#avoiding that 25% tariff

[hetalias-resumption]

There just chill countries (usually)

[affairsmastery]

At the World Economic Forum, President Donald Trump stated that the US doesn't need Canadian energy, vehicles, or lumber, reiterating his threat of imposing tariffs on Canadian imports—potentially up to 25% by February 1.

Trump suggested Canada could avoid tariffs by "becoming a state," sparking gasps in the Davos audience. The threat has caused unease in Canada, which exports 75% of its goods to the US. Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have vowed a "dollar-for-dollar" countermeasure if tariffs are enacted, while pitching Canada as a secure and reliable trading partner.

[shopwitchvamp]

Despairing frustrated rage about tariffs, and only having bad choices ahead:

I've been avoiding making this post for some time now, but today in the latest tariff threats we're staring down the barrel of an additional 25% tariff being put in place on April 2nd for any country that imports Venezuelan oil. If it actually happens that'll put tariffs on Chinese made goods up to 45% (as far as I understand it at least..) and with that, we will have certainly passed the point that I can continue to just eat costs and hope to hold on until things calm down again someday maybe.

With that said we'll be facing a number of pretty much only bad choices in figuring out how to survive this.

A look at those and what might have to change soon under the cut-

I'll be at a decision point on April 2nd, if +25% tariffs happen on top of the 20% that's already in place. Here's the potential actions I'll have to take to keep the shop from crashing & burning within a few months:

1) Raising prices. Well it's obvious that this would be one way to deal with costs going up. Even if my costs are going up 45%, I can't exactly raise prices by 45% and expect anyone to want (or be able) to buy our clothes though. But price increases of 10-20% would have to happen to keep the business sustainable. This would look like mini/skater skirts going from $49.99 to $59.99 (+20%), midis/joggers going from $64.99 to $74.99 (+15%), and maxis going from $69.99 to $79.99 (+14%). I don't want to do this, I will not be making more profit from this (profit would still be down compared to pre-tariffs), and I don't expect it to be received well, but if tariffs are in fact that high.. I don't see any way around a price increase.

2) Not keeping D Size on hand / Additionally raising the price on D Size. So the first part of this, not keeping D Size on hand, already happens at times because certain designs sell so rarely in that size that I can't justify ordering D Size anymore. I always make it available during preorders though, and if any preorders come in for D Size then I'll always get at least a little extra of them (if nothing else than because I usually have to order more than what comes in for preorders to hit the order minimum). I will need to consider making this the way things work deliberately and all of the time because I can't afford the higher cost of D Size only to have it end up sitting in our inventory and not selling when it's on hand. To give an example, D Size skater skirts cost me nearly twice as much as A or B Size. I've been relying on things averaging out alright since I sell so many more A/B/C than D, but with the potential of +45% costs in tariffs it will make D Size so much more expensive that this no longer works. I'll be approching a point of losing money on D Size, and unfortunately the quickest way to lower my average cost is to not order D Size as often. For part two of this one, I could consider raising the price for D Size in the shop so that it's not affecting the overall cost average as much. It may come to that, but I don't think it's the best or most useful idea because I know it will not only upset people- it will also drive down D Size demand even lower, and when it's already the size that sells the least it makes it make even less sense to keep D Size on hand most of the time. So we circle back around to probably just making D Size available mainly during preorder & not keeping them on hand.

3) Purposefully scaling down. There's three parts to this one. One has to do with guest artists, one has to do with my partner, and one is just the scale of the business altogether. For guest artists- with tariffs cutting into profit margins I may end up at a point of not having much to pay them (profits are split 50/50) for their art or to pay me & my partner for our work. We were starting to plan another large collection including guests artists for this summer, but I'm having to rethink if it will be possible or if it makes any sense now. Projects like that might need to be put off until the situation changes. For my partner- my partner was able to quit his job in 2022 and since then he's worked with me full time on the business. If things start looking rocky enough, he would be looking at job hunting for at least part time IT work and pulling back on how involved he is with the business. For the business as a whole- I had a lot of plans in the works for new designs, new collabs, new collections, new types of clothing, etc etc. and all of that could have to be put off, slowed down, or not happen at all. Especially if my partner ends up going back to a "regular" job, I'd be looking at returning the shop to something more like how it was in the 2020-2021 era. Far less new releases, less restocks, keeping less inventory on hand, and so on. Because money/tariffs aside, I would have to go back to handling most things on my own and I can't operate at our current scale solo.

If you made it this far, thanks for reading and I hope I haven't instilled too much fear & panic. We are doing ok right now. We can keep doing ok for at least a few more months even if the tariffs happen. But I want to keep you all informed about what things my look like further down the line. It really sucks to have been doing so well and grown so much over the past few years and to have it all crushed seeminly overnight, but that's what we might be facing. I'll do my best to keep Witch Vamp alive even if it means going backwards to where it's more of a hobby level project and not a livelihood sustaining kind of thing. Then maybe in the future we can power back up when conditions are better..

And who knows, since things are so chaotic and uncertain there's always the chance we luck out and don't get hit with a bunch of this stuff. Right now chances are sounding slim.. but it's possible.

I'll let you all know how things are looking when we maybe know more on April 2nd. See ya then 🖤

[sparklygiverthing]

Unpredictable! Why did the United States withdraw the additional 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum?

The US decision to withdraw the additional 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum products is the result of a compromise between the US and Canada after the game in the electricity surcharge dispute. Combined with the search results, the reasons behind this policy reversal can be summarized as follows:

I. Ontario, Canada canceled the electricity surcharge, and the US achieved its initial goal

1. Direct trigger: electricity surcharge dispute

On March 10, Ontario, Canada announced that it would impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exported to New York, Michigan and Minnesota in the United States on the grounds of "unfair balance of trade." This move was regarded as an "electricity tariff" by the Trump administration, and it quickly retaliated by imposing additional steel and aluminum tariffs.

On March 11, Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum products, raising the total tax rate to 50%, which is scheduled to take effect on the 12th.

