Canadians & the US tariff war

[Princessconsuelabananahammock9]

How are Canadians and Americans feeling about the Tarrifs starting Tuesday?

I’ve been searching for brands and items that will be affected.

it all seems so surreal.

I hope the Canadian and Mexican governments come down hard on the American government. I’ve already reduced my use of Amazon.

I’m American (though don’t live there anymore) and I think it’s idiotic, as does everyone I know (none of whom voted for this idiot). Sadly, I think there is too much cognitive dissonance amongst people who did that they largely won’t connect Trump’s actions with the real life impacts they feel.

I’m admittedly nervous.

i don’t really understand what the end result will be.

It feels like the once postive relationship is now over.

I'm sure Trudeau realises it's Trump not the US. And for all his MAGA hats, Trump is not the US. Hopefully it will be a short lived blip in the special relationship...

We're feeling very anxious. We've cancelled a bunch of subscriptions with US companies today, but we know we're in for tough times. Although we think a military invasion is unlikely, we are starting to consider what steps we can take to prepare for that.

Whereas we all realise there are a lot of people who didn't vote for Trump, ultimately not enough people voted to keep him out, so, the way elections work, that does mean that Trump is America in terms of the way he is making these huge decisions without the tiniest understanding of economics or politics.

I'm noticing that Russia and China aren't as a big a problem for Trump as Canada and Denmark are. Says a lot about his priorities and how confident he actually feels about dealing with big issues.

He is threatening the EU also...

Trump peaked decades ago, has gone bankrupted multiple times and without his inherited wealth I really don't think he'd be a talking point today (unfortunately).

Trump comes across as though he thinks he can just bully the world into doing whatever he thinks, but it looks like the world is happy to rally against Trump. Trump doesn't care for the bottom 95% of America and they are the ones who will suffer in this... It is going to be a long 4 years

It's very damaging for American influence long term. China is the superpower in the wings who American allies have been happy to help contain. If the US turns against their allies, I can only see China benefitting as an alternate economic power.

Strange times.

Absolutely, strange times indeed.

It does make me wonder if this will be the turning point in the decline of America as the global leader that it has once been.

All empires decline eventually but I do wonder if Trump's actions are going to push it into free fall and accelerate China taking up the reins.

I think our biggest error has been to underestimate Trumps understanding of politics. Liberalism has been blinding and left states vulnerable.

It's interesting to see a reawakening of Canadian nationalism though!

CA, dh and I as retirees will be fine. But I worry for my two adult sons (40yrs) right in the middle of their careers barely over Covid. Then there’s the gov debts my grandkids will owe.
That aside I firmly believe we will never trust the USA again.
I hope we sort our border, buy our military equipment elsewhere and get our oil and gas to the east coast (Quebec’s use of Russian oil/gas is disgusting).
Money laundering/drugs needs to be flushed out.
Trump mentioned our low medication prices, and not allowing USA banks.
I’m damn grateful for our robust banking system.
We use to have good pharmaceutical companies here. Fingers crossed we get organized asap.

Trump is surely a symptom that it was already in freefall

@TemporaryPosition

Well yes, good point. An unpleasant symptom rather than the cause. I'm sure he enjoys sowing further seeds of discord though.
He and his cronies really are the most despicable human beings.

The odd thing was the mad fucker was going to today about how the EU don't buy anything from Amerca. Ummmm...... films, music, tech etc.. all huge American exports to the EU (and indeed the rest of the world).

Trump is a ‘strong man’ type of leader, very similar to Putin in my eyes (although I don’t think he has had anyone killed!).

I suspect this tariff war will be quite short and Trump will mostly ‘win’. Some of the stuff he wants (stopping fentanyl flooding the U.S) aren’t unreasonable. Ultimately, he is trying to increase the footprint of U.S influence to counteract China. I am not sure he sees Russia as an enemy. I think that, we’re Putin to agree to take the Donbas and Crimea, and leave the rest of Ukraine alone, they could become allies.

This should be a wake up call to Canada (and the EU) that the era of a benign protector regardless of policies has ended and that, if they want to retain their independence, they are going to have to work a lot harder than they currently are. The idea of four day weeks and flexible working will soon be right out the window.

Genuine question, why? Because I can think of many many far worse leaders who has visited far greater cruelty and misery on people.

He's a bully, and he's making it clear he doesn't want allies, he wants vassal states. That's what the "51st state" taunt is really about - he would never actually want to give Canadians voting rights or state-type powers!

The bit I'm finding most disturbing is just how unconcerned most Americans seem to be. Their domestic culture war is so all-encompassing it's like they have completely lost sight of how useful allies have been for them as a superpower.

@Newbutoldfather I think Canada accounts for something like 0.02% of the fentanyl which comes into the US, so on that basis he's not asking for anything reasonable at all.

@RayonSunrise the US is massively in debt. They are no longer a superpower based on this massive moneygrab.
But so be it, Canada will need to be more self sufficient and forceful when the US attempts to block our military purchases.

Trump will be out of power in 4 years & it's hard to see that he has any natural heir who will continue the bull in china shop tactics. Vance will implode I suspect. I imagine that Mexico & Canada are seeing this situation as "negotiate very choppy seas" not "this storm will last forever".

I’m seeing quite a few Americans on Insta in complete bewilderment and horror. Somebody popped up on my feed saying it’s like living through Covid and the days since he’s been in power have been gruelling with the worry caused by the relentless measures he keeps signing off. I suspect many are bewildered and scared. I have faith in the American people.

Ultimately, he is trying to increase the footprint of U.S influence to counteract China.
Soʻ why has he imposed lesser tariffs on China than Canada and Mexico? He's all talk. Let's see how long this lasts in the face of rampant inflation in the US. I hope Canada, Mexico and the EU take him at his word and find trade elsewhere. We won't. We'll lie back and take it because of our one sided ' special relationship. All my Canadian family are sharing lists of Canadian alternatives to American goods that they should buy.

I don't think Trump has thought that one through, as usual...

Canada, Mexico and China have reacted the smart way by calling his bluff, talking about imposing tariffs of their own and building stronger links with one another.