# 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:** 34
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/661 "2025-03-06T19:49:34Z")
I reminded my wife, this morning, about who won and who lost in the 2008/9 financial crisis. The overwhelming majority of the gains made in the ensuing rebound inured to the benefit of the wealthiest Americans. It’s half-off day on Amazon, but you have to have an [**AmEx Black Card**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion_Card) to play. And I do believe that technology makes that more readily available to the well-heeled by an order of magnitude or more than post-'08/'09. Also, let’s say Trump’s Mafia tactics do convince some businesses to dump massive CapEx back into domestic production. The Cost Of Goods Sold will either be dramatically higher (eg, labor rates, environmental regulations) or Trump will make manufacturing a domestic endeavor with all the charm of an emerging nation (low-wage labor, an environmental catastrophe). And anything that tends to ratchet up those costs of domestic manufacture will surely amplify the clarion call of those same old emerging markets again – where you can _kill_ our kids in your factories and just dump the bodies and your toxic waste in the Sparkletts water bottle! The Rust Belt of America is my cite – the bombed-out carcasses of when America was a manufacturing powerhouse. Because the next President – Og willing – may very well not _be_ Donald Trump. ---
**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 6, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/662 "2025-03-06T19:56:59Z")
Canadian leadership announcing steps to help the economy in response to the US’s declaration of economic war via tariffs. Internal trade barriers are being removed between the Canadian Provinces for alcohol, and also are implementing the recognition of professional certifications across Provinces. These are initial steps - and indications are more is to come as details are worked out. The Provinces rarely agree on anything - so getting their buy-in towards making Canada more resilient overall at the possible expense of their localized economies is fantastic. It shows leader ship and unity across all levels of government. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/663 "2025-03-06T20:01:07Z")
It’s like Trump hits 20 people in the head with a sledgehammer, and then takes credit for getting them to “finally see a doctor.” Or – as I’m fond of saying – arsonist-as-firefighter. ---
**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 6, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/664 "2025-03-06T20:11:22Z")
Even if it came back, which is absolutely should not, nobody I personally know is interested in buying it. I’ve come up with a term I call “peacetime privilege” and purchasing things willy nilly without a thought of where it comes from is an example of peacetime privilege. I am a vegetarian, nature loving individual who has, in the past, stood with protesters against a logging company. That is peacetime privilege and I now want an east to west pipeline and more hydro dams so we can control our resources leaving the country. After trumps speech I now realize that the situation in America is worse that I thought. But, somehow, this actually brings me a bit of peace. The uncertainty is gone. America wants to destroy our economy to make it easier to annex us. When a president says “one way or another, I’m going to have Greenland” and the room doesn’t erupt in chaos, anyone with half a brain can see that American democracy is dead. Not only do republicans love what he is doing, many democrats do as well with ten of them agreeing to censure Al Green, the only person in the room with any balls. I mean fucking hell, what the actual fuck. There is only one good thing that has come from this and that is the rest of the world is waking up to the reality of America. You’ve united Canadians to rally around Trudeau. I can’t think of anything that could have done that except WWIII, which I believe has already started with Russian invasion of Ukraine. Elbows up! ---
**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 6, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/665 "2025-03-06T20:18:06Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > After trumps speech I now realize that the situation in America is worse that I thought. But, somehow, this actually brings me a bit of peace. The uncertainty is gone. America wants to destroy our economy to make it easier to annex us. When a president says “one way or another, I’m going to have Greenland” and the room doesn’t erupt in chaos, anyone with half a brain can see that American democracy is dead. Don’t underestimate how much of this chaos is due solely to Trump. Everything was fine under Biden and would have been under Harris, and likely will be again if Trump deigns to relinquish power when his term is up, which is far from a given. If he doesn’t, then it truly is time to panic. ---
**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 6, 2025, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/666 "2025-03-06T20:54:53Z")
President Flip-Flop flip-flopped again. > **[Trump tariffs live updates: U.S. pauses tariffs on some Canadian, Mexican...](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/06/trump-tariffs-live-updates-businesses-warn-of-ripple-down-effects-from-tariffs-because-of-rising-costs.html)** > > President Donald Trump granted temporary tariff exemptions for Canadian and Mexican goods covered by USMCA until April 2. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/667 "2025-03-06T20:55:33Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The only thing that will bring it back is either a new president or a renewed free trade agreement. Even then, would you guys trust a President Vance? Or any treaty at all with the U.S.? ---