However, after Ontario Governor Ford spoke with US Commerce Secretary Lutnick, Canada agreed to suspend the electricity surcharge, and the US immediately withdrew the additional tariffs.

2. The US strategy of "threatening to compromise"

The US threatened to impose higher tariffs (50%) to force Canada to make concessions on the electricity surcharge. White House spokesman Kush Desai made it clear that the premise for withdrawing tariffs is that Canada cancels the electricity surcharge, and emphasized that the US's 25% steel and aluminum tariffs on other trading partners will still be implemented.

II. The deep game and economic dependence of the US-Canada trade war

1. The importance of steel and aluminum trade to the US and Canada

Canada is the largest source of steel imports for the United States, accounting for nearly a quarter of the total US steel imports. If the high tariff of 50% is maintained for a long time, it will impact the US manufacturing supply chain, especially the automotive industry.

The United States is also significantly dependent on Canadian aluminum, and Canada is the main supplier of primary aluminum metal to the United States.

2. The risk of "tit-for-tat" trade confrontation between the two sides

Canada has previously stated many times that it will impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States. For example, Canada's new leader Mark Carney has made it clear that he will maintain countermeasures against the United States until the United States "respects Canada." If the US continues to escalate tariffs, it may trigger further countermeasures from Canada in the fields of automobiles, energy, etc., exacerbating the economic contradictions between the two countries.

III. Domestic political and economic pressures in the United States

1. The policy vacillation of the Trump administration

Trump is accustomed to the "threat-negotiation-withdrawal" model in tariff policy. For example, when announcing a 25% tariff on all imported steel and aluminum on February 10, he emphasized "no exceptions", but eventually adjusted the policy due to Canada's compromise. This repetition is not only to show a tough stance, but also to reserve space for subsequent negotiations.

2. Avoid exacerbating regional conflicts

The three northern states of the United States (New York, Michigan, and Minnesota) are highly dependent on Canadian electricity imports. If the electricity surcharge exists for a long time, it may push up local energy costs and cause voter dissatisfaction.

IV. Potential conflict points in the future

Although the crisis has been temporarily alleviated, the root causes of US-Canada trade frictions have not been eliminated:

1. Trump threatened that if Canada does not cancel other "unfair tariffs", the United States will increase Canadian auto tariffs on April 2.

2. The new Canadian government insists on a tough stance, refuses to become the "51st state" of the United States, and emphasizes sovereignty and independence.

3. The 25% steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the United States on other trading partners will remain in effect, which may trigger a global chain reaction.

The direct reason for the United States to withdraw its additional tariffs on Canada is Canada's compromise on the issue of electricity surcharges, but the deeper factor lies in the high dependence of the economies of both sides and the potential risk of a trade war. The Trump administration has achieved short-term goals through "extreme pressure", but the long-term trade relationship between the United States and Canada is still facing uncertainty, especially the threat of automobile tariffs and the tough stance of the new Canadian government may become the focus of the next round of conflict.

[scentedconnoisseurnut]

Unpredictable! Why did the United States withdraw the additional 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum?

The US decision to withdraw the additional 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum products is the result of a compromise between the US and Canada after the game in the electricity surcharge dispute. Combined with the search results, the reasons behind this policy reversal can be summarized as follows:

I. Ontario, Canada canceled the electricity surcharge, and the US achieved its initial goal

1. Direct trigger: electricity surcharge dispute

On March 10, Ontario, Canada announced that it would impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exported to New York, Michigan and Minnesota in the United States on the grounds of "unfair balance of trade." This move was regarded as an "electricity tariff" by the Trump administration, and it quickly retaliated by imposing additional steel and aluminum tariffs.

On March 11, Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum products, raising the total tax rate to 50%, which is scheduled to take effect on the 12th.

However, after Ontario Governor Ford spoke with US Commerce Secretary Lutnick, Canada agreed to suspend the electricity surcharge, and the US immediately withdrew the additional tariffs.

2. The US strategy of "threatening to compromise"

The US threatened to impose higher tariffs (50%) to force Canada to make concessions on the electricity surcharge. White House spokesman Kush Desai made it clear that the premise for withdrawing tariffs is that Canada cancels the electricity surcharge, and emphasized that the US's 25% steel and aluminum tariffs on other trading partners will still be implemented.

II. The deep game and economic dependence of the US-Canada trade war

1. The importance of steel and aluminum trade to the US and Canada

Canada is the largest source of steel imports for the United States, accounting for nearly a quarter of the total US steel imports. If the high tariff of 50% is maintained for a long time, it will impact the US manufacturing supply chain, especially the automotive industry.

The United States is also significantly dependent on Canadian aluminum, and Canada is the main supplier of primary aluminum metal to the United States.

2. The risk of "tit-for-tat" trade confrontation between the two sides

Canada has previously stated many times that it will impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States. For example, Canada's new leader Mark Carney has made it clear that he will maintain countermeasures against the United States until the United States "respects Canada." If the US continues to escalate tariffs, it may trigger further countermeasures from Canada in the fields of automobiles, energy, etc., exacerbating the economic contradictions between the two countries.

III. Domestic political and economic pressures in the United States

1. The policy vacillation of the Trump administration

Trump is accustomed to the "threat-negotiation-withdrawal" model in tariff policy. For example, when announcing a 25% tariff on all imported steel and aluminum on February 10, he emphasized "no exceptions", but eventually adjusted the policy due to Canada's compromise. This repetition is not only to show a tough stance, but also to reserve space for subsequent negotiations.

2. Avoid exacerbating regional conflicts

The three northern states of the United States (New York, Michigan, and Minnesota) are highly dependent on Canadian electricity imports. If the electricity surcharge exists for a long time, it may push up local energy costs and cause voter dissatisfaction.

IV. Potential conflict points in the future

Although the crisis has been temporarily alleviated, the root causes of US-Canada trade frictions have not been eliminated:

1. Trump threatened that if Canada does not cancel other "unfair tariffs", the United States will increase Canadian auto tariffs on April 2.

