# 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:** 30
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/581 "2025-03-04T03:45:35Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > If the stock market crashes hard enough tomorrow, or those JIT supply chains result is lots of immediate U.S. worker layoffs, he’ll dial it back this week. And then he’ll try something else against us (Canada) because his petty, toxic reasons. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/582 "2025-03-04T04:28:15Z")
Besides New England, the Northwest US is also dependent on Canadian energy. There are essentially no fossil fuels in the Northwest; we’re dependent on imported natural gas from BC and Alberta. I haven’t heard that those provinces are going to increase prices or cut off supplies, but even just Trump’s 10% tariff is going to hurt this region. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/583 "2025-03-04T13:32:10Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > We NEED MONEY. So… why not just raise the prices of things like power and oil? The elasticity of demand is very low so it’ll be a windfall of money we desperately need. How exactly are “we” going to benefit from that? In particular, how does it help, say, tariff-laden Canadian car manufacturers if it’s only Canadian power and oil companies that are enriching themselves? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/584 "2025-03-04T13:37:04Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > How exactly are “we” going to benefit from that? In particular, how does it help, say, tariff-laden Canadian car manufacturers if it’s only Canadian power and oil companies that are enriching themselves? We’re talking about export fees. The added cash goes to the government. (In the case of electricity, the seller IS the government.) But hell, even if those companies DID keep the money, it hurts the USA and moves money to Canada. That’d still work, albeit not as well. I cannot believe it has come to this but here we are. Half the USA hates us and the other half can’t be bothered to stop them. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/585 "2025-03-04T13:37:46Z")
Money kept in Canada can be redistributed via tax policies. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/586 "2025-03-04T13:53:04Z")
Before we cut off their power, can we please remember that much of Eastern Canada, including Toronto Pearson airport, depends on a set of pipelines that run through the U.S.? > **[Why a Line 5 Shutdown Just Doesn’t Make Sense](https://www.canadaaction.ca/reasons-to-keep-line-5-pipeline-operating)** > > Shutting down the Line 5 pipeline that carries responsibly produced oil from Canada to refineries in Ontario, Quebec and parts of the U.S. would be harmful to people on both sides of the border and the global environment. Here's why. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/587 "2025-03-04T13:58:02Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > We’re talking about export fees. The added cash goes to the government. Thanks for the clarification. To my mind there’s a significant terminological difference between taxing something (through, for example, export fees) and merely “raising the price” of it. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/588 "2025-03-04T14:21:17Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > Before we cut off their power, can we please remember that much of Eastern Canada, including Toronto Pearson airport, depends on a set of pipelines that run through the U.S.? Which Trump probably already has in his sights, as part of his “annexation by economic force.” ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/589 "2025-03-04T14:41:50Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > Before we cut off their power, can we please remember that much of Eastern Canada, including Toronto Pearson airport, depends on a set of pipelines that run through the U.S.? > > [Why a Line 5 Shutdown Just Doesn’t Make Sense - Canada Action](https://www.canadaaction.ca/reasons-to-keep-line-5-pipeline-operating) What that source shows is that the oil and gas industry really doesn’t want some pipeline shut down. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2025, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/590 "2025-03-04T14:59:09Z")
> **[Stocks sink as Trump’s tariffs threaten a dangerous trade war | CNN Business](https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/04/economy/global-markets-trump-tariffs/index.html)** > > US stocks opened lower Tuesday after President Donald Trump made good on his threat to levy tariffs on Canada and Mexico, paving the way for a global trade war. “threaten” a trade war? No, “creates” a trade war. Who does it serve to soften and obfuscate Trump’s actions? This is a trade war. Trump’s goal was to start it. He did it! He gets the credit. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/591 "2025-03-04T15:39:00Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I cannot believe it has come to this but here we are. Half the USA hates us and the other half can’t be bothered to stop them. The silence is deafening from the “I didn’t vote for him” side. I’m so fucking sick of hearing “as an American I’m so sorry for blah blah blah”. 90 million of you didn’t even vote. Now you’ve let loose a monster at best but, as it’s looking more and more likely, a russian asset as worst. Now you’ve got a criminal hell bent on destroying my country because of trade agreements that he wrote. The world is fucked because of America. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/592 "2025-03-04T16:24:52Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > 90 million of you didn’t even vote. Now you’ve let loose a monster at best but, as it’s looking more and more likely, a russian asset as worst. Now you’ve got a criminal hell bent on destroying my country because of trade agreements that he wrote. The world is fucked because of America. I agree, but I have no idea what to actually do in response. I can only hope the rest of the world isolates and punishes the United States as much as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/593 "2025-03-04T16:31:04Z")
