The Tariff Thread

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Trump now doubling the steel and aluminum tariff in retaliation to the retaliation.

we are effed! The Americans can just drink their watery beer out of juice boxes.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

No.

We counter with equal tariffs. Those are principles I can get behind.

I do not like the escalation.

If there was any rationality involved that might be a defendable position. But there is not. They only thing he is going to bend to is aggression.

[indes]

So the solution to paying more for necessary electricity is to also pay more for necessary steel & aluminum? That'll show us.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

If there was any rationality involved that might be a defendable position. But there is not. They only thing he is going to bend to is aggression.

No, he's not going to "bend to aggression". That's ridiculous. We could ban all exports or put 1000% tariffs on everything and he wouldn't care about the negative effects. Aggression is escalation and that's what he wants: an excuse to escalate, declare further emergencies, until "we have no choice" but to do... who knows what, but something much more extreme than tariffs.

You're essentially proposing we help him achieve his end goal, and quickly.

[Doctorfever]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

If there was any rationality involved that might be a defendable position. But there is not. They only thing he is going to bend to is aggression.

You and I don’t “really” know the answer. You could be right. Ultimately, this is going to end at the negotiating table.

Trump is not being reasonable with tariffs in the first place, but I’m certain there are some reasonable people on both sides of the negotiations.

Escalation is a big risk to take with thousands of jobs on the line.

[Manhattanboy]

There may be reasonable people but Trump doesn’t listen to his own advisors.

A cooling off period with no communications might be best until the Whack-Job in Chief calms down.

[Azure]

And a stock market that is crashing.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

There may be reasonable people but Trump doesn’t listen to his own advisors.

A cooling off period with no communications might be best until the Whack-Job in Chief calms down.

Maybe his advisors should stop boot licking so much. How many of those clowns go on TV and call tariffs the greatest thing ever? Start with Lutnick

[Fuzz]

I wonder how long before Elon remembers a large amount of aluminum and steel are used in his cars? Not that they are selling. Maybe they could just melt the unsold ones down so they have material to make more.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

This was my fear.

We aren’t going to overpower US. I support counter tariffs matching their tariffs. But it seems keeping the 25% tax on electricity has ruffled some feathers.

Unfortunately, Canada is not the big dog here.

Russia (the big dog) has been amassing arms and ammunition since 1945 for a hypothetical war with the West. When they invaded Ukraine, no one thought they could hold their own against the Russian war machine, but they met them on the battlefield nonetheless.

This is a trade war. You need to be willing to fight it out.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

There may be reasonable people but Trump doesn’t listen to his own advisors.

A cooling off period with no communications might be best until the Whack-Job in Chief calms down.

I agree with this. Just wait until April 2nd and see if he actually goes through with the 50% aluminum and steel tariffs. That's also the date where his tariffs on the rest of the world are supposed to go into effect, and once that happens the s***t's gonna hit the fan in regards to inflation in the U.S. and he'll really feel the pressure from the American public and the big business leaders.

[Doctorfever]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Russia (the big dog) has been amassing arms and ammunition since 1945 for a hypothetical war with the West. When they invaded Ukraine, no one thought they could hold their own against the Russian war machine, but they met them on the battlefield nonetheless.

This is a trade war. You need to be willing to fight it out.

Willing to fight it out. Never said I wasn’t.

Don’t think escalation is the answer to fighting it out.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

No.

We counter with equal tariffs. Those are principles I can get behind.

I do not like the escalation.

I didn’t like the idea either. However, I do understand that the instability of constant threats is doing damage itself. It cannot continue to be “paused”. It needs to end.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

Willing to fight it out. Never said I wasn’t.

Don’t think escalation is the answer to fighting it out.

You seem to be forgetting Trump is one of the biggest pussies in human history. The market will tank for a few days and he'll fold as he always does.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

Willing to fight it out. Never said I wasn’t.

Don’t think escalation is the answer to fighting it out.

The other side needs to feel pain, otherwise they will bully us because they are bigger than us.

Escalation is the right move at this juncture.

Canadians are galvanized and united after our sovereignty was threatened. Americans have never been more divided - they won't outlast us in a trade war when their iPhones, eggs and t-shirts cost 10 times as much.

They will revolt. We will resolve.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

And typical of MAGA folks, despite the damage to their own self-interest, they are still quite smitten by their so very smart and strong leader.

I am not sure where you get that from? Of course there will always be zealots but the average republican (in my experience) is pretty devastated that dear leader is tanking their economy.

[Tron_fdc]

The only thing Trump understands (and even this is debatable) is money. When heads of corporations call him (like the big 3 automakers) he listens.

We have to get him to the table, and the only way to do that is by putting surcharges on things they can't live without or easily replace (potash, energy) and letting him tariff steel and aluminum.

The stock market is crashing, fuel prices will increase alongside vehicle prices, food prices will go up, and that's going to cause major problems in his popularity.

Get him to the table, negotiate a deal that he "wins" and life goes on. Like a true narcissist he will find someone else to beak at.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I am not sure where you get that from? Of course there will always be zealots but the average republican (in my experience) is pretty devastated that dear leader is tanking their economy.

Why did the average republican vote for him then?

Oct. 31, 2024

Trump is promising economic pain — and voters are noticing
Americans still face fundamental economic difficulties — but Trump would do almost nothing about any of them.

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-...xes-rcna178090

Are they stupid? I don't get it. He told them this is what they were getting, and he's ####in' given' it to them. How can they be devastated? Guilty? Sure. They should feel guilt and shame. They should do something about it. But devastated? Nah, they don't get to feel that.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

The only thing Trump understands (and even this is debatable) is money. When heads of corporations call him (like the big 3 automakers) he listens.

We have to get him to the table, and the only way to do that is by putting surcharges on things they can't live without or easily replace (potash, energy) and letting him tariff steel and aluminum.

The stock market is crashing, fuel prices will increase alongside vehicle prices, food prices will go up, and that's going to cause major problems in his popularity.

Get him to the table, negotiate a deal that he "wins" and life goes on. Like a true narcissist he will find someone else to beak at.

I hope you're right and that this is how it plays out. I'm just so sick of the constant uncertainty and bulls***. Either get back to the negotiating table and let's hammer out a new USMCA. Or just slap your stupid tariffs on for good and and leave them there so we can all move on with our lives and start diversifying our economy. Enough with the on again/off again crap.


Also, notice he didn't mention fentanyl once in his last two tweets regarding Canada. He's now back to his completely fabricated "$200 billion" trade deficit number and that he's mad that we don't pay enough for NATO.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Why did the average republican vote for him then?

Oct. 31, 2024

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-...xes-rcna178090

Are they stupid? I don't get it. He told them this is what they were getting, and he's ####in' given' it to them. How can they be devastated? Guilty? Sure. They should feel guilt and shame. They should do something about it. But devastated? Nah, they don't get to feel that.

Yes