2. The new Canadian government insists on a tough stance, refuses to become the "51st state" of the United States, and emphasizes sovereignty and independence.

3. The 25% steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the United States on other trading partners will remain in effect, which may trigger a global chain reaction.

The direct reason for the United States to withdraw its additional tariffs on Canada is Canada's compromise on the issue of electricity surcharges, but the deeper factor lies in the high dependence of the economies of both sides and the potential risk of a trade war. The Trump administration has achieved short-term goals through "extreme pressure", but the long-term trade relationship between the United States and Canada is still facing uncertainty, especially the threat of automobile tariffs and the tough stance of the new Canadian government may become the focus of the next round of conflict.

[transparxxx]

Unpredictable! Why did the United States withdraw the additional 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum?

The US decision to withdraw the additional 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum products is the result of a compromise between the US and Canada after the game in the electricity surcharge dispute. Combined with the search results, the reasons behind this policy reversal can be summarized as follows:

I. Ontario, Canada canceled the electricity surcharge, and the US achieved its initial goal

1. Direct trigger: electricity surcharge dispute

On March 10, Ontario, Canada announced that it would impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exported to New York, Michigan and Minnesota in the United States on the grounds of "unfair balance of trade." This move was regarded as an "electricity tariff" by the Trump administration, and it quickly retaliated by imposing additional steel and aluminum tariffs.

On March 11, Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum products, raising the total tax rate to 50%, which is scheduled to take effect on the 12th.

However, after Ontario Governor Ford spoke with US Commerce Secretary Lutnick, Canada agreed to suspend the electricity surcharge, and the US immediately withdrew the additional tariffs.

2. The US strategy of "threatening to compromise"

The US threatened to impose higher tariffs (50%) to force Canada to make concessions on the electricity surcharge. White House spokesman Kush Desai made it clear that the premise for withdrawing tariffs is that Canada cancels the electricity surcharge, and emphasized that the US's 25% steel and aluminum tariffs on other trading partners will still be implemented.

II. The deep game and economic dependence of the US-Canada trade war

1. The importance of steel and aluminum trade to the US and Canada

Canada is the largest source of steel imports for the United States, accounting for nearly a quarter of the total US steel imports. If the high tariff of 50% is maintained for a long time, it will impact the US manufacturing supply chain, especially the automotive industry.

The United States is also significantly dependent on Canadian aluminum, and Canada is the main supplier of primary aluminum metal to the United States.

2. The risk of "tit-for-tat" trade confrontation between the two sides

Canada has previously stated many times that it will impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States. For example, Canada's new leader Mark Carney has made it clear that he will maintain countermeasures against the United States until the United States "respects Canada." If the US continues to escalate tariffs, it may trigger further countermeasures from Canada in the fields of automobiles, energy, etc., exacerbating the economic contradictions between the two countries.

III. Domestic political and economic pressures in the United States

1. The policy vacillation of the Trump administration

Trump is accustomed to the "threat-negotiation-withdrawal" model in tariff policy. For example, when announcing a 25% tariff on all imported steel and aluminum on February 10, he emphasized "no exceptions", but eventually adjusted the policy due to Canada's compromise. This repetition is not only to show a tough stance, but also to reserve space for subsequent negotiations.

2. Avoid exacerbating regional conflicts

The three northern states of the United States (New York, Michigan, and Minnesota) are highly dependent on Canadian electricity imports. If the electricity surcharge exists for a long time, it may push up local energy costs and cause voter dissatisfaction.

IV. Potential conflict points in the future

Although the crisis has been temporarily alleviated, the root causes of US-Canada trade frictions have not been eliminated:

1. Trump threatened that if Canada does not cancel other "unfair tariffs", the United States will increase Canadian auto tariffs on April 2.

2. The new Canadian government insists on a tough stance, refuses to become the "51st state" of the United States, and emphasizes sovereignty and independence.

3. The 25% steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the United States on other trading partners will remain in effect, which may trigger a global chain reaction.

The direct reason for the United States to withdraw its additional tariffs on Canada is Canada's compromise on the issue of electricity surcharges, but the deeper factor lies in the high dependence of the economies of both sides and the potential risk of a trade war. The Trump administration has achieved short-term goals through "extreme pressure", but the long-term trade relationship between the United States and Canada is still facing uncertainty, especially the threat of automobile tariffs and the tough stance of the new Canadian government may become the focus of the next round of conflict.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

A majority of Canadians would be hesitant to buy U.S. goods in response to the proposed American tariff on products from Canada, according to a new survey. The findings of a recently released Nanos Research survey suggest a tariff on Canadian exports into the U.S. would, for two-thirds of Canadians, negatively impact the likelihood they'd purchase U.S.-made goods.

On Nov. 25, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump said he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico until the two countries clamped down on drugs, particularly fentanyl, and migrants crossing the border.

Continue reading

Tagging: @newsfromstolenland

[newsfromstolenland]

Faced with Donald Trump's tariff threats against Canada, the latter must go “eye for eye, tooth for tooth,” play to its strengths and not put itself in a position of weakness vis-à-vis him, by avoiding responding to every one of his “outlandish” assertions.

At her traditional news conference at the start of the year, FTQ (Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec) president Magali Picard spoke of the fears from her major affiliated unions and their members in the face of the 25 per cent tariff threats issued by the U.S. president-elect.

The United Steelworkers, Unifor and the Teamsters, all major affiliates of the QFL, would be particularly hard hit by these potential U.S. tariffs, since they have a strong presence in mining, metallurgy, timber, forestry and transport.

[...]

The FTQ's position is important because its major affiliates have links with American unions, which could become either allies for jobs or obstacles in this debate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 14, 2025.

Full article / Article en français

Tagging: @allthecanadianpolitics

this is only partially related (hence the small text), but I do think it's wild how many times I've heard people from québec use the phrase "eye for an eye"/"œil pour œil" considering that whenever they hear it in the context of the Qur'an, they can't shut up about how it makes Islam regressive

[saywhat-politics]

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq logged their worst performance since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine slammed into the global economy.

