Friends or foes?
It seems that President Trump has ignited a once dormant nationalism in Canada and a bit of hostility from Mexico. It may be time now to examine what it is that Trump wants out of our two neighbors.
Canada: The Liberal Party was headed toward defeat with Trudeau on his way out, but the Trump tariffs plus his words gave the Liberal Party up there a second life. He trolled them in his own peculiar style. That being said, Trump has a point on a number of issues. First, Canada runs up a $50 billion surplus with the US. That surplus keeps growing. Canada exports to us a lot of gas, oil & electricity. Canada protects its agricultural & timber industries with high tariffs and subsidies. It puts tariffs as high as 250% on American butter or milk or lumber.
Second, is the issue of the northern border. Canada does not present the kinds of problems America faces along its southern border, but a small amount of fentanyl plus some dangerous people have come across the northern border. Trump wants that border secure.
Finally, Canada is a NATO member and only donates about 1.3 % of their GDP to support the organization. Everyone has agreed to at least 2%. There is much that Canada can do to act as an ally.
Mexico: What is Mexico now? Friend or enemy?
As of now we have a trade deficit with Mexico of $150 billion and it is rising. Mexico employs cheap labor to undermine American unions and draw American manufacturers to Mexico. That does not include the $68 billion that Mexicans who work in the US send back to Mexico. Those people enjoy programs that help sustain them in the US which do not exist in Mexico. All of that relieves Mexico of its social responsibility to care for its own people.
And then there is the Fentanyl coming across the southern border which has taken the lives of about 75,000 Americans in the past decade. The Mexican government enabled the cartels to make the Fentanyl.
The Mexican government routinely votes against the US at the UN. The previous leader of the Mexican government told Mexicans who crossed into the US to vote against Republicans if they were able to.
Mexico has an even longer way to go to prove they are a friend to the US.
In the news:
Wall Street had its worst day of the year, with Tech companies taking the biggest hit.
Ukraine targeted Moscow with a major drone attack. Moscow’s mayor said the attack was the largest against the city since the war began. Ukrainian and American officials will meet today for their first high level talks on a cease-fire.
A judge ordered the State Department and U.S.A.I.D. to pay for work already completed.
The Trump administration is relying on a very old law to deport a pro-Palestinian student activist. The activist, Mahmoud Khalil, has a green card and is married to a U.S. citizen.
Trump is urging Republican House members to do what Nancy Pelosi once demanded of her House members: stand together in unity.
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Good morning and welcome to the news.
It isn't quite over for Rep Al Green
Speaker Mike Johnson is considering removing Democratic Rep. Al Green from all of his committee assignments.
I really wish you would post reality instead of posting Trump's fictional attempt to support his unjustified tariffs. The seed above says:
But the reality is:
LINK -> Fact Check: What Trump Doesn’T Mention About Canada’S Dairy Tariffs - Community | The NewsTalkers
From the seed above:
Canada did not run up that surplus, it has not forced the USA to buy its oil, the USA has run up Canada's trade surplus it is complaining about by voluntarily buying Canadian crude oil - i.e. the USA has created their own trade deficit, but "Blame Canada" LOL
LINK -> U.S.-Canada trade deficit is highest in 20 years. Does it justify tariffs? - National | Globalnews.ca
Really, Vic, credibility is what is respected in the real world.
And credibility is based on FACTS:
The trade surplus with the United States widens for a third consecutive month
Exports to the United States were up 2.6% in June, a third consecutive monthly increase, while imports from the United States rose 1.7%. As a result, Canada's trade surplus with the United States widened from $8.8 billion in May to $9.4 billion in June, the largest surplus since November 2023.
The Daily — Canadian international merchandise trade, June 2024
BTW, this just in from General Carignan, Chief of Canadian Defense Staff:
"Together as Canadians, we’re going to meet our 2% NATO spending target by 2030, modernize NORAD, strengthen our Arctic presence, and ensure we build a strong, resilient Canada."
Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) / X
By 2030 ??????
