Trump threatens 'far larger' tariffs if EU and Canada unite to do 'economic harm' to the U.S.
Trump threatens 'far larger' tariffs if EU and Canada unite to do 'economic harm' to the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose far larger tariffs on the European Union and Canada if they work together to combat trade tariffs.
Summary
Trump threatened "far larger" tariffs on the EU and Canada if they unite to harm the U.S. after announcing a 25% tariff on foreign-made cars and parts, effective April 2 and May respectively.
The tariffs aim to boost U.S. car production but may inflate prices by $5k-$10k per vehicle, harming both U.S. and foreign automakers.
Canada condemned the move as a "direct attack," while the EU signaled potential retaliation.
Global markets reacted negatively, with car stocks dropping amid fears of escalating trade tensions.
They're increasing trade between Canada and the EU because of the tariffs he's imposing. If that causes "economic harm" to the US, that's not their problem and stoger tariffs are going to make the problem worse for the US, not better. It's like Trump really doesn't understand what tariffs actually are.
Someone like 40 years ago told him what they are. He did not understand and keep repeating the mistake.
He is genuinely stupid. He's infuriated because people push back.
Every time he escalates you know you're on the right track.
Also if they can mostly or completely replace trade with the US, which is far easier when the US is fucking over nearly every trade partner, then they will be completely unaffected by US tariffs. So how is this even a threat? "I'm charging Americans double for your maple syrup for no reason. If you don't buy my whiskey, I will charge triple!" Cool, I'm definitely not going to buy your whiskey now, and I'm going to sell my syrup to someone who also stopped buying syrup from you while I buy their whiskey and also make my own. You can sit over there and just pretend like your tariffs are a threat and buy your own whiskey and make your own syrup. IDGAF.
"Stop selling us so much stuff! Here are tariffs to discourage you from selling us stuff"
"Ok, we'll sell more stuff to each other then"
"Hey no fair! You're harming my economy! It's all your fault!"
Canada-EU please please please do as much harm to the US as possible. The only way we can come out of this better is to make the morons, both the voter and nonvoter, who did this to us suffer as much as possible so they can see Shitler and Muskalenni for what they are. Make us suffer.
Let's be real, whether or not he increases tariffs or not, Canada & the European Union can't afford to buckle to negotiation bluffs. He wants to have his cake and eat theirs too, there's no disadvantage to unity at this point, given that he likely wouldn't honour any concessions granted by the United States. CANZUK is likely inevitable, strictly as a matter of economic and trade stability.
There's an old saying about digging if you find yourself in a hole.
I've seen a person demonstrate how you can dig yourself out of hole. It takes hard work and ingenuity but it is possible.
What happened to the free trade republicans like Ronald Reagan? (I know he died, but for decades he was the great republican)
He's currently trickling down into the earth
Honestly this just makes us have to work together even more.
Nobody is going to accept losing trade and jobs to the US without bothering with alternatives. That's the stupidest thing you could do.
Putting up a bigger barrier just makes us need each other more.
(In)directly, I hate how much this isolates the US even further. We use imperial measurements when everyone uses metric, we will have our own standards with more and more stuff that will look vastly different than the rest of the world. It just makes later integration that much harder. I think of how NK and East Germany were/are where it’s like an odd fever dream of reality.
These tariffs are such a great reward for the meek response to previous tariffs. I'm sure that more unjustified extortion will never be applied again, if we all just like the diaper.
copied from elsewhere,
Canada seems very committed to other allies. Sure, go ahead and try to coordinate with them. Policies, coordinated, that should be announced today:
All US military purchases are paused.
Suspension of military cooperation including expulsion of US personel.
Punishing FDI into the US, with perhaps seizing assets of any related company in Canada. Export tariffs on materials needed for auto industry
Immediate diplomacy with China, to join "delete America" program, and remove tariffs on Canada, more exports, and encourage FDI.
Threaten ROK, JPN, US with relations with DPRK.
Create Government US Export management agency for energy and Potash to ensure good prices, splitting proceeds with Provinces and exporting companies. After tariffs removed, proceeds will go to companies.
Better relations with Mexico including auto sector cooperation. Chinese ships may be needed/helpful for direct trade between our 2 nations. Mexico reorienting their industry to South American demand.
Stop being a rubber stamp for US led council of Americas evil. Better trade/relations with all of South/Central America.Carney's plan for an all Canadian auto industry is reasonable. Carrots and sticks on industry is needed. Industry fighting back against US is critical. Canada's greater anger level is a big edge, and I/we won't mind significant resources devoted to ensuring auto industry survival. But OTOH, it is a very expensive subsidy for jobs that will be disappearing through automation anyway. 0 imports from US ever as punishment, and opening up to much cheaper cars from elsewhere is likely a better value for Canadians/economy, and a tactic to ensure auto industry commitment.
The basics are to act as if USA is already an enemy state to its colonies. Stop pretending that they will change their mind, because they always hated their slaves.
In other news, I'm looking forward to the day I never have to see his face on social media