March 31, 2025, 2:25 PM MST

By Steve Kopack

Two of the three major U.S. stock indexes just wrapped up their worst quarter in well over two years. The third barely avoided the same fate.

The S&P 500 dropped more than 4.5% for the first quarter of 2025 as of Monday’s close, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq plummeted 10.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average settled 1.3% lower and recorded its first back-to-back monthly loss since October 2023.

[eugenedebs1920]

Let us not forget what this is truly about. Tax cuts for the rich. A tax structure specifically designed to award over 80% of the tax breaks to the top tax bracket, while slightly raising taxes for those making between $60-$80k. Yet hallelujah those with more money than they could ever spend will increase their disproportionate wealth by tens of millions of dollars a year by not contributing to the wellbeing of the American system. As Republicans have so clearly demonstrated, the only people who deserve wealth, are those who already possess it.

There’s some fun math in this article. Math I guess Republicans either believe we’re too stupid, lazy, or distracted to catch. To pass this “budget” they will raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion. The tax cuts for the rich that trump and his billionaire cabinet so desperately want to renew will cost $4.5 trillion, once again leaving a MASSIVE deficit to pay.

In trumps first term he added nearly $8 TRILLION to the deficit, exponentially more than any other president in American history, and 25% of the OVERALL, meaning all time total, debt accrued.

“Don’t worry Eugene, doge is on it!”

Well, I wouldn’t get too far ahead of ourselves on that.

As of Friday, February 21st, musk and his dougebags found $7.8 billion in waste/fraud. That may sound like a lot, yet in the full scheme of the budget, it isn’t.

There are roughly 365 million American citizens. Trump is touting this notion that with all the “savings” from musk and the dougebags he will give 20% of the findings back to the American taxpayer.

Let’s do some long division. 7.8 billion divided by 365 million comes out to be 21.73. Now take 20% of that and it’s just over $4 per person. Personally I’d take a functional government over $5. Maybe that’s just me though.

The juice ain’t worth the squeeze with this South African billionaire dismantling and infiltrating all corners of our institutions.

Doge is so incompetent that they boasted finding $8 billion dollars in suspected fraud, only to have that redacted due to a calculation error of THREE DECIMAL POINTS!!!

There’s also claims from the foreigner trying to destroy our democracy of hundreds of thousands of social security beneficiaries receiving checks despite being 150 plus years old. As it turns out, if you did a simple google search this is false. The code for the Social Security Administration is tremendously old but efficient. To ensure non duplicate SS numbers plus the cost and chaos it would create to rewrite the code, the current system was decided to be satisfactory seeing its accuracy and functionality.

Let’s recap. To cut taxes for the rich, there will be the largest cut to Medicare and Medicaid since its inception, estimates are at least $800 billion, hopefully nobody’s grandparents need medical care, funding for the most impoverished people on the planet is eliminated, despite it being less than 1% of the budget, the department of education will be defunded or all together dissolved, nutritional assistance to the struggling American will be DRASTICALLY cut, for some reason the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will be annihilated, grants that fund cancer research and other medical breakthroughs will cease, infrastructure projects will come to a halt leaving our roads and bridges in tatters, and millions of career civil servants tasked with everything from ensuring aviation safety, to securing our nuclear arsenal will find themselves without work.

All this so musk, Trump, Thiel, and the 12 other billionaires in trumps cabinet can avoid contributing their fair share to the country they made their fortunes off of.

Trump recently spouted some dumb sh*t, as he often does, while referencing tariffs saying “we were the richest between 1887 to 1920” which, number one, is false, and two, THATS THE PERIOD KNOWN AS THE GUILDED AGE, AN ERA OF IMMENSE WEALTH DISPARITY THAT LED TO THE GOD DAMN GREAT DEPRESSION!!!!!

So what are Republican principles exactly? It’s certainly not law and order, taking into account their almighty leader’s antics and his administrations disdain for the Constitution and the law generally. It’s definitely not family values when you take into consideration all the sexual predators, the infidelity and sexual misconduct. It’s clearly not democracy and freedom with this administration’s stance on Russia removing us from the allies we have been aligned with since WWII, and siding us with Putin and dictatorships around the globe. And as this upcoming “budget” shows us fiscal responsibility is out of the question.

The values the modern Republican Party holds is that of enriching the wealthy by screwing the middle class. They stand for tyranny and oppression. Corruption is a cornerstone to the Republican ideology. Let’s not forget voter suppression. There’s always their tried and “true” platform of blatant lying, their spreading of misinformation and disinformation, so much so that they openly oppose fact checking. Their aversion to the Constitution. Last but not least, their embrace of discrimination.

It sucks that everyone will have to suffer to hopefully enlighten Republican voters on the fact that they care nothing for the working class, that they have zero shame in their hypocrisy and self enrichment. That they only desire power and will engage in any disgraceful tactics to hold on to it. That they hold no reverence to their constituents or to the oath they swear to the Constitution.

May our nation endure this devastating and corrupt period of its existence.

[syn0vial]

A timeline of the Trump Administration's hostile actions and threats of annexation towards Canada

Shared from the Facebook page of Mugsy Margarit, who is keeping an updated timeline on their page here.

-----------

One thing I've learned over the past few weeks, and it's been a bit of a sobering lesson, is that a lot of Americans I know don't actually know what's going on between the US and Canada right now, and just how seriously Canadians are taking this. So, against my better judgement, here's a timeline to explain why we're here, and why we're angry.

Nov 30th, 2018 - The United States, Canada and Mexico finalize a trade agreement. Trump personally negotiates the terms and signs the document, celebrating it as 'the greatest trade agreement in history". (This is important.)

Nov 29th, 2024 - In a face to face meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Trump threatens the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, that he will be imposing 25% tariffs and that if Canada wants to avoid that, it should join the US as a state.

Nov 30th, 2024 - Trump publicly calls our Prime Minister 'Governor Trudeau' and instructs his staff to only address him as Governor going forward. He again suggests Canada should join the USA.

