# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/21 "2025-02-01T23:32:28Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > It matters to many or most of us a lot. Unfortunately, the stereotype is now ‘All Americans are stupid bigots.’ This is not true. We’ve seen the polling data. We have empirical evidence. ---
**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 1, 2025, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/22 "2025-02-01T23:38:21Z")
And what comes next from our former ally? Some speculation. > [@](#): > > Prior to his inauguration, Trump threatened to use “economic force” to compel Canada to become the 51st state in the union. > … > That would require a whole different level of coercion than what was unleashed Saturday — the kind usually reserved for America’s enemies, as opposed to allies. > > What does a full-blown economic war look like? Think sanctions, import and export restrictions, trade embargoes, theft of intellectual property. > … > Raquel Garbers, a visiting fellow at CIGI from the Department of National Defence, said in general, economic attacks are the essential first phase of full-scale war between nations and Canada is a high-value target because of its mineral wealth, technological know-how and advanced economy. > **[ANALYSIS | Trump is starting a trade war. If he wants to absorb Canada, what...](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-trade-war-vs-economic-war-1.7447927)** > > The first shots of the trade war between the United States and Canada have been fired. Whether it escalates beyond the planned 25 per cent tariff into a wider economic war depends upon how genuinely serious President Donald Trump is about annexation,... ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/23 "2025-02-01T23:48:14Z")
Some provincial leaders are leaning toward hitting back hard. I’m hearing about 450,000 jobs at risk with Canadian jobs.Since he’s convicted felon, I’d start the counter with something like, “Since Trump is a convicted felon, he’s not allowed to enter Canada.” That would be really personal and legal! ---
**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 1, 2025, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/24 "2025-02-01T23:52:58Z")
I endorse this action. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/25 "2025-02-01T23:53:34Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > However, Canada is not a major [fentanyl] source- most comes from Mexico and China. I cannot find the text of the three executive orders press reports say were issued today, and I may change what I say a bit when they are released. But it looks like, to provide a fig leaf of legality for the tariffs, Trump declared separate economic emergencies with Canada, Mexico, and China. Your comment, Dr Deth, suggests that the justification for a drug-related economic emergency is weakest in the case of Canada. So U.S. courts should bat that one down quickly. But I doubt they will. IMHO Trump’s real purpose for the 25 percent tariffs is to raise revenue with a tax Americans will not see directly. ---
**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 1, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/26 "2025-02-01T23:56:29Z")
Trudeau to speak at 8:30 pm Eastern. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/27 "2025-02-02T00:02:10Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > It matters to many or most of us a lot. Unfortunately, the stereotype is now ‘All Americans are stupid bigots.’ I wonder why? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/28 "2025-02-02T00:03:13Z")
Ontario Premier Ford was just on CNN. I felt bad for him, but he had to make the case that Canada is not Mexico or China, and is not the source of the US’s fentanyl problem. As if facts matter…… He sort of had to bad-mouth Mexico and China a few times, which probably doesn’t help those relationships either. ---
**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, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/29 "2025-02-02T00:09:03Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I wonder why? Because the stupid bigots make the most noise. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/30 "2025-02-02T00:11:00Z")
Premier Ford is a goon and an idiot who’s guilty of acting just as bizarrely quarrelsome with Toronto and other municipal governments. He’s using Trump’s insanity to look responsible; to hell with championing him and his egotistic and ultimately stupid reckless behaviour. ETA: I shouldn’t have directed this rant at you, I’m just peeved at how he has been riding this crisis to his political advantage. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/31 "2025-02-02T00:14:30Z")
“Every country has the government it deserves.” ― Joseph de Maistre My hope is that America’s enemies quickly coalesce: China, Jihadists, and Western Democracies need to work together. ---
**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, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/32 "2025-02-02T00:14:52Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > It matters to many or most of us a lot. Unfortunately, the stereotype is now ‘All Americans are stupid bigots.’ > > I wonder why? I think “evil” may also start trending, based on conversations I’ve had with other Canadians. ---
**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, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/33 "2025-02-02T00:19:10Z")
Well, we here on the Salish Sea still like you. We’re sorry so many Americans are stupid, racist assholes. ---
**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, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/34 "2025-02-02T00:21:52Z")
I hope nobody here was planning to start building a home in the next few years. Most of our lumber comes from Canada. ---
**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, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/35 "2025-02-02T00:23:20Z")
Don’t worry. The President has assured Americans that you don’t need Canadian lumber because there is plenty of US lumber. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/36 "2025-02-02T00:29:18Z")
God save us from this madman. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/37 "2025-02-02T00:31:48Z")
Krugman’s take on this. > **[Why Has Trump Gone Soft on China and Hard on Canada?](https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/why-has-trump-gone-soft-on-china?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=277517&post_id=156253188&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=4y8eu&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email)** > > National interest? Or personal interest? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/38 "2025-02-02T00:33:09Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I think “evil” may also start trending, based on conversations I’ve had with other Canadians. During the last Trump administration, I was friends with someone who was married to an ambassador to the US. This is a NATO country, and they said there had started to be whispering on how to contain the US. The sooner it collapses, the sooner humanity can get to what comes next. ---
**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, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/39 "2025-02-02T00:39:23Z")
One of our retired diplomats at that same time was on a speaking tour in Canada. He said that the internal conclusion in the Canadian diplomatic sector, réaching to the highest levels, was that the US could not be considered a reliable partner, regardless who was in the White House. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/40 "2025-02-02T00:44:27Z")
I think that is a fair assessment. It’s not just that the US pursues its own interests, all nations do so, it’s that it pursues its own interests as understood by racist morons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734.md?page=3)