# The United States Declares Economic War on Canada **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [February 1, 2025, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734 "2025-02-01T21:16:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/201 "2025-02-02T20:48:07Z")
Right. And I’m hoping GM and Ford (whom I must assume do not like this) will, the moment they see the first impact, announce huge layoffs. The amount of cross border auto manufacturing that goes on is staggering. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/202 "2025-02-02T20:48:30Z")
Thanks, a very British insult. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/203 "2025-02-02T21:17:29Z")
They’re pulling your leg here. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/204 "2025-02-02T21:26:34Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Trudeau probably thinks electricity cutoff would alienate potentially pro-Canadian Americans (obviously does not apply to you), and raise the possibility of the U.S. increasing the tariff above 25 percent. Trump could even use electricity cutoff as an excuse for a U.S. invasion of Canada. All sadly true. I’m beginning to think Trump is looking at Canada the way Putin was looking at Ukraine a few years ago. Personally, I could handle a week or two in the dark to get this bullshit over with in a civilized fashion, but there are no more guarantees and most people are less prepared than I am to rough it. > [@Odesio](#): > > Not only is the United States an unreliable partner, but it is actively trying to harm some of its staunchest allies. The rest of the world cannot trust us and should avoid entering any sort of agreement with us insomuch as that’s possible. I fully expect Canada and other nations to make other arrangements both militarily and economically in a direction away from the U.S. Trump is making the United States weaker both economically and militarily. ^ I also agree with the above. > [@dtilque](#): > > Maybe if the Fed has an emergency meeting and raised interest rates, it would also get his attention. Trump wants interest rates to go down, so raising them might do the job. Trump would just fire everyone in the Fed and attempt to replace them with Trump loyalists. Or Elon will say we didn’t need that department anyway, throw the whole thing out. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/205 "2025-02-02T21:48:00Z")
I was wondering what the end game for Trump was on the Canadian tariffs, but I guess he really does want them to join the United State and thinks this will help. Apparently we’ve been subsidizing Canada for years now. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/206 "2025-02-02T21:50:48Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > What would Musk have to gain from decimating the auto industry? What does this have to do with Musk? Trump is the one declaring economic war on Canada/Mexico. And from what I understand this will largely affect Asian brands that are made in Canada and Mexico, so a net gain for Musk. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/207 "2025-02-02T21:58:38Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > What would Musk have to gain from decimating the auto industry? That he hasn’t already done? ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/208 "2025-02-02T22:08:32Z")
What I am having a huge amount of trouble understanding is what exactly is Trump’s issue with us? I have to assume that this is some bizarre personal issue with Trump himself. Is he still pissed off at Justin from the G7 conference in 2018 ([Redirect Notice](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44427660.amp))? Is it something that petty? None of this makes any sense. Suppose Trump actually, seriously, wants us as a 51st state. Would that end up costing the US more than it costs them now to “subsidize” us? One could argue that, at the moment, we are informally being subcontracted to look after everything north of the Canada-US border. If the US were to take over and occupy us, is it possible that this would cost the US more? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/209 "2025-02-02T22:11:52Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > > > What does it mean, “a bag of Richards”? > > Rhyming slang. Richard the Third = turd. Actually, it’s [‘Eat a bag of dicks.’](https://www.google.com/search?num=10&client=safari&sca_esv=526cc3e946863860&rls=en&q=eat+a+bag+of+dicks+meme&udm=2&fbs=ABzOT_CWdhQLP1FcmU5B0fn3xuWpA-dk4wpBWOGsoR7DG5zJBtmuEdhfywyzhendkLDnhcq4Fx59GJo42IHin57PCNq1BCLfVKQIWPymDGFj2PR-DZ1840CwsCovs_lqrigWG8LB7J24YWJeRSHiis7BYf9PnbfnaexehrWDw6bWxieyN1iBeJPLUAXGMSVeQtrluiG6p0bI9PWaJDm6lkJ019twT8LwsA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi84O7TgKaLAxV_AzQIHdV9ElAQtKgLegQIERAB&biw=1541&bih=950&dpr=2) I was going for a translation of ‘Thou may ingest a satchel of Richards.’ ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/210 "2025-02-02T22:17:32Z")
Shouldn’t it be illegal to renege on the trade agreement we already have with Canada and Mexico? Putting aside that frump himself is the one who signed it, which adds another rotten cherry on top of this sundae of destruction. Not sure who would be able to legally dispute this, though. It’s so frustrating that whenever “he” does something against the law, everybody either slow walks it (like with his criminal cases) or when he violates a treaty, law, whatever, as president, everybody goes, “Oh, well, there’s no mechanism to actually do anything about it. Just hold on for the ride to hell.” ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/211 "2025-02-02T22:22:32Z")
Well, who is calling the shots? Trump, Bannon or Musk? ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/212 "2025-02-02T22:25:17Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No, they personally have no beef with Canada. They just voted for the guy who lies and said he’d end inflation and give them cheaper eggs. Starting an economic war with Canada wasnt part of his campaign. This is true. Trump did not campaign on starting an economic war with Canada, or on making Canada a 51st state, or on invading Greenland, or on a military attack on the Panama Canal. But even if he had, it wouldn’t have mattered. There’s a hard-core % in America that is going to go along with him no matter what. He once said he could shoot someone dead on 5th Avenue in NYC, and it wouldn’t matter. And he’s basically right. ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/213 "2025-02-02T22:31:45Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > So if other countries (particularly the US) are pissed off at Canada, I certainly understand, however, do we deserve these levels of animosity from our immediate neighbour? I certainly don’t think so, but I think that it’s time for us to get our act together and behave like adults who actually understand that we live in a dangerous world. Canada doesn’t deserve anything like this. TBH, Canada is probably our best ally. You guys were a huge part of the Allies in WW2. You have been a reliable trading partner for many decades. You have kept a peaceful border with us. You helped us during the Iran Hostage affair. You helped us after 911, as part of NATO. Canada is as good a friend in the entire world that the US has. And **this** is how we treat you guys. It’s inexcusable, and I’m ashamed to be an American today. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/214 "2025-02-02T22:32:21Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > What I am having a huge amount of trouble understanding is what exactly is Trump’s issue with us? I have to assume that this is some bizarre personal issue with Trump himself. It’s hard to figure out. But bizarre personal issues explain a lot. Maybe some armchair psychologist wants to start with this: [Donald Trump’s grandfather ran Canadian brothel during gold rush, author says | CBC News](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/trump-canada-yukon-1.3235254) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/215 "2025-02-02T22:33:00Z")
January 6, and the previous events related to that election, were, thus far, an even greater existential threat to America than all the _foreign policy specific_ actions\* that Trump has taken thus far. And the people did not reject that. They voted for someone who tried to violently overthrow the US government. So they definitely would still have voted for someone with a hyperaggressive foreign policy. \*I think that _in total_, the actions after the election are close enough to the gravity of the attempt to overthrow democracy that I would not quibble one way or the other. But you’d have to include the deliberate disruption of the executive branch to get there. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/216 "2025-02-02T22:34:18Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > As a parenthetical note, because it might be of interest to people, I’ll add the observation that this madness isn’t really being covered very well in the European press. This story is the number one headline news on radio, TV and newspapers here in Ireland, with plenty of discussion and analysis of what the end of free trade will mean for our small open economy, especially when Mr Trump next turns his attention, as promised, to the European Union. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/217 "2025-02-02T22:36:22Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > If the US were to take over and occupy us, is it possible that this would cost the US more? It would be paid for by the reduction in healthcare costs. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/218 "2025-02-02T22:37:43Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > What I am having a huge amount of trouble understanding is what exactly is Trump’s issue with us? I have to assume that this is some bizarre personal issue with Trump himself. Melania thinks Trudeau is hot. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/219 "2025-02-02T22:50:05Z")
Unfortunately, any effort to try satisfying Trump’s demands is something of a fool’s errand as anything Trump wants is chimeric and based on anything other than logic. It would be impossible to keep following whatever whimsical goalposts he would have. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/220 "2025-02-02T22:58:52Z")
Some polling results about American and Canadian views on the US actions. A poll on US respondents, taken around the time of trump’s inauguration: > [@](#): > > The [Leger poll](https://leger360.com/en/trump-foreign-policy/), based on a survey of 1,001 respondents taken in the lead up to Trump’s inauguration Monday, found only a minority who were asked about Trump’s proposals, including annexing Greenland or renaming the Gulf of Mexico the ‘Gulf of America,’ were in support. > > When it came to the question of making Canada the “51st state,” which Trump has repeatedly referred to the country as, 55 per cent of Americans who were surveyed said they oppose the idea, compared to 24 per cent who expressed some support. > > The poll also found that 53 per cent of respondents either “strongly oppose” or “somewhat oppose” the U.S. levying tariffs on Canadian goods, compared to the 29 per cent who backed doing so. > > “It turns out that … a lot of Americans are aware of the fact that tariffs can kind of cut both ways,” said Andrew Enns, an executive vice president at Leger. > > Enns said it doesn’t appear Trump’s comments are being driven by a “groundswell of support by the American public.” > **[Most Americans oppose tariffs on Canadian imports, annexation: poll](https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/annexation-tariffs-us-poll)** > > A majority of Americans oppose U.S. President Donald Trump's statements about expanding the country's territory. And a long article from CBC that reviews US business leaders and economists and finds little support for tariffs (although Trump republicans seem to support them): > **[ANALYSIS | U.S. tariffs on Canada: (Almost) nobody wants this, except the guy...](https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7446585)** > > The American public dislikes them, along with business leaders, many Republicans and nearly all experts. But Trump has a zeal on the import taxes, and surrounding himself with like-minded figures. On the Canadian side, there is strong general opposition to the tariffs and the talk of annexation, from business, labour, and Canadians generally. Looks like strong support for the federal retaliatory tariffs: > **[Business leaders want Canada to fight U.S. tariffs with tariffs](https://kpmg.com/ca/en/home/media/press-releases/2025/01/fight-tariffs-with-tariffs-kpmg-business-survey.html)** > > Eight in 10 are bracing for a recession but are prepared to endure “short-term pain” to negotiate a fair deal that protects Canadian interests > **[Canadians reject Trump's tariff threats: New CLC poll | Canadian Labour Congress](https://canadianlabour.ca/canadians-reject-trumps-tariff-threats-new-clc-poll/)** > > OTTAWA, ON –A new poll commissioned by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) reveals Canadians are seriously concerned with the economic and political risks posed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Polling  of 1500 eligible voters, conducted between... > **[Canadians overwhelmingly support retaliation to Trump tariffs: poll - National...](https://globalnews.ca/news/10969223/canadians-overwhelmingly-support-retaliation-to-trump-tariffs-poll/amp/)** > > New polling provided exclusively to Global News says 82 per cent of Canadians believe Trump's tariffs should be met with Canadian tariffs on American goods. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734.md?page=12)