Dec 3rd, 2024 - Trump remarks that he would split Canada into two states once annexed.

Dec 10th, 2024 - Trump posts that the majority of Canadians support annexation, despite public polling that only 13% of Canadians would consider the idea.

Dec 18th, 2024 - Trump again falsely states that the majority of Canadians support annexation and that one of his lapdogs, Wayne Gretzky, should have a leadership role in that new scenario.

Jan 7th, 2025 - At a press conference, Trump says that he would use economic force to destroy the Canadian economy to annex it.

Jan 14, 2025 - Trump again claims that most Canadians want to be American, despite new polls showing only 10% of us are open to the idea.

Jan 20th, 2025 - During his inaugural address, Trump says that the U.S. will 'expand its territory' during his second term.

Jan 23rd, 2025 - At the World Economic Forum, Trump says that Canada can avoid tariffs and economic collapse if it joins the US. He says this in front of representatives from most countries in the world.

Jan 24th, 2025 - During a press conference in North Carolina, President Trump reiterated his position, stating that Canada "will" become a U.S. state. He claims that under American governance, Canadians would benefit from "lower taxes" and "better health care."

Jan 31st, 2025 - Trump announces a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports to begin the next day.

Feb 2nd, 2025 - Trump refers to Canada as its 'Cherished 51st state' and that it should join the US to avoid tariffs.

Feb 3rd, 2025 - A one month delay is agreed upon. Trump, in a conversation with Trudeau states that he doesn't think existing border treaties with Canada are valid, and need to be revised.

Feb 7th, 2025 - In a closed door meeting with his cabinet, Prime Minister Trudeau is recorded, without his knowledge, telling everyone that he believes very strongly that Trump is serious and that he stated his reason for annexation as Canadian resources.

Feb 9th, 2025 - In a Super Bowl pre-game interview, Trump says that he's serious about his threats, calling it a 'viable consideration for expanding US territory'

Feb 10th, 2025 - Trump announces an additional 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada to come into effect March 12th.

Feb 24th, 2025 - Trump publicly remarks that whoever signed the USMCA agreement is an idiot. He was the one that signed it.

March 4th, 5th, and 6th 2025 - Tariffs come into effect. Canada retaliates with it's own tariffs. Tariffs are again postponed until April 1st after a huge market backlash.

March 4th, 2025 - In an address to a joint session of congress, Trump states that the US will own Greenland 'one way or the other'.

March 5th, 2025 - US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick told Canadian finance minister Dominic LeBlanc that Trump "had come to realize that the relationship between the United States and Canada was governed by a slew of agreements and treaties that were easy to abandon."

March 7th, 2025 - Unconfirmed Memorandum and maps leaked on twitter reveal Trump is allegedly planning to annex the entirety of the great lakes and Southern Ontario, home to 13,491,332 Canadians. This amounts to 35.25% of Canada's total population and includes its largest city, Toronto. This region accounts for 38% of the Canadian economy, and its loss would make Canada's independence functionally impossible. *THIS IS STILL NOT OFFICIALLY VERIFIED*

March 7th, 2025 PT II - Trump claims to reporters that he had Canada’s dairy-tariff situation “well taken care of” at the time he left office the first time, “but under Biden, they just kept raising it.” In fact, Canada did not raise its dairy tariffs during the Biden administration.

March 7th, 2025 PT III - Peter Navarro, a senior trade adviser to Trump, says that Canada has been “taken over” by Mexican cartels.

March 8th, 2025 - Canada's foreign minister warns European allies that their government considers Canada to be under existential threat. She emphasized that Canada's current challenges could foreshadow similar threats to other nations, stating, "We are the canary in the coal mine. If the U.S. administration is doing that to Canada, you're next."

March 9th, 2025 - Mark Carney, the new Canadian Prime Minister, in his acceptance speech, states that Trump is seeking to destroy Canada, and its way of life.

March 11, 2025 - President Trump threatens to “permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada” if Canada does not drop a 250% to 390% tariff on U.S. dairy products, which he doesn’t state only kicks in after a certain quantity of tariff-free U.S. dairy enters Canada, a quantity that was originally negotiated and agreed to by Trump during the USMCA in 2018.

In Trump's own words, "The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State. This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear. Canadians’ taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever — And Canada will be a big part of that. The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World — And your brilliant anthem, “O Canada,” will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!"

March 11th, 2025 PT. II - Peter Navarro, a Senior Advisor for Trump is interviewed by MSNBC. When asked about the tariffs he responds with "Just tamp it down, please, over there, ok? They're throwing down the hockey gloves. Stop that rhetoric...we're not going to tolerate anything but them stopping killing Americans", insinuating that this situation was caused by Canadians killing Americans. It's assumed he's referencing fentanyl, but he doesn't specify the reason.

March 11th, 2025 PT III - Trump again publicly muses that Canada, Greenland, and the US should be one country, and questions the validity of the Canadian and American border.

March 11th, 2025 PT IV - Canada sells $3.5 Billion dollars of its US Bonds

March 11th, 2025 PT V - Trump claims in a social media post that Canada is “One of the highest tariffing countries in the world.” He also claims the trade deficit between the two nations is '$200 Billion dollars". Official US statistics show the 2024 deficit with Canada in goods and services trade was $35.7 billion

Despite Trump's claims about Canadian tariffs, Canada is the 102nd-highest nation on a World Bank list of 137 countries’ trade-weighted average tariff rates in 2022 – and had a lower average (1.37%) than the United States (1.49%) that year, the most recent for which the data is available. This means the US tariffs more than Canada, with Canada being one of the most tariff free countries in the world.

March 12th, 2025 - Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc announces tariffs on $29.8B worth of U.S. goods. This includes tariffs on Steel, Aluminum, computers, tools, sporting equipment and cast iron products.

March 12th, 2025 Pt. II - Mark Carney, Canada's incoming prime minister, expresses willingness to meet with Trump to renew economic and security partnerships between the two countries despite the challenges posed by the recent tariffs.