Last year? That's all the trade surplus was? Good reaslon to start a trade war.
Just the FACTS.
Yeah, sort of about a half a century before the USA will beocme carbon neutral. That's about as relevant to this as NATO suppprt/
Canada is going to have to pay their fair share on NATO and drop the protectionist tariffs against the US.
One more bit of advice for the new PM: Don't try to play who has the bigger balls with Trump.
I'm just looking forward to what's going to happen in November 2026.
Me too.
Right now the dems may shut down the government.
I'll put my money on David, not on Goliath.
Save your money.
Republicans are the ones shutting down the government, causing massive panic in the financial markets, losing billions of dollars and tossing Americas standing as a global leader aside like Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of stew. Sad and frankly disgusting to watch, but this is what the larger minority of Americans wanted, so this is what they get and there's no "cooling off" period for more rational heads to return their purchase. We get this insanity for the next four years and no doubt the dishonest Republicans will blame every disaster Trump creates on Democrats not being willing to go along with the insanity.
That is such bullshit.
The USA and the presidency gives Trump far more leverage than Canada. It does not take balls to threaten with a big gun.
If Trump had balls he would not be kowtowing to Putin and bullying Ukraine.
Trump is an asshole. His tariffs on Canada especially were unnecessary and (is and) will bring unnecessary pain to US and Canadian citizens. Worse, he has single-handedly damaged our great relationship with Canada and other nations.
Balls, right. The guy is an irresponsible buffoon.
Good night, Vic.
See you later, Buzz
All we are saying is give peace a chance
A slogan from 1984?
but this is what the larger minority of Americans wanted
That's a new one.
We get this insanity for the next four years
I'm sure it feels that way. It may continue for a lot more than 4 years.
Exactly, there is no defense for Trump’s actions.
I have to wonder if trump and the Republicans aren't going too far with some of the things they are doing without any concern for the pendulum swinging back
Yeah, it’s always best to assume whatever precedents you will create will be used against you when in the minority
What comes around will go around
Yes. There's no wishy washy answer, IMO. People in the administration have been pointing out they'll make mistakes. Trump's overall strategy is to go far too far.
Past reforms failed because the Powers That Be was avoiding mistakes. The safest approach is to do nothing so reforms were never sufficient to make a difference. It appears that Trump's plan is to tear down everything, bad and good, and then rebuild the good.
The loyal opposition can't stop the wrecking ball by hiding their pet programs behind a veneer. Everything gets torn down. What we don't need will be eliminated. And what we do need can be rebuilt. (That would be consistent with the mindset of a property developer, wouldn't it?)
People (particularly Democrats) want to paint REGO 2.0 as being totally different than Slick Willie's original REGO. But painting the wrecking ball a different color doesn't change the reality of what happened then and what is happening now.
Duh.
Maybe it is the other way around. Maybe Trump is doing what they've done.
As seeder responded to 2.3 flags by other members were dismissed and the comment stays
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RDtC
They absolutely are
I don't think it really matters. No matter what is done, whatever democrat takes the presidency next (God forbid), they will just fully fund all of those democrat slush funds back to the original amounts.
This is low hanging fruit, 50% tax on all money transfers leaving the US.
Will that 50% tax apply to the money Trump and his ilk move to offshore banking facilities in the Caribbean and elsewhere?
I'm all for it.
Never let a crisis go to waste.
China will be pressuring Canada to lift tariffs on EVs. China needs to control the US market for EVs to avoid future competition. Both Canada and Mexico are potential avenues for China EVs entering the US market. (Doesn't hurt China's electronics manufacturers, either.)
Canada really has been playing both sides of the street since Obama's for/against position on Keystone XL. Obama treated Canada like 'clingers'. Yes, boys and girls, it really was Obama that poisoned the good will with Canada.
Um...Hello? Doesn't anyone remember econ class? Trade deficits aren't automatically a bad thing.
At $28 trillion, US GDP has literally doubled since the end of the Great Recession. Trade deficits were there the whole time.
