# 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:** 12
**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, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/221 "2025-02-02T23:00:27Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > On the Canadian side, there is strong general opposition to the tariffs and the talk of annexation, from business, labour, and Canadians generally. Well, if nothing else, Trump has united Canadians. ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/222 "2025-02-02T23:03:05Z")
We’re about to see a full court press of propaganda to push people into wanting to declare war on Canada or Mexico. This is has been pretty much straight from Putin’s playbook. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/223 "2025-02-02T23:08:40Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > I absolutely get it, and I’m certainly not thrilled by the strong possibility, or probability, of a Pierre Poilievre prime ministership. His odds are lower than they used to be. He’s still a heavy favorite, but had Trump not been elected, Poilevre’s odds would have been 99 percent at worst. Now the Liberals can call his soft on Trump. So I’d now give him four chances in five. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/224 "2025-02-02T23:09:07Z")
> [@Zoobi](#): > > We’re about to see a full court press of propaganda to push people into wanting to declare war on Canada or Mexico. This is has been pretty much straight from Putin’s playbook. Most definitely. And they’ll fall for it. ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/225 "2025-02-02T23:14:08Z")
Canada and Mexico are in a tricky spot, there is perhaps an impossible needle to thread here. They can’t just roll over, but any pushback will be amplified as egregious retaliation provoking a physical conflict. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/226 "2025-02-02T23:15:05Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Well, if nothing else, Trump has united Canadians. Well, yes and no. On another board, a few Quebecers are gleeful about annexation. Not because they want to join the US, but because they are sure that the US would not want Quebec. French-speaking, and not about to change that, and just likely to cause trouble if the US demands they use English to accord with the vast majority of Americans. They don’t care about the ROC at all. If the US takes over the ROC and leaves Quebec alone, then they get what they have long wanted: independednce. Now, that’s the view of only a couple of Quebecers on another message board, so it likely doesn’t mean much. But if a few think that way, there are likely others who don’t post to message boards. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/227 "2025-02-02T23:18:52Z")
> [@Zoobi](#): > > Canada and Mexico are in a tricky spot, there is perhaps an impossible needle to thread here. They can’t just roll over, but any pushback will be amplified as egregious retaliation provoking a physical conflict. No pushback would not stop Trump either, he can easily find an excuse for being offended. > [@Spoons](#): > > If the US takes over the ROC and leaves Quebec alone, then they get what they have long wanted: independednce. I hope they take a moment to reflect on the absurdity of being this optimistic. Trump isn’t looking to take over _part_ of Canada, he wants the whole thing. Quebecers think they are going to resist him by speaking French? That’s probably enough of an excuse for him to round people up right there, _like he is doing to Spanish-speaking people in the US right now_. ---
**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, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/228 "2025-02-02T23:21:23Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > Quebecers think they are going to resist him by speaking French? That’s probably enough of an excuse for him to round people up right there, _like he is doing to Spanish-speaking people in the US right now_. They’ll be deported to France. Or Haiti. ---
**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, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/229 "2025-02-02T23:48:00Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > So I’d now give him four chances in five. It might even be possible that Carney, should he become the liberal leader, could win this election, thanks to Trump. ---
**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, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/230 "2025-02-02T23:49:57Z")
Just a thought, but perhaps Trump is wanting Canadas support in his land grab of Greenland. And this tariff scare is just a way to get Canada to play along with his game. Its a fucked up and stupid plan. Thats what make me think this might actually be his plan. I think his end game is Greenland. With climate change comes an opening up of the Artic for exploitation. He would need Canada to make it work (and stay out of the way). Its a stupid and dangerous way to ask for a favor, but then again look who we are talking about. ---
**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, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/231 "2025-02-02T23:52:17Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > This, as I said, is the Trump method, and it’s why Canada, sadly, shouldn’t count on much attention or assistance from other traditional allies overseas. I take your point, but at the same time, the EU is in Trump’s cross-hairs because of some Trumpian grievance. If the US imposes similar tariffs on the EU, I could see some coordination on responses. > **[Trump vows to launch trade war on EU](https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-trade-war-eu-tariffs-mexico-canada/)** > > “The European Union has treated us so terribly,” U.S. president complains, as Canada and Mexico get nailed with blitz of tariffs. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/232 "2025-02-02T23:56:42Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > With climate change comes an opening up of the Artic for exploitation. You’re overthinking it. Trump does not have a plan. He just wants to have the biggest country. What happens to it once he has it is not his problem. He just needs the number. Bigger is better so if he has the biggest country, he also has the best. That is as far as his logic goes. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/233 "2025-02-03T00:03:52Z")
> [@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. Don’t overthink it. Trump wants a big source of revenue to pay for extending his tax cuts. Mexico, Canada, and China are the US’s largest trading partners, so that’s where tariff revenue would be highest. China pays bribes: Mexico and Canada don’t. So China gets 10%, while our allies get 25%. > **[What does Trump really want? - Kevin Drum](https://jabberwocking.com/what-does-trump-really-want/)** > > What's the end game here? the craziest thing is that it’s not even very clear what Trump wants to happen. the fentanyl thing is obviously an excuse, the flow of Canadian fentanyl into the US is insignificant. so what does he want... > And why Canada, Mexico, and China? For the same reason Willie Sutton robbed banks: because that’s where the money is. Those three countries account for nearly half of all US imports, so they’re the ones that got held up. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/234 "2025-02-03T00:09:37Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > What is the point? You use tariffs (sparingly!!!) to obtain something. Why is he declaring economic war for? Raising tariffs allows American businessmen to raise their prices and collect windfall profits. This is another example of Republican policies aimed at making rich people richer. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/235 "2025-02-03T00:51:21Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Raising tariffs allows American businessmen to raise their prices and collect windfall profits. Not really. Adding 5% markup to a 25% tariff will likely result in lower sales for non-necessity items. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/236 "2025-02-03T01:06:40Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > Not really. Adding 5% markup to a 25% tariff will likely result in lower sales for non-necessity items. More likely (I think) is Trump lets this go a while then negotiates an end to tariffs. US merchants who were selling at a 25% markup due to the tariff will not drop prices back 25%. They can drop 15% and pocket the other 10% and look like a good-guy who lowered prices. And Trump will claim he lowered prices like he promised. MAGA will let him get away with that. Saw this with COVID (e.g. some restaurants added a surcharge for the extra cleaning costs…after COVID they just kept those charges in place). ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/237 "2025-02-03T01:19:02Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Raising tariffs allows American businessmen to raise their prices and collect windfall profits. Except there’s a good chance some or all of their material inputs are being hit by said tariffs. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/238 "2025-02-03T01:38:41Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Don’t overthink it. Trump wants a big source of revenue to pay for extending his tax cuts. Mexico, Canada, and China are the US’s largest trading partners, so that’s where tariff revenue would be highest. China pays bribes: Mexico and Canada don’t. So China gets 10%, while our allies get 25%. > > [What does Trump really want? – Kevin Drum](https://jabberwocking.com/what-does-trump-really-want/) > > > And why Canada, Mexico, and China? For the same reason Willie Sutton robbed banks: because that’s where the money is. Those three countries account for nearly half of all US imports, so they’re the ones that got held up. Strong agree, except maybe on China paying bribes (not saying you are wrong, just that I have not seen the evidence). If the tariffs fail, it won’t be because Trump is controlled by our oligarchs. Oligarchs bow to the dictator, not vice-versa. If tariffs fail, it will be in the court of public opinion, and because the tariff-related job losses and inflation weren’t timed simultaneously with a tax cut. ---
**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 3, 2025, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/239 "2025-02-03T01:48:41Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > Not really. Adding 5% markup to a 25% tariff will likely result in lower sales for non-necessity items. I think @Little_Nemo is thinking of the protectionist advantage for the US competitors to Canadian manufacturers. Suppose a Canadian manufacturer makes widgets, and a US manufacturer makes gidgets, that they sell to wholesalers or secondary manufacturers. Since widgets and gidgets can do the same thing, the Canadian manufactuer and the US manufacturer have to keep their prices competitive with each other. Suppose up to now, the Canadian manufacturer is able to sell its widgets for US$100. The US manufacturer will want to sell its gidgets for about the same price. But on February 4, the 25% tariff comes in. The Canadian widgets now sell for US$125. The US manufacturer can immediately jack up its price, to US$120. Its gidgets now have a competitive price advantage, because they’re selling for US$5 less than the Canadian widgets, and the US manufacturer is getting US$20 more per gidget. The US wholesaler or secondary manufacturer has to pay a higher price either way. The tariff is a tax on the US ultimate purchaser, whether they buy Canadian widgets or US gidgets, because of the protective function of the tariff. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/240 "2025-02-03T02:01:51Z")
Not sure why people are complaining. The response to Tariffs has been FANTASTIC according to Donny: > [@](#): > > Anybody that’s against Tariffs, including the Fake News Wall Street Journal, and Hedge Funds, is only against them because these people or entities are controlled by China, or other foreign or domestic companies. Anybody that loves and believes in the United States of America is in favor of Tariffs. They should have never ended, in favor of the Income Tax System, in 1913. The response to Tariffs has been FANTASTIC! His Truth Social feed is something else right now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734.md?page=13)