March 12th, 2025 Pt III - Widespread boycotts of American products across Canada and international markets begin making serious impacts on US economy

March 13th, 2025 - Trump claims that “they (Canada) don’t take our agricultural product for the most part”; he mentioned dairy, then said, “A little bit they do, but not much.” This is false even with Trump’s qualifiers. Canada was the world’s second-largest buyer of US agricultural exports in 2024, according to the US Department of Agriculture, purchasing about $28.4 billion worth.

March 13th, 2025 PT II - New polling shows 46% of Canadians are in favor of joining the EU, something that would have been pure fantasy just a few months ago.

March 13th, 2025 PT III - The Group of Seven (G7) ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, along with the EU, meet in La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada for two days of meetings.

March 13th, 2025 PT IV - Alaskan state-level politicians introduce resolutions to oppose Donald Trump’s “restrictive trade measures that would harm the unique Canada-U.S. relationship”

March 13th, 2025 PT V - The Vancouver Sun reports a Canadian woman was arrested by ICE and has been held at the San Luis Detention Center in Arizona since March 3rd with 30 other individuals. Her mother, in an interview: "They are housed together in a single concrete cell with no natural light, fluorescent lights that are never turned off, no mats, no blankets, and limited bathroom facilities."

March 13th, 2025 PT VI - Trump says that he would 'allow Canada to keep their national anthem' -- as a US state.

"As a state, it would be one of the great states. This would be the most incredible country visually. If you look at the map, they do an artificial line right through it between Canada and the US. A straight artificial line. Somebody did it a long time ago. And it makes no sense. It's so perfect as a great and cherished state".

March 13th, 2025 PT VII - Trump's choice for United States ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, says that "Canada is a sovereign state" when asked about Trump's repeated threats to annex Canada and make it a U.S. state.

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To my American friends, I know most of you are amazing and generous people. You didn't ask for this, and I understand that. I hold no ill will towards you, whatsoever. But I must stress, with as much seriousness as I can, the amount of damage this has done.

We have viewed you as our closest friend and ally for a century. We thought of you as brothers and sisters. We answered the call, again and again, for any support you needed from us. Most of Canadians visit the USA so much that we've seen more of the US than we have the rest of Canada.

American products have been taken off our shelves. Canadians are cancelling travel plans to the US. Photo after photo has been shared on social media of empty flights from Canada to the USA.

This isn't a joke to us. We're not overreacting. We don't think he's just saying this shit to cause chaos or negotiate a deal. We wholeheartedly believe that our closest ally and friend is about to bring violence across our border, economically destroy us, and eliminate our way of life.

The main driver for Canada's creation in 1867 was SPECIFICALLY to not be part of America, and to end America's very public threats and plans to annex our territory.

We're angry. We're really, really fucking angry. Open your eyes to what's happening because we're tired of trying to make you understand why and asking you why it seems like none of you care.

I still hope that there is time to repair this. I still believe that this is the result of one man's plan to burn it all down. But time is running out, and fast.

**Note**

The hundreds of positive comments and messages I've received from Americans today have restored my faith in you, and humanity. You do care, and I was wrong in assuming you didn't.

[ladybugmania]

TRUMPS ECONOMIC REVOLUTION

A Warning from the Edge: The Cost of Trump's Industrial Revival and the Rising Specter of American Authoritarianism

In the name of economic patriotism, Donald Trump and his Republican loyalists are orchestrating what they claim is a national revival, a resurgence of American manufacturing, sovereignty, and strength. But beneath the flag-waving and fiery speeches lies a disturbing truth: this isn’t about jobs, freedom, or prosperity. It’s about power, control, and the reengineering of America into something unrecognizable, a dystopia where the working class serves the elite under the illusion of national pride.

The Tariff Illusion: A Manufactured Crisis

Trump’s erratic imposition and removal of tariffs, including a sweeping 10% on imports and 25% on key manufacturing goods like steel, has destabilized the very industries he claimed to protect. Manufacturers are relocating again, not back to America, but to Mexico, Vietnam, and India, all to avoid uncertainty in U.S. policy. Consumer prices are rising. The middle class is shrinking. And all the while, the Republicans praise this chaos as strategy.

What we’re seeing is economic warfare against the very backbone of American society: its working and middle classes. The promise to “Make America Great Again” is proving to be a smokescreen for increasing corporate profits while everyday people pay more and earn less.

The False Promise of Factory Resurgence

Factories will return, they say, but at what cost? Trump’s vision demands not just labor but obedience. It’s a vision where people are herded into factories with minimal pay, stripped of unions, rights, and voices. China reached its industrial status through decades of controlled labor and censorship, and now Republicans want to recreate that model in America, minus even the modest worker protections the Chinese have fought to gain.

Authoritarian Echoes: Speech Suppressed, Dissent Punished

The Republican Party, once the party of Lincoln, has become a mouthpiece for autocracy. They champion “free speech” while silencing journalists, educators, and political opponents. Executive orders under Trump like “Restoring Free Speech” are Orwellian reversals, designed to gag critics and embolden propagandists.

This is no longer a debate about policy, it’s a battle for the soul of the republic.

Parallels to History: A Rebirth of Tyranny

Let us not forget: millions died in World Wars I and II to free Europe from autocrats, fascists, and monarchs. Those wars were fought so people could live without fear of being watched, silenced, or enslaved by the state. But now, in the supposed “Land of the Free,” we watch as Republicans embrace strategies that echo the darkest chapters of the 20th century.

Russia claims democracy while Vladimir Putin runs an autocratic regime of fear, where neighbors betray neighbors and paranoia governs the soul. In North Korea, the people live under absolute state control, no property, no privacy, no choice. These are not abstract warnings; they are modern examples of the very path Trump seems to admire and mimic.

The Cult of the Strongman: Trumpism’s Real Goal

Republicans today are not traditional conservatives. They are loyalists to a man, not a constitution. Trump's movement is a cult of personality, where truth is relative, history is rewritten, and opposition is labeled treasonous. They masquerade as defenders of freedom while actively dismantling its foundations.

