Trump tariffs terrifying
HodgePodge by Charlie Hodge
Why am I feeling so scared, yet feeling like this is déjà vu all over again?
Oh, wait a minute, that’s because I (we) have been here before.
Several times over the past seven years I’ve penned columns concerning the dangers of having a madman man like Donald Trump running the top office in the United States of America. I implored people, especially American readers, to stop the absurdity of supporting the very dangerous psychotic man.
A few years back after Trump’s first win I wrote, “I’ve taken part or listened to a number of debates and conversations about the scenario, mainly the shock of what most people in Canada and many American media outlets predicted was going to be a Harris Democrat victory. The majority firmly expected that for the first time a coloured woman would be President of the United States.
“Tragically that was too big a step ‘forward’ for many U.S. voters who had a problem with coloured or woman in power. They rallied for Donald. Some suggest too many Harris supporters never got out to vote convinced the win was in the bag.
It’s the future that scares me now.”
Flash forward.
I thought perhaps the nightmare was over when Joe Biden took on the role of President the following term. However, we all know the history. Like many when Trump entered the 2024 campaign, I did not think it would amount to much – anticipating that since he was facing so many legal charges, he had a better chance at spending time telling lies in a prison cell rather than the White House. Surely after all the insane things he did and said including leading and inciting riots he would not be able to run.
But I (we) was wrong.
After his 2024 win I suggested, “I suppose we should not be surprised but I am. I did not think the American voter could be so blind or misguided – to return Trump back to power.
“Following the results of the U.S. election last week I realize I was naively wrong and admit to being tragically shocked. Numb or stupefied are good terms for the overwhelming sense of sorrow I feel in trying to comprehend what has happened – and what will now come to fruition as the reality of this election unfolds.
“Trump is a very angry man with a tremendous amount of power and no one to stop him. I am terrified with what his naughty and nice list will look like over the next two months. We have a world to be afraid for. The worst is yet to come.”
And indeed, I believe it is.
The world is edging closer and closer to total chaos and melt down.
Our former best friend, ally and trade partner has vaporized under the direction and leadership of a nutso-kokoo director of operations. Trump’s illogical massive tariff threats are literally causing havoc on multiple fronts: economically, socially and mentally.
Mexico and Canada are two of the U.S top three trade partners. Last year, the Yankees imported $418 billion from Canada and $475 billion worth of goods from Mexico-collectively accounting for 30% of the value of all the goods the US exported last year, according to federal trade data.
Yet Trump’s own plan will blow up in his financial face. The US exported $354 billion worth of goods to Canada last year and $322 billion to Mexico, accounting for a third of the value of all goods the US exported last year. So where’s the logic in that?
The tariffs, if enacted, “would create a self-inflicted wound on America’s own economy,” said Judge Glock, director of research and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank said last week.
Trump continues to flip flop around with his threats and the numbers attached so this may be outdated by the time readers get this, however at the time of writing the president’s hitting Canada and Mexico with 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs, with a lower 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy.
Stock markets in Canada and the U.S. fell at the start of trading last Tuesday after the U.S. confirmed tariffs were coming.
The S&P/TSX composite index was down 386.72 points at 24,614.85 in early trading.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 409.58 points at 42,781.66. The S&P 500 index was down 40.78 points at 5,808.94, while the Nasdaq composite was down 95.81 points at 18,254.38.
In his farewell retirement speech in Ottawa last week former Prime Minister Trudeau fired the last shot at Trump’s tariff saying imposing the tariffs was, “a very dumb thing to do.” Like Trudeau or not it was infuriating hearing Trump refer to our Premier as a Governor and Canada as their new State.
Trudeau also announced introducing 25 per cent retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion worth of American products and Canada will expand them to cover another $125 billion in U.S. goods in 21 days. In addition, Canada will file claims with the World Trade Organization and through the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Agreement to push back on the U.S. tariffs.
Trudeau said Trump clearly plans to use the tariffs to crush the Canadian economy and annex Canada. The prime minister said that Canada is ready to fight and win.
That’s the rough, tough, brash Trudeau many Canadians elected years ago. I’m only sorry it took this long for him to wake up.
Thankfully other political leaders in Canada are standing up and calling b.s. on Trump’s plans, such as freewheeling, hard shooting Ontario Premier Doug Ford who suggested he would consider a shut down of electricity exports to the U.S.
Without question Trump’s bullying, arrogant and plain stupid decision making has made Canada that much stronger in several ways.
Certainly, as a nation Trumps insults and bullying of our leaders (and ourselves as people and a nation) have done more to stimulate camaraderie, nationalism, and stalwart loyalty than all our Olympic hockey team victories combined. Canadians around the country are outraged and not prepared to knuckle under to Trump’s shenanigans.
We might not start fights, but we certainly won’t be walked on or taken advantage. We don’t say ‘thankyou’ or ‘sorry’ to bullies or liars.
