Any other Canadians on here wanting to comment on the trade war (US friends welcome)?

[Mumtobabyhavoc]

Just watching the news here and feelings are ranging from "meh" to despair. How the H-E Double Hockey Sticks did we get here?

I'm surprised Canada hasn't invite Putin for talks about the future of Alaska, rather like the USA had talks with him about Ukraine.

America is the only country I’ve been to where so many people fly the flag. I don’t see flag flying as being patriotic. I think it’s weird!

Yes. I think flying a flag in the USA is a way of life. It means more there. However others are patriotic and also care about their countries. The flag rallies the numerous Americans with roots elsewhere so has a different use.

I do think America First is something to worry about though. It’s not remotely considering others who are affected: even your supposed friends.

One little green shoot: Tesla (of all the companies) has said it will be short of parts with a trade war. The message is unsigned I heard but they can see dangers ahead giving them supply issues.

I do like seeing the flag at hockey games

Surely the hockey is because you are playing USA teams? Not necessarily Canadian teams. We all fly a flag at international sports games but not necessarily up a flagpole on our front lawn. Having been to Canada recently we saw none. Doesn’t mean people don’t identify as being Canadian though. The Brits are very similar.

A lot more flags are being flown at sporting venues - even local matches. Shops are highlighting Canadian produce and in some cases removing American items. Canada has become a lot more patriotic over the last few months.

@Parker231 I think it’s been clear that everyone in North America was happy enough with the status quo until Trump. I don’t think flying a flag helps much. It will have to be some form of negotiation in the end. Trump is like dealing with a spoil child though. I don’t blame Canada for saying it might not export electricity to the USA. Trump just retaliates with more threats. It won’t be great for most Americans either.

Americans who voted for Trump will soon realise their mistake when they look at their 401k.

@Parker231Hmm. Are they that bright? Or will they just blame everyone else? This is Trump world. It’s not rational.

Trump has figured out how to stack the deck in his favor. How to bend the rules and how to use obscure rules to get what he wants. All the presidents after him will equally manipulate the system. You simply can’t unsee all the tricks to the trade. I think there will need to be a revolt of the people and something changed to prevent this lack of democracy but it will happen in the future. I think the American public will put up with trump for the four years.
the USA will digress and other countries that realize the unpredictability will progress onto other trade partners.

@TizerorFizz Trump is clearly far worse than had been anticipated.

Not by anyone who was paying attention. His disastrousness was absolutely anticipatable.

"When somebody tells you who they are, believe them the first time". When are people going to start taking notice of that?

Kamala Harris told everyone what would happen if he became president. They didn’t care.

@JunkShopperSo why didn’t Canada or anyone else see all of this coming and get themselves organised earlier? Surely because they thought it was electioneering rhetoric. Tariffs are just SO stupid any rational person would not do it. I think leaders thought he had a degree of economic ability. They are obviously wrong but bluster and action are historically not the same thing. Now they are.

How should have Canada got themselves organised?

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) entered into force on July 1, 2020 - with Trump as a signatory. Trump is only now backtracking on this - almost defining its existence.

He’s going to throw his toys out of the pram when he finally realises he isn’t going to get Canada, Greenland and Panama.

Hopefully only a tantrum. 🤞
It's worrying for a lot of us that it could escalate. 😵‍💫

Am concerned how close we are to the border.

@Parker231. It was not me who said they could! I was responding to a poster who said we all should have known what Trump was like and heeded his warnings. I don’t believe Canada could see it coming if you follow what I said. The other poster disagreed.

I think Canada (and WmEU/UK) thought it was electioneering to fire up his base and that there would be bumps in the road but not volcanos.

I'm bracing myself for Trump to pull a Putin and start innocent military exercises near the border.

It’s not reassuring to hear that new military procurements are 10 years in the waiting :(. MC’s plan is we will build our own (yes some stuff already made here and new plans announced at the Nova Scotia shipyards) but 10 years seems too long.

Pretty much everyone in my circle (and conversations with random people) were of the opinion that the US would be much closer to dystopia, a la Handmaid's Tale, under Trump. I think there are many factors that made it impossible for American voters to see that possibility.
it's much easier to see it from the outside. And the GOP machine is relentless in its messaging.

I think that military support in the worst case scenario will be part of the conversations with the UK and France.

I live within sight of the border... a mixed blessing. I have relatives in the US who are virulently anti-Trump, but it does them no good to tear their hair out.

Myself, I'm such a hard-liner that I'm irrational - I could never be a diplomat. My suggestion is that we - for a start - cut energy exports to the US 1 day a week... call it Trump Tuesday. On Tuesday, the US doesn't get any electricity from Canada. And we shut down the crude oil pipelines for a day.

Irrational. I know.

I am a fan of Doug Ford for his threats over electricity - he just needs to implement it.

It might be sensible given Trump rolls over weakness and indecision.

I'm imagining you with a telescope keeping lookout now. This thread the resistance. 😬