This is not accidental. It is strategic.

The Final Warning: Democracy or Dystopia

If Trump and his enablers succeed, America will descend into a hybrid system, a capitalist autocracy where the state serves the ultra-rich, the workers serve the state, and everyone else is silenced. In this new America, you will be told where to work, what to own, and what to think. The veil of Republicanism will remain, but behind it will stand a regime as ruthless as any the world has known.

And here’s the great irony: as these forces erode liberty under the guise of greatness, socialism will rise, not from the left, but as a desperate cry from the people. When the boot comes down hard enough, the people will call not for capitalism, not for Trumpism, but for true democracy. They will rise to reclaim the freedoms they once took for granted.

The Deeper Truth: It's Not About Left or Right Anymore

Let this be clear: this is not about Democrat or Republican, both parties are in desperate need of reform. The terms have become hollow, corrupted by money, power, and ego. What we see today are not the Democrats of Roosevelt or Kennedy, nor the Republicans of Eisenhower or Lincoln.

Many Republicans today use the word "freedom" but do not understand it. They chant “democracy” while embracing leaders who trample it. But democracy isn’t a party. Democracy is a principle, one born in ancient Greece, that power belongs to the people.

And now, more than ever, we must return to that original meaning. Not Republican. Not Democrat. But the people.

The American people must awaken to this truth, because what’s coming is not just political change, it’s a spiritual reckoning.

If we fail to act, if we allow ourselves to be divided and distracted, we will wake up in a country that no longer belongs to us, ruled not by the people, but by tyrants in tailored suits and billionaires in rockets.

The Final Warning: Democracy or Dystopia

If Trump and his enablers succeed, America will descend into a hybrid system, a capitalist autocracy where the state serves the ultra-rich, the workers serve the state, and everyone else is silenced. In this new America, you will be told where to work, what to own, and what to think. The veil of Republicanism will remain, but behind it will stand a regime as ruthless as any the world has known.

And here’s the great irony: as these forces erode liberty under the guise of greatness, socialism will rise, not from the left, but as a desperate cry from the people. When the boot comes down hard enough, the people will call not for capitalism, not for Trumpism, but for true democracy. They will rise to reclaim the freedoms they once took for granted.

So I say this, while you still can speak freely: Wake up. Pay attention. Fight back. Because the America they are building is not a democracy. It is a dictatorship dressed in red, white, and blue.

Now is the time to remember what freedom really means. Before it's only a memory.

Yours Truly

Moth Hawk

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Steven Beschloss at America, America:

Anyone who’s spent time with an abusive narcissist understands the dilemma: If you just go along to get along, you’ll never escape their grip. And if you confront them, they will do anything they can to make your life a living hell—until you get away or they leave forever.

America is trapped right now in this ugly nexus, thanks to millions of Americans who identified with Donald Trump’s anger and hatreds or didn’t comprehend the dangerous choice they were making. But we have a chance to overcome this dark chapter with a clear, fearless opposition. That will require elected officials refusing to work with him and abandoning the idea that collaboration is the only way they can mitigate the damage he will cause or accomplish something themselves. The more they give him, the more he will take. The more they communicate that they accept his dominance and respect his power, the more he will exploit their vulnerability, particularly because he sadistically relishes harming and demeaning others. We saw that dynamic play out yesterday when the president of Colombia initially rejected two military planes carrying deported migrants, demanding that the U.S. create a protocol that treats these people with dignity before they would be repatriated. It was a moment when a significant trading partner and ally reminded all of us what we are fighting for.

“A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity that a human being deserves,” Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said. “That is why I returned the U.S. military planes that were carrying Colombian migrants.” Petro went on to say that his country would receive these citizens only if they are transported “in civilian planes, without being treated like criminals.” The bellicose, over-the-top response from Trump? He would immediately put a 25 percent tariff on Colombia and issue a travel ban revoking the visas of Colombian government officials as well as their allies. “These measures are just the beginning,” Trump threatened in a Truth Social post.

Could Trump have picked up a telephone and had a simple conversation? Of course, he could have and should have. It’s not like there wasn’t an easy solution. Colombia received 475 flights with migrants deported from the U.S. between 2020 and 2024, according to the Associated Press, including 124 in 2024. But the abusive Trump preferred to bully this strategically important ally, which buys billions of dollars in U.S. exports, including corn which is important to U.S. farming states. Reluctant to escalate the unnecessary dispute, Petro’s government subsequently announced that the country would make available their own presidential planes to pick up the migrants and provide them “dignified conditions.” Classic Trump case: Escalate a minor dispute that could have been resolved calmly and simply. Exploit the “crisis” he created to pound his chest and pretend that it demonstrates how powerful he is. “I have directed my Administration to take…urgent and decisive retaliatory measures,” Trump posted.

This extreme reaction concerned less than 200 migrants, but late last night Petro reversed course to avoid a trade war by allowing even military aircraft. And the false Trump response, delivered by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt: “Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again.” Donald Trump doesn’t care about or respect laws. He doesn’t care about or believe in American democratic values and principles like equality, diversity and justice. He rejects free speech and despises the peaceful assembly of those who disagree with him. He is bored by the details of policy and governance, belittles the value of expertise, only wants attention and spectacle, and is determined to surround himself with sycophants who will bow down to him. He doesn’t care about or comprehend the pain he causes other human beings. He is more than ready to use political violence to get what he wants.

He will never make an effort to unify the nation. He will never rely on inspiration, only stoke fear, seek to intimidate and threaten violence. He will never work to gain the trust of the majority. Is this an American president? Are we obliged—are elected Democrats obliged—to treat such a man with respect? This is the person who pardoned over 1,500 convicted felons who attacked the U.S. Capitol; just this weekend he invited the remorseless Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes—freshly released from prison and his 18-year sentence for seditious conspiracy—to appear behind him in a Nevada rally.

