The absurdity of Donald Trump’s trade war

[mapleengineer@lemmy.world]

Here are some numbers to consider.

The US sold $441 billion worth of goods and services to Canada in 2024.

Canada sold $482 billion worth of goods and services to the US in 2024.

The US has a populating of 334.9 million people.

Canada has a population of 40.1 million people.

Per capita, every American man, woman, and child spent $1,316.81 on Canadian goods and services.

Candians spent $12,019. 95 on American good and services.

Who isn't pulling their weight in this trading relationship?

This isn't about illegal immigration and it isn't about the 20 lbs of fentanyl that tried to cross the border from Canada.

This is about the billionaire class raising taxes on the poor and raising prices for Americans.

[chillpill@lemmy.world]

He needed to find a way to bolster government revenue so that he could give his billionaire buddies that bought him the election a nice tax break. As they say: don't let a good crisis go to waste.

[rooskie91@discuss.online]

The Shock Doctrine should be at the absolute front of everyone's reading list, follower shortly by that field manual about sabotaging fascism. The goal of these tarrifs is to cause a panic.

It's time to buckle the fuck up. Yah best start believing in fascist dystopias, because YOU'RE IN ONE.

[samus12345@lemm.ee]

[youcancallmedragon@lemmy.world]

Honestly why bother with the wall of text at this point? It took them less than a month to set up the first concentration camp. They are speed running fascist tyranny and we are cooked.

[substance_p@lemmy.world]

Yeah you have a point, I think I just needed to write it all out in an attempt to purge some frustration.

[nutsack@lemmy.world]

thank you David that is very insightful

[skiluros@sh.itjust.works]

It's hilarious to see reputable right-leaning media publications such as FT and The Economist trying to rationalize Donald Trump's behaviour.

The legal pretext for Trump’s move is questionable, too. He made use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, an executive authority that enables him to respond to extraordinary economic or security threats. Yet that law has not previously been used to enact tariffs. The courts and Congress ought to block them.

Fascinating that FT seems to believe that the US judicial system is going to come to the rescue. I disagree, but what do I know? I am not American (although I have previously lived in North America for a decade).

[monstermonster@lemmy.world]

He's not wrong.

[eagle0110@lemmy.world]

That's the problem actually, they are NOT fools. They are VERY smart and VERY determined adversaries who are determined to destroy the US economy and everything everybody would want to stand for, in order to maximize their own short term gains. They are making highly calculated moves specifically for that goal of theirs.

They are straight up adversaries to American people, they need to be treated as adversaries, and you do NOT ever attempt to underestimate your adversaries.

[technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com]

Did the orange man eat your face, FT?

[howru68@lemmy.world]

Aha, so tariffs are straight from " the book".

[nutsack@lemmy.world]

thank you Steven