**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 6, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/668 "2025-03-06T20:58:19Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > When a president says “one way or another, I’m going to have Greenland” and the room doesn’t erupt in chaos, anyone with half a brain can see that American democracy is dead. Yes. We’re mourning the loss of our country. It’s gone. Canadians wonder why we’re not doing more to stop the assaults on our good friend and neighbor, but we can’t even save ourselves. Or Ukraine for that matter. ---
**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 6, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/669 "2025-03-06T20:59:22Z")
I’m not thinking of Vance, I’m thinking a Democratic president taking office in 2029. I think trust in the US is gone for good across the world, but with a sane president we could at least breathe easier for four years. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/670 "2025-03-06T21:04:41Z")
That outcome would be best, yes, but where will we be in 2028? Will there be free, fair elections? Will elections be rigged by Russian and domestic saboteurs? Will there be elections at all? ---
**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 6, 2025, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/671 "2025-03-06T21:07:09Z")
Unfortunately indications are that American has already held its last free and fair election. Democrats taking power again seems unlikely. Jan 6th, 2021 obviously didn’t go how the Republicans wanted but it was a practice run - they now have 4 years (with Trump in power) to dismantle anything they feel could stop them from keeping control. ---
**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 6, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/672 "2025-03-06T21:09:32Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > President Flip-Flop flip-flopped again. Yes, but to be clear, the flip-flop only applies to goods covered by the free trade agreement (USMCA/CUSMA). Same deal as with Mexico. This most importantly covers the auto industry, which constantly cross-ships back and forth across the border, and also computer stuff and a bunch of other things, but a huge amount of goods will still be subject to 25% tariffs. This means that lots of businesses will face layoffs and possibly even closure. Also, news reports say that in Trump’s conversation with Trudeau yesterday, Trump exceeded even his performance with Zelensky, and apparently unleashed profanity on Trudeau. A real Orange Statesman, is Trumpie, spreading goodwill everywhere. ---
**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 6, 2025, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/673 "2025-03-06T21:18:39Z")
Thanks for the clarification. And yes, he is quite the statesman. 🤮 ---
**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 6, 2025, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/674 "2025-03-06T21:58:24Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Yes, but to be clear, the flip-flop only applies to goods covered by the free trade agreement (USMCA/CUSMA). Not quite. it covers goods _compliant_ with the USMCA. And the white house determines what is compliant. > [@CNBC article linked by wguy123 above](#): > > The president’s exemptions apply only to goods that are compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the deal negotiated during Trump’s first term that governs trade in North America. > > A White House official told CNBC that only about 50% of Mexican imports and 38% of Canadian imports are USMCA compliant. ---
**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 6, 2025, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/675 "2025-03-06T22:04:20Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Not quite. it covers goods _compliant_ with the USMCA. The agreement specifies what goods are free from duties/tariffs. I don’t see what distinction you’re making. The clowns in the Trump administration that created this chaos are certainly not going to be ruling on every individual item on a case-by-case basis. This can only mean the same thing it does with Mexico – that the blatant violation of a free trade agreement that Trump himself signed has been postponed until April 2, and until then trade for the goods covered under the agreement proceeds as before, but 25% tariffs apply to everything else. ---
**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 6, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/676 "2025-03-06T22:06:05Z")
You could be right but compliant seems like a weird word to use if you mean covered. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/677 "2025-03-06T22:07:32Z")
Technically, almost everything is “compliant” with the USMCA. It is very comprehensive in describing what is and is not tariff free. ---
**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 6, 2025, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/678 "2025-03-06T22:16:20Z")
I remember many years ago, in the early NAFTA era, ordering a computer from the US (from Gateway, a now-defunct competitor with Dell). There was no duty charged on computers, so the computer itself was delivered with no problem, but the CRT monitor was held up at customs. I had to go through a bunch of bureaucratic bullshit to prove that it was a computer monitor, and not a “television set”. 🙄 ---
**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 6, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/679 "2025-03-06T23:03:07Z")
Remember: [The USMCA is the largest, fairest, most-balanced, and most modern trade agreement ever achieved. There’s never been anything like it. This is a colossal victory.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwIZRpRnV3E) ---
**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 7, 2025, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734/680 "2025-03-07T03:09:46Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Or any treaty at all with the U.S.? Not me, no. The US is a hostile country, not an ally. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-declares-economic-war-on-canada/1013734.md?page=35)