I feel the same, and I’m half American. My Congress members seem to prefer mild social media statements to actual action. Walk the fuck out of Congress, people. Proclaim better plans from the rooftops. Do something big, because the USA has not been in more danger since the 1860s. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/594 "2025-03-04T17:04:51Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > The silence is deafening from the “I didn’t vote for him” side. I’m so fucking sick of hearing “as an American I’m so sorry for blah blah blah”. 90 million of you didn’t even vote. Now you’ve let loose a monster at best but, as it’s looking more and more likely, a russian asset as worst. Now you’ve got a criminal hell bent on destroying my country because of trade agreements that he wrote. The world is fucked because of Americ Next year when American soldiers are crossing the border and their planes are bombing Canadian cities, I’m sure there will be lots of Americans on social media saying “sorry.” I guess I won’t see that, I’ll have sent my daughter off to another country and will be helping the resistance. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2025, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/595 "2025-03-04T17:09:50Z")
Trudeau bluntly calls out Trump. This trade war is stupid. Nothing we could have done to avoid it. Trump is targeting us to collapse the Canadian economy as a precursor to our annexation. etc. Yeah. Summed it up accurately. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/596 "2025-03-04T17:31:34Z")
[Trudeau calling out Trump](https://youtu.be/uBTXPks3OQo?t=1412) btw ETA: fixed link ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/597 "2025-03-04T17:32:26Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Half the USA hates us and the other half can’t be bothered to stop them. Half the US does not hate Canada. 77.2 million voters voted for Trump. There are 340 million people in the US. Even if every single Trump voter does indeed hate Canada (which is unlikely-I highly doubt many of them have ever even thought about it), 77.3M is not half of 340M. It is barely a quarter. It’s not that the rest of us, who are a majority, ‘_can’t be bothered to try to stop it_’, it’s that we don’t have any power to stop it. What do you think we could do if only we would? Millions of us are besieging our representatives with calls, emails and letters vehemently opposing MAGA actions and policies, we are gathering in marches and protests at our capitols (I’ll be doing that later today). So, what should we be doing that we are not? ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/598 "2025-03-04T17:33:38Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I agree, but I have no idea what to actually do in response. I can only hope the rest of the world isolates and punishes the United States as much as possible. I’m sick of American’s apologizing and saying they didn’t vote for him - but I’m even more sick of American’s saying they can only hope the rest of the world helps them. My God - this is your country and your own mess to clean up. Does anyone in the US understand that unless you actually do something soon you’ve already held your last free and fair election? Quit dithering and start taking concrete actions because your country is transforming into a dictatorship by an agent of Putin. Of course write and call your elected representatives. Daily. Drive to their offices and make yourself heard by waving a sign around. Join an group that organizes resistance and protest movements. Sell your house, liquidate assets and invest the funds into a different country. Use some of the money to fund yourself to stop working for awhile - i.e. stop generating money into the US economy. Trump does seem to actually pay attention to the state of the US economy. Leave the country and/or spend your money anywhere else. Order goods exclusively from oversea providers (tariffs be damned). The above suggestions may sound drastic, but America is on the verge of an epic shitstorm. Waiting for Eupope, Canada or Japan to save you is not going to cut it. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/599 "2025-03-04T17:35:06Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > Half the US does not hate Canada. 77.2 million voters voted for Trump. There are 340 million people in the US. Even if every single Trump voter does indeed hate Canada (which is unlikely-I highly doubt many of them have ever even thought about it), 77.3M is not half of 340M. It is barely a quarter. There is no reason to think that the people who didn’t vote don’t break down the same way the ones who did vote do. And the hatred is there, and spreading like wildfire, being pushed by the Trump administration and Trump/Russian social media network. If even a quarter of my country was calling for the invasion and annexation of a smaller ally, it’s all I’d ever talk about. It would be a sickness in my country that would have to be stamped out. If Canada was that in favor of invading and conquering Portugal I’d literally be starting an organization to oppose that. I’d have Portugal flags on my car and would NEVER let up with my elected reps. That’s a literal existential threat to one’s own democratic, rule-of-law-based society. The USA is now Germany circa mid-1932. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/600 "2025-03-04T17:51:33Z")
American Liberals are shockingly feckless. Fascists control ALL 3 branches of your governments, and all I hear is “the high price of eggs” “woke trans folks are mind virusing my kids in gender neutral bathrooms because DEI!”. Literal insanity is paraded in front of Americans and half support it, love it, and act nakedly insane in defence of it. The other half cannot be arsed to fight it… or even look it and call it out. Where are your leaders? Yes; you lost the vote, but you still have a voice. You still have arms and legs. Now is time to push back. You are in for a lot of pain if you do not start now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734.md?page=31)