get a loan from the bank and gamble on the weather.. but there is a rigid window of opportunity..

There are two places in the world to get potash from . Saskatchewan, and Belarus... Belarus produces much less than Canada, and that potash has to cover Russian crops, as well as quite a few contracts in middle Europe, Bulgaria, and once upon a time, Ukraine... It has to be shipped thru the Black Sea, and that's a bit dicey at the moment as everyone knows...

So USA farmers have about 10 days, at the very most to come to grips with their dilemma. Good Luck.

 

[Herat]

The US House of Representatives also passed a bill which essentially kicks the Federal Budget down the road to September like an old can. No surprise there. No one from the GOP willing to stick their necks out right now and show some financial leadership with the USS Economy in heavy seas and pre-morbid seasickness.

The markets are very shaky and despite Canada's Doug Ford apparently backing off, consumer confidence is continuing a downhill course and is not going to get better.

So Trump goes back to bellowing like a old cow about Australian tariffs and then a press conference where an outright lie about tariffs is given to the American public.

It's only Tuesday.