One more time...GDP has doubled since 2009, and trade deficits were there the whole time.
Starting a completely unnecessary trade war and upending relations with some of our closest geopolitical friends is nothing but stupid, and will cause nothing but harm.
It is beyond me how anyone could have missed this, but Trump is a fucking moron. He's never had a successful business that didn't involve real estate, and that's because real estate tends to appreciate on its own, regardless of who owns it. Ventures of his that actually required skillful and knowledgeable management have all crashed and burned. The guy couldn't even make money with a casino, for crying out loud.
In his first term, people around him kept his stupidity somewhat in check, but not his time. This time it's all toadies and yes men.
In addition to the damage already done to our reputation internationally, especially regarding Ukraine and security in Europe, the coming recession is on you, Trump voters. You did this.
These trade wars will be ugly at first, but the US will be the beneficiary in the end.
We have been on the losing end of trade for too long and way too generous with other countries
I think Canada is the one country we can be generous to
How generous should we be?
Why doesn't Canada offer to help out with the Iron Dome plan and offer some bases or build some ice cutters to patrol the northern region?
No we won't. How? Nobody benefits from trade wars. Like I said, doesn't anyone remember econ class?
Even if Trump's retarded tariffs cause a few producers to build factories here instead of elsewhere, the goods produced will be more expensive, for obvious reasons. That means less consumption.
Not to mention retaliatory tariffs placed on us, which will also translate into less consumption.
If this goes on for very long, the only result will be a smaller economy.
You keep forgetting that it is the countries dealing with the US who have the high tariffs. Let them bring them down and we will have a fair playing field. The US has the nig market. Our neighbors need us more than we need them. Bring down the tariffs on our products and then we'll all be friends again.
Did you miss what I posted about our GDP doubling since 2009?
Trade deficits are not automatically a bad thing, A few hundred billion to Canada and Mexico is peanuts compared to the $28 trillion economy we have now....or had before Trump took office.
Intentionally starting a trade war is the height of stupidity, and people are going to suffer.
Turn on the news. Trump just increased tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel to 50%, and markets are continuing to fall.
We have a national debt that exceeds the GDP.
Intentionally contracting the economy won't help that. Neither will $4.5 trillion in tax cuts.
I see jobs coming back to America.
What jobs? Our economy was the envy of the world when Trump took office, with an already healthy unemployment rate of around 4%. Any jobs created specifically because of this stupid trade war will be more costly and won't last.
What you're actually going to see are job losses when Trump's recession hits.
You mean up until Dr Fauci called for a shutdown.
All Biden did was build up the public sector and print money.
What you're actually going to see are job losses when Trump's recession hits.
Things may get tough because medicine is tough to take, but I am sure the Trump economy will be back, better than ever.
Huh? I'm talking about 7 weeks ago, when Trump took office. We were in a stronger position than the rest of the world.
How exactly is a trade war going to turn out well? Serious question.
Trade we lose isn't guaranteed to come right back when it's over. It's not like throwing a switch. Customers for our products will seek other suppliers during the chaos, and might very well stick with them afterwards. Some trade will be permanently lost.
And again, any jobs created directly as a result of Trump's tariffs will cost more and won't have staying power.
3 new Operational Hubs have recently been stood up in Iqaluit, Inuvik and Yellowknife and a multi-billion dollar contract has just been awarded for 2 new icebreakers to increase Canadian norther presence
Good to hear. Are you Canadian?
Since the end of WWII the US has allowed the world to rebuild and stabilize their own economies via trade surpluses with the US.
Don't you think it is time to end it? Serious question.
Dual citizen, US by birth and Canadian by immigration
I know someone who is the same. He works for the government in Montreal. He had to learn to speak "perfect" French.
Lol better than me I've been in Canada for 59 years and can't speak more than a few phrases of french
It depends on what part of Canada, right?