Should Democrats find ways to work with Trump or oppose him at every turn? Is there any reason to believe he will do anything to make lives better rather than commit acts to glorify himself and enrich himself and his billionaire cronies by stealing from the wealth created by hard-working Americans? As I see it, going along with even some of Trump’s policies in order to minimize the damage represents collaborating with a man bent on the destruction of American democracy and aiding his effort. I understand the decision of 13 Senate Democrats (many from border states) to sign a letter to Majority Leader John Thune, offering to work with him “in good faith” to craft border security and immigration legislation. But do they really think Trump will ever work with them in good faith, especially as he’s focused on mass deportation, building a wall (again) and demonizing refugees and Democrats?

As the transgressions and degradations and the acts of corruption and criminality mount—and, yes, they already have been at an alarming pace meant to shock the unsuspecting—we should demand that Democratic leaders and anyone who is committed to overcoming this dark chapter in our history refuse to work with this regime. That will become even more important as he is surrounded by dangerously reckless cabinet secretaries and others in leadership positions motivated to carry out his agenda, satisfy his hunger for vengeance and dismantle the very government programs and agencies they have sworn to serve. Soon the deeply unfit Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will likely be joined by the retribution-minded Kash Patel at the FBI, the Putin-supporting Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “running” Health and Human Services.

[...] We have to prove that we will not be drowned, not just to be resilient in the face of hostile forces, but capable of confronting and overcoming them.

In the first week of 47’s reign of terror, he has rapidly slid the country into the toilet.

[realcleverissues]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Launches Nationwide Push for Financial Literacy, WATCH

~~~

SMH

Aside from the tone-deaf nature of someone worth half a billion dollars preaching to struggling families the importance of financial literacy, the deeper issue here is that this guy is preaching bootstraps precisely as his team (trump et al) are f*cking the market and economy. (As of today, 4/22/25, the Nasdaq is down over 15% from the start of the year!) The "personal responsibility" chants of the GOP were always about avoiding the need for "social responsibility" or "governmental responsibility". It's a way of dismissing environmental circumstances and insisting that if you are poor and suffering, it's entirely your fault. But this is next level. While it's true that personal responsibility is *part* of what causes our life outcomes, it is only part. (The tariff nonsense is a good example. So was Covid. One can think of a thousand more that operate on smaller scales as well.) But it's amazing how much the GOP is pushing the bootstraps narrative even while the economy is crashing, clearly beyond our control, and is being caused by this dude and his team. Even further, they're dismantling the systems that help people when we fall on hard times. It's just so blatantly wrong. They're pissing on us and saying it's raining - and that it's our fault we can't farm in it!

Sadly, most of their base (and frankly, most of the country) buys into this personal responsibility and "meritocracy" narrative (by which I mean, ignoring the role of external factors in causing and mitigating such issues), which is precisely how they justify doing whatever they want. If you lose all your money in the stock market bc they crashed it - it's entirely your own fault. If you are bankrupted by a medical emergency - that's also your fault. If you lose your job due to tariffs - that's your fault. And if you can't get back on your feet, esp as social safety nets are gone - that's also your fault. If you die of poverty - yeah, your fault. oh well.

Personal responsibility for all - expect those on top making the decisions that affect everyone else.

p.s. Unsurprisingly, the video I found which is shared above is hosted by the Daily Caller, a rightwing site. No sense of irony from them about this post as the market crashes.

Pps. All that being said, do make sure you're working on your financial literacy (e.g. @bitchesgetriches ) bc we're all gonna be broke due to trump and co.

[tomorrowusa]

Boycotts are spring up in other countries against American products.

Scandinavian countries and Canada are at the forefront of a growing international trend, in which some consumers are shunning US goods because of President Donald Trump's decision to place tariffs on a range of products from all over the world. Several Facebook groups have been set up in recent weeks aimed at organizing boycotts and campaigns. A Swedish group called "Bojkotta varor fran USA" in Swedish, meaning "Boycott goods from the US," had almost 80,000 members at the time of writing. It describes its purpose as to "protect democracy, self-determination and security," and says it hopes boycotts will put pressure on the Trump administration. The use of the American platform Facebook is justified as it is "the best weapon," it added. Several similar Canadian groups have started on Facebook, while a French group called "BOYCOTT USA: Achetez Francais et Europeen!" — BOYCOTT USA: Buy French and European! — has over 20,000 members. There also appears to be support for a similar stance in Germany. A survey by the research group Civey for the business newspaper Handelsblatt found that 64% of Germans would prefer to avoid US products, if possible. A slim majority said Trump's policies are already influencing their choices when shopping.

Apartheid Elon's Tesla has been the most obvious target.

There is limited data available so far to show if such campaigns are having an impact. However, one of the US products with an especially tangible link to the Trump administration is Tesla. The electric car brand is run by Elon Musk, a senior adviser to Trump currently tasked with running the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Canada, which just got a new prime minister, has some public officials encouraging people to buy Canadian instead of US products.

Rising anti-Trump sentiment has seen the Liberal Party, previously run by Trudeau and now by incoming prime minister Mark Carney, stage a dramatic recovery in polls. In early 2025, it trailed the Conservative Party by 25% but a stunning turnaround now sees it leading many polls. That mood is increasingly reflected among consumers. Dylan Lobo runs a website called "Made in CA," which aims to provide an online directory of Canadian-made goods. He told Business Insider magazine that his website had recently seen a major surge in traffic. "There's a lot of patriotism right now in this country," he told the magazine. "There's a huge sense that Canadians want to support other Canadians." Several apps have even emerged, such as Buy Beaver and Maple Scan, that help shoppers identify US products when shopping.

Donald Trump is wrecking the US economy and seriously damaging our reputation abroad.

Republicans on Capitol Hill need to quit lining up to kiss his orange ass and instead impeach that ass brfore we're even more screwed.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Wednesday he still hopes Canada can avoid United States tariffs, but the country will have to respond strongly if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on a threat to slap a 25 per cent charge on Canadian goods. “If tariffs get applied, Canada’s response has to be noticed. We can’t be a punching bag,” Kinew told reporters. “And we have to get our elbows up and let other folks know that we’re in the ring there too.”

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Tagging: @newsfromstolenland