In a childish move that cannot help, Trump makes a threat he cannot even keep.
Why Make Ridiculous Threats?
The threat is ridiculous because renaming the lake is not in Trump’s power to do.
More importantly, Canadians already feel like Trump is treading on their sovereignty. Childish moves will increase their resolve to escalate a lose-lose trade war.
Canada Strikes Back
The Wall Street Journal reports Canada Targets U.S. Metals, Fish, Foods, Motorcycles in Retaliatory Tariff Package
—Canada plans to impose tariffs of up to 50% on roughly 700 American products in retaliation for new U.S. levies, Canadian officials said Tuesday, escalating tensions between two of the world’s most closely integrated economies.
Officials said that effective Sept. 8, or the day after Labor Day, Canada plans to place tariffs ranging between 15% and 50% on about $20 billion of goods, or roughly 7% of total U.S. imports. Among the products targeted by Canada are U.S. steel, aluminum, motorcycles, washers and dryers, chain saws, processed cheese, clams and frozen octopus.
U.S. steel and aluminum were already subject to a 25% tariff, but that will now double to 50%, officials said.
Canadian officials said their set of retaliatory duties are designed to protect domestic market share for firms directly impacted by U.S. tariffs. Industry Minister Melanie Joly said the tariffs were also crafted to exert maximum political pressure in key races in the U.S. midterm elections in November. “We are being wise and strategic,” said Joly at a press conference.
Trade analysts pointed to the nearly 200 seafood items subject to duties as a sign of that political pressure in Maine, where Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, faces re-election in November.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said this week it became evident during negotiations that Trump was intent on destroying Canada’s auto sector, and steel and aluminum industries. He said Canada could restart talks with Washington, but only on the condition that the U.S. comes “with the right attitude toward our industries.”
He added, “An attitude at the negotiation table that Canada is a subsidiary of the United States, the Canadian industry is going to be disadvantaged relative to American industry…That’s not something we’re going to accept.”
Who Suffers More
It’s a fools debate to make a prediction based on that.
“Now, while it’s true that Canada will suffer more than the Americans, it’s also true that the Canadians are so pissed off at us right now – 80% of Canadians are against the United States, for the first time in living memory – that they’re willing to suffer more for the point of maintaining their sovereignty and standing up to Trump. And that’s not the case in Michigan. That’s not the case in Maine. People in America are not a fan of these trade wars. They’re not on board with Trump’s strategy.”
“So there will be political consequences, not for Trump, because he is not running, but for Republicans. But it’s pretty clear that Trump doesn’t care about that.”
Trade wars do neither side any good. We have them because a fool starts a trade war, Trump in this instance, and political necessity demand retaliation.
An overwhelming percentage of Canadians wants Carney to respond. So he did.
Canadians are united. Republicans are fearing the midterms and collateral damage.
There are now two simultaneous economic wars. Will Trump be stupid enough to make it three with China?
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Trump threatens 50 percent tariffs on auto parts in January. I suggest Canada respond immediately.
Maybe Diaper Don was getting some chaffing from his wet diaper and took it out on Canada? Maybe now that there’s baby crib mobiles that let you moniter your baby on your smartphone Steven Miller is leaving him unattended too long in the crib? Steven Miller strikes me (and likely Diaper Don) as that type. Gone watching a ball game and just turning off the cellphone on him.
Brilliant, First the Americans lose the aluminum from the Persia Gulf and now they lose the aluminum from Canada.
I will miss the clams.
Diaper Don is alienating all our trade partners.
Canada is not.
Canada will win bigly.
Once upon a time, every 4th grade geography student remembered HOMES.
People know only when they suffer especially US’s allies.
Previously US’s allies were bullying the world together with US. They were happy.
What is the difference between Canada and Iran?
Difference is white or brown, with or without war.
Trump is in very difficult situation.
What’s about EU which is much bigger and the rest of the world?
Tighter and tighter to impose sanction.
And his behaviour is threatening the USD reserve currency status.
And midterm election is near.
Trump desperately needs WINS.
This is not a win.
This is unprovoked and unjustified economic war by US against Canada and retaliated back.
I found the list of items to be strange.
Why tariff steel when Canadian steel is already cheaper. Same with cheese/dairy (Canada already dumps plenty of surplus into landfills to keep the price up, they don’t need any from the US). Clams, Octopus? I mean how much of that can Canadians really be buying as those are not big food staples.
What they should be putting tariffs on are items from the US that are readily available from other countries to drive the US item sales to 0 like they did with the liquor when they removed it from stores. That would get US businesses attention quickly.
I think they’re keeping the good stuff in reserve because they know for a fact Trump will continue to escalate. When he does, it’s easier to hit him with a brick then because you can say you tried to play fair until he went about renaming lakes.
The only positive thing about taco is that he largely a tub of hot air and seldom follows through. His primary goal is to make other people as miserable as he is himself.
The classic bully syndrome, among many others.
New depths of nihilistic stupidity. A low bar to crawl beneath, but we’ve managed it. What’s next — air strikes on Detroit?
Air strikes on Windsor
When it comes to Canada, it’s good to hear from a Canadian: (language alert)
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f5eCfezAHOk
Now, if he doesn’t get his way, he’s threatening to demolish the Kennedy Center.
Make it stop
We’re all still playing by the playbook, in good faith. That’s what this parasite feeds on.
Trump ( along with a lot of other far right politicians ) wants to remain in power. Bad policy is part of the plan to keep you distracted. They do not care what happens to you me or the country as a whole. Because if your in power it does not affect you.
Cannabilising allies is one of the final desperate acts of a declining empire.
Lac Melania!
Didn’t you mean Nathalie?
The tariffs will not stop Canadians crossing the border to shop at Costco and coming to get medical treatment.
His most humble move ever, proposing Lake America instead of Lake Trump, he must be reserving that honor for the biggest of all lakes.