I am glad the new PM backed down on that electric tariff
Absolutely, what little I know I learned living in Ottawa (just across the river from Quebec) for 4 years and working with french people while in the military
The new Prime Minister had nothing to do with the electricity tariff, that was the Premier of Ontario, two different people representing two different political affiliations at two different levels of government
Canada could do a little more but keeping a good relationship is more important than tariffs on them. They are very much like us and we share a long border. They are the one country we should give breaks to.
And all the while we were the top economy and top superpower. The so-called 'golden age of capitalism' occurred during that time, from the end of the war through the 60's.
The growth we've seen isn't exactly evidence of a need to. But if we do it, it should happen in a slow, methodological and thoughtful manner, operating in good faith with our trading partners in order to minimize pain. Not through a careless, broad brush, rapid and bad faith trade war like what Trump is doing.
Hell, Trump negotiated the current trade agreement with Canada and Mexico in his first term, calling it the best thing ever at the time. Now he's asking who negotiated things like Canada selling us electricity, as if he doesn't realize it was him. How stupid can he be?
There, I answered your serious question, how about answering mine? How will initiating a rapid, reckless, bad faith trade war with our closest partners turn out well? How will it do anything but make things even more expensive, contract the economy, and diminish our standing in the world?
In the end we will have a fair-trade agreement and maybe by October of this year it will all fade from memory.
In a way I wish Trump had left trade with Canada until after Canada's October elections.
He seems to have revived the Liberal Party up there.
Point well taken.
And I should note that the Premier of Ontario has since backed off.
Not quite. The GDP in 2009 was $16.5 trillion and GDP for the 4th quarter 2024 was $23.5 trillion. So, GDP has increased by a factor of 1.42.
Over the same time period, inflation has devalued the dollar by 2/3. So, that magic basket of goods used to measure inflation costs 1.5 times more today than in 2009. Check it yourself here:
What that means is GDP growth has not kept pace with inflation. And the trade deficit is a significant contributor for why GDP has not kept pace with inflation. The lesson that should be learned is that printing more money does not create more wealth. The United States cannot import prosperity.
Russian President Vladimir Putin remains unwilling to compromise in peace talks, complicating U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to secure a settlement, Bloomberg reported on March 10, citing undisclosed Western security officials.
Putin has deliberately set "maximalist" demands on territory, peacekeepers , and Ukraine's neutrality, knowing they will likely be unacceptable to Kyiv and European nations, the outlet wrote.
Putin unwilling to compromise on Ukraine, sets maximalist demands, Bloomberg reports
Is this deal really possible?
The better question to be asked is if the world can afford Ukraine to fall. Putin will not stop there. He already has called Poland that Poland is at risk of losing their statehood:
Since when do we support the aggressor?
Poland became a NATO member in 1999. Putin will not move against Poland.
Since when do we support the aggressor?
Never
Poland is not Ukraine. Its a bigger country with more resources. Moreover, unlike Russia it hasn't been fighting in a quagmire for three years and has, I believe, has been building up its defenses the last few year. Even without NATO, it's doubtful Russia could beat Poland in a war, absent significantly more help than its getting from China/North Korea.
Its been three years and Russia still can't conquer Ukraine. It's not the goliath it was pre-breakup and it's not a threat to western europe, except as the junior partner in a coalition with China.
With all due respect Sean, are you sure Poland is bigger than Ukraine.
Are you sure that any European country is stronger than Ukraine.
What makes Poland safer is that if they are attacked, they will immediately enact Article 5. In that case it will come down to which has more guts NATO or Russia.
I would agree with that, except that there has been talk about pulling out of NATO.
And Ukraine has a lot more assets that are wanted by both us and Russia. Do we really want Russia to have them?
And if Ukraine falls because we are no longer giving it intel, what kind of message is that to Russia?
By whom? Certainly not by Poland. If you are referring to Trump, I hope you realize that he says things to motivate others. I am certain that the US is not about to leave NATO.
And Ukraine has a lot more assets that are wanted by both us and Russia. Do we really want Russia to have them?
Of course not. That is why our President tried to get Zelensky signed onto a rare minerals deal about a month ago. Does Zelensky have writers cramp. I hope his fingers aren't broken.
