# 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:** 31
**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, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/601 "2025-03-04T17:54:35Z")
Shut down your country with massive protests. Shut down the streets, businesses, government. Politely writing letters is doing nothing. If not now, when? In four years when there are no more elections? ---
**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, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/602 "2025-03-04T18:05:05Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#): > > The above suggestions may sound drastic, but America is on the verge of an epic shitstorm. It’s true. And it’s inevitable. I’ve given up. [if people take to the streets, I’ll be there. But I don’t see it happening. Americans are fine with all this, by and large.] ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/603 "2025-03-04T18:10:45Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I agree, but I have no idea what to actually do in response. As far as generally opposing Trump, I have a volunteer job helping immigrants. As for as what to do to help Canada, we were thinking of vacationing in western Massachusetts this summer but will probably go to Canada. We’re also more likely to buy stuff made in Mexico or Canada, even if we have to pay more. Protests? If someone tells me that they are really, really sure that they are right, and I am wrong, that only cements me in my views. So I have a hard time imagining how protests will help, and an easy time seeing how they could alienate swing voters. Maybe I have a blind spot there. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/604 "2025-03-04T23:09:36Z")
[POLITICO: Lutnick says Trump could reduce Mexico, Canada tariffs Wednesday](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/04/lutnick-tariff-reduction-mexico-canada-00212127?template_id=OTJIR2CRKUD6&variant_id=OTV1GDUJ5B1ZS&is_login_link=true) > [@](#): > > President Donald Trump could reduce the 25 percent tariffs that he imposed Tuesday on Canada and Mexico, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in an interview on Fox Business Network, less than 18 hours after the duties went into effect. > > “Both the Canadians and Mexicans were on the phone with me all day today trying to show that they’ll do better” on reducing fentanyl flows into the United States, Lutnick said. “So I think [Trump] is going to work something out with them.” The S&P 500 only went down by 1.22 percent today. I thought it would take more than that. I guess the idea is to keep all of North America guessing and then be grateful he didn’t mess up the economy even more. I know, won’t work with Mexicans and Canadians, but could work in my country. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/605 "2025-03-05T00:59:31Z")
I agree with this assessment. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2025, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/606 "2025-03-05T01:11:44Z")
> [@POLITICO - Lutnick](#): > > “Both the Canadians and Mexicans were on the phone with me all day today trying to show that they’ll do better” on reducing fentanyl flows into the United States If Australia gave a similar undertaking to reduce it’s fentanyl exports to the US, could we get an exemption from the unilateral imposition of tariffs as well? ---
**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:** [March 5, 2025, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/607 "2025-03-05T01:18:48Z")
My wife said we should buy a Canadian flag (since we’re four miles from the border). ‘And,’ she said, ‘a Mexican flag and a Ukrainian flag.’ I said, ‘And an American flag.’ She agreed. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/608 "2025-03-05T01:22:20Z")
Last post — good thinking. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/609 "2025-03-05T01:35:41Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > If Australia gave a similar undertaking to reduce its fentanyl exports to the US, could we get an exemption from the unilateral imposition of tariffs as well? Unfortunately, no, because fentanyl is just a phony legalistic excuse for Trump declaring an emergency. What I’m confident would work is to buy [one of these](https://www.trump-statue.com/), putting it in a prominent place on your Parliament House grounds: > [@](#): > > This statue, crafted by renowned sculptor Stan Watt, who has created notable statues of founding fathers John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson in nearby Valley Forge; as well as monuments to Martin Luther King Jr.; the 9/11 Firefighters raising the flag at the World Trade Center, and others, will depict Trump in that pivotal moment, surrounded by the brave Secret Service agents, with the American flag proudly displayed. It symbolizes the divine intervention as well as the man and his message of unity and resilience for which America stands. > > Be a part of history and honor the resilience and spirit of Donald J. Trump with a 1 ½ life-size bronze statue capturing a moment of courage and determination. Then I’m afraid you’ll have to guard it continually against defacement. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2025, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/610 "2025-03-05T04:56:14Z")
Lutnick says a lot of things. They don’t seem to have much bearing on what Trump does subsequently. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2025, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/611 "2025-03-05T05:26:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > ‘And an American flag.’ She agreed. Gotta support the Chinese economy! ---
**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:** [March 5, 2025, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/612 "2025-03-05T06:59:35Z")
Trump: Just bear with me. Translation: He’s talking about the markets. Trump: Tariffs will create jobs like you’ve never seen before. Translation: You will never see jobs created by tariffs. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/613 "2025-03-05T13:36:26Z")
Well, here’s a symbolic fight, captured on film in Burlington, ON: 😃 [![](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7473986.1741114654!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/16x9_1180/bird-fight-1.JPG?im=Resize%3D780) ](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7473986.1741114654!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/16x9_1180/bird-fight-1.JPG?im=Resize%3D780) And the Canada Goose won! [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/canada-goose-bald-eagle-burlington-bay-brawl-1.7473477](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/canada-goose-bald-eagle-burlington-bay-brawl-1.7473477) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/614 "2025-03-05T16:14:56Z")
Lutnick’s comments sound like he wants Canada to beg, not that they actually have. Trump has been known to back down, but last time he did, it was before tariffs were raised. Now they’re on. He’s not going to be quick to back down now; even he knows he’ll look weak unless he gets some enormous win. The point is annexation. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/615 "2025-03-05T16:47:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > My wife said we should buy a Canadian flag (since we’re four miles from the border). ‘And,’ she said, ‘a Mexican flag and a Ukrainian flag.’ I said, ‘And an American flag.’ She agreed. Yeah. Fly all of them. I’m not willing to hand Trump the American flag yet. It has got his shit all over it, but I still have some faint hope that it can be washed. ---
**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 5, 2025, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/616 "2025-03-05T16:50:24Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I’m not willing to hand Trump the American flag yet. It has got his shit all over it, but I still have some faint hope that it can be washed. One of the very few upsides to this whole situation is that we’re likely going to get the Canadian flag back as a symbol from the freedom convoy chuckleheads. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/617 "2025-03-05T16:55:34Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Trump has been known to back down, but last time he did, it was before tariffs were raised. Now they’re on. He’s not going to be quick to back down now; even he knows he’ll look weak unless he gets some enormous win. The point is annexation. I think Trump is intending on blatantly influencing the Canadian elections this year, at some point he’ll offer to ease the tariffs and back off the encroachment if the Canadian people elect the candidate he likes. ---
**Author:** ![TheTooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/919ad9/32.png) [@TheTooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTooth)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/618 "2025-03-05T17:50:24Z")
It seems to be working so far if the polls are anything to go by, just not in the way he imagined. Poilievre has been caught with his short pants down. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/619 "2025-03-05T18:02:37Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > One of the very few upsides to this whole situation is that we’re likely going to get the Canadian flag back as a symbol from the freedom convoy chuckleheads. So true. Trump has made our (Canadian) patriotism a good thing again. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2025, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/620 "2025-03-05T18:13:01Z")
Poilievre is leading The Economist poll 39% to 33%. This is a big change over a 20%+ lead especially when the Libs have not yet elected a leader. The countryside will vote Conservative, and the Libs rise is also due to low NDP numbers, and possibly Quebec independence seeming to be on the wane for now. The odds still favour Pierre, though it is early days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734.md?page=32)