And if Ukraine falls because we are no longer giving it intel, what kind of message is that to Russia?
That would be the wrong signal. I believe that pause is about to end, especially after what Putin had to say today.
Do we know what that agreement said? How long or how much? Maybe that is the issue.
I'm not sure what you are referring to.
From Zelensky himself: He wants plenty of security. That was supposed to be what he got out of Peace negotiations, which leads to the question of does he really want a Peace deal? Maybe he just wants security.
I'm not sure what you are referring to.
Putin said no withdrawal and no peacekeepers.
Putin unwilling to compromise on Ukraine, sets maximalist demands, Bloomberg reports
I'm not sure that Machiavelli could negotiate a Peace deal between Zelensky and Putin.
Not if the negotiator parrots Putin's talking points and gives Putin propaganda showing the PotUS claiming Ukraine started the war and 'has no cards' and then compromises Ukraine's ability to defend themselves prior to the negotiations.
Trump is a buffoon.
Here is where we are as of today:
"Putin has demanded Ukraine "must formally commit to neutrality, abandon any ambition to join NATO, demilitarize and recognize Russian claims to annexed territory", Bloomberg reports. Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has already "ruled out European peacekeepers" being sent in to keep the situation under control."
Vladimir Putin's three ridiculous demands to finally end Ukraine invasion in full - World News - Mirror Online
As I already told you: the hard part will be getting Putin to back up as much as possible. So now the pressure will be placed on Putin with sanctions.
You did not have to tell me or anyone else what is blatantly obvious. Of course Putin is going to be difficult; he invaded Ukraine for a reason and has lost substantial blood, treasure, and political capital in the process. He has to walk away with enough to save face.
That is why I told you that we need to shore up Ukraine in order to negotiate from a position of strength.
And this is also quite obvious and should not even need saying.
Is what really possible? Maybe we should just give Zelensky what he wants. Tie a ribbon and bow on a nuke and ship to Kiev. Then Zelensky could be the deterrent against Russian aggression. Or ground zero.
A nuclear war in Ukraine couldn't be much worse than Chernobyl.
Zelensky wants to be the decisionmaker so give him the tools to decide. Peace or utter destruction, make a choice.
I couldn't agree more.
Zelensky has to believe that Russia is on its hands & knees. I know the Ukrainian military reported on very low morale among Russian POWs. Could that be part of it?
I'd be surprised if Russian morale didn't factor in. IMO the , that everyone ignores, is reconstruction and reparations. My read has been that Trump wants the minerals deal to help pay for reconstruction. If the US owns it then China can't swoop in to exploit the situation.
I'm waiting for Zelensky to renew calls for China's involvement in the peace negotiations. Zelensky does seem to be setting up Trump to fail and justify inviting someone else to the negotiating table.
He did come to America to campaign for Kamala at the height of the election, so it is very possible.
Biden paid for the party. So, that's not too surprising. Just a little bit of that USAID friendliness.
Aid can do wonders.
Lunacy.
It puts tariffs as high as 250% on American butter or milk or lumber.
@!@
So much for the great electricity surcharge to destroy America...
Apparently no MAGA on earth bothered to see the massive countrywide support for the woman president leading Mexico to a new proud nationalist future. The thousands and thousands of people cheering in a viral photo walking with their president was inspiring.
Apparently no MAGA bothered to listen to the gracious Trudeau speech and peaceful transition. The speech new Prime Minister Carney gave spelled out quite clearly their new nationalism with the support of the Canadian voters.
Other countries can adopt their own nationalism, but I guarantee you they did not elect anyone who was foolish enough to crash their own economies the way Trump and Musk have.
If MAGA wants to make excuses for the economic destruction in America to excuse Trump and Musk, it isn't going to work. You like it until it hurts you.
Don't be angry at other countries awakening their own brand of nationalism. Look in the mirror and ask why is the MAGA brand of nationalism looking more like economic disaster and a budding dictatorship failing to follow laws.