[Northern Light]

The Atlantic has a piece out looking at the impact of the Canada-US trade war in parts of the U.S.

Here Are the Places Where the Recession Has Already Begun

Towns near the Canadian border are suffering.

www.theatlantic.com

I'll encourage people to follow the link for the full discussion, but extract 3 paragraphs that discuss one dairy farmer in New York State whose seeming unawareness of how tariffs work baffles me.

I feel sorry for the man.......that he might lose his farm...........but......how did he not know?

I can't explain the vulnerability of so many to propaganda/bad information.

To be clear, this isn't a problem unique to Trump or the political right-wing, but that's certainly its most conspicuous exemplar as of late, and on a scale that I don't think we've really seen in 'the west' in some time.

 

[PinkLucy]

The Atlantic has a piece out looking at the impact of the Canada-US trade war in parts of the U.S.

Here Are the Places Where the Recession Has Already Begun

Towns near the Canadian border are suffering.

www.theatlantic.com

I'll encourage people to follow the link for the full discussion, but extract 3 paragraphs that discuss one dairy farmer in New York State whose seeming unawareness of how tariffs work baffles me.
View attachment 644448
I feel sorry for the man.......that he might lose his farm...........but......how did he not know?
I can't explain the vulnerability of so many to propaganda/bad information.
To be clear, this isn't a problem unique to Trump or the political right-wing, but that's certainly its most conspicuous exemplar as of late, and on a scale that I don't think we've really seen in 'the west' in some time.

He didn’t know because he only watches Fox and they didn’t tell him that’s how it works.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

Nothing that Trump does is ever really thought through. He only reacts because he's a reactionary...he can't see and is incapable of seeing beyond that. And makes policies accordingly...even at the detriment of his biggest supporters and to the country he supposedly loves...

...as for everyone else, it's pretty horrifying all around. And to put that mildly. /bleh

 

[lenaitch]

The Atlantic has a piece out looking at the impact of the Canada-US trade war in parts of the U.S.

Here Are the Places Where the Recession Has Already Begun

Towns near the Canadian border are suffering.

www.theatlantic.com

I'll encourage people to follow the link for the full discussion, but extract 3 paragraphs that discuss one dairy farmer in New York State whose seeming unawareness of how tariffs work baffles me.

View attachment 644448

I feel sorry for the man.......that he might lose his farm...........but......how did he not know?

I can't explain the vulnerability of so many to propaganda/bad information.

To be clear, this isn't a problem unique to Trump or the political right-wing, but that's certainly its most conspicuous exemplar as of late, and on a scale that I don't think we've really seen in 'the west' in some time.

So do I, but 1400 head is not a small mom-and-pop operation. One would think someone with a business of that size would have a better grasp of fiscal matters.

 

[Richard White]

The Atlantic has a piece out looking at the impact of the Canada-US trade war in parts of the U.S.

Here Are the Places Where the Recession Has Already Begun

Towns near the Canadian border are suffering.

www.theatlantic.com

I'll encourage people to follow the link for the full discussion, but extract 3 paragraphs that discuss one dairy farmer in New York State whose seeming unawareness of how tariffs work baffles me.

View attachment 644448

I feel sorry for the man.......that he might lose his farm...........but......how did he not know?

I can't explain the vulnerability of so many to propaganda/bad information.

To be clear, this isn't a problem unique to Trump or the political right-wing, but that's certainly its most conspicuous exemplar as of late, and on a scale that I don't think we've really seen in 'the west' in some time.

It boggles my mind how "special" Americans are at times. Maybe it is a failure of the US education system, perhaps people are drinking the Kool-Aid.

In any case, this really highlights how misinformed Americans are and how badly this will end for Trump. Once Americans start seeing inflation skyrocket and their economy tank because of the Tariffs you will start to see more Americans questioning Trump.

You are already starting to see it as noted on CNN here: https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/politics/town-halls-congress-tempers-flare/index.html

Any normal person would understand that tariffs are a tax paid on goods coming into the country. No other country would pay for the privilege of doing business with the US, they are simply going to tell them to stuff it.

With the Midterms coming up next year, if this starts to go sideways I can see the GOP saving themselves and the ones that stick with Trump getting tossed.

 

[wopchop]

Any normal person would understand that tariffs are a tax paid on goods coming into the country. No other country would pay for the privilege of doing business with the US, they are simply going to tell them to stuff it.

This is not true. The USA is the biggest consumer market in the world, so many companies are very eager to sell products there. Even with tariffs, what happened during his first presidency is happening again, where importers are working on splitting tariff costs with suppliers. However, if the tariffs are huge (i.e over 10% IMO), then this is much more difficult for suppliers to accept as it destroys their margins.

 

[Richard White]

This is not true. The USA is the biggest consumer market in the world, so many companies are very eager to sell products there. Even with tariffs, what happened during his first presidency is happening again, where importers are working on splitting tariff costs with suppliers. However, if the tariffs are huge (i.e over 10% IMO), then this is much more difficult for suppliers to accept as it destroys their margins.

Fair.

The point I was attempting to make is that exporters are not going to eat the cost of the tariffs just to keep up their sales. At some point, the costs begin to accumulate to the point where it is no longer a viable option.

 

[wopchop]

The point I was attempting to make is that exporters are not going to eat the cost of the tariffs just to keep up their sales. At some point, the costs begin to accumulate to the point where it is no longer a viable option.

Yes, exactly what I said. At that point you either get increased cost of goods in the USA, or they stop buying.
The problem is that for many export companies there is no viable replacement for the US market. That means business contraction or failures and perhaps recessions in those export reliant countries.

 

[Richard White]

The problem is that for many export companies there is no viable replacement for the US market. That means business failures and perhaps recessions in those export reliant countries.

Agreed.

Hopefully this is a wake up call for countries. People need to realize that the US is highly unpredictable and not a reliable trading partner anymore like it was in the 70s and 80s.

You may see a shift to other, more reliable trading partners like the EU or Asia.

 

[PinkLucy]

With postal service suspended, those who rely on things like Temu and Shien are likely to be miffed. Amazon imports may also be impacted: https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/15/business/hong-kong-suspends-postal-service-to-us-intl-hnk/index.html

 

[Northern Light]

@Admiral Beez will be particularly intrigued by this:

Credit: Bloomberg

The Financial Post has a non-paywalled story with further details:

Canada eyes more ways to ship oil to China as U.S. threatens trade

The success of the Trans Mountain expansion is stoking Canada’s desire to further decouple from its unpredictable neighbour. Keep reading.

financialpost.com

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Ocean cruises departing from Halifax avoiding America are experiencing growth, and Halifax is becoming a popular departure point for cruises that focus on European and other destinations. The Port of Halifax is a growing cruise destination, and the number of itineraries that avoid the US is increasing

 

[Admiral Beez]

Ice deports Venezuelan teen despite reportedly knowing he was not a target

Merwil Gutiérrez sent from New York to El Salvador prison although family says he has no criminal history or gang ties

www.theguardian.com

If this keeps happening we’re going to have to harden the Canadian boarder, or accept a horde of undocumented refugees from Trump’s America.

 

[PL1]

Ice deports Venezuelan teen despite reportedly knowing he was not a target

Merwil Gutiérrez sent from New York to El Salvador prison although family says he has no criminal history or gang ties

www.theguardian.com

If this keeps happening we’re going to have to harden the Canadian boarder, or accept a horde of undocumented refugees from Trump’s America.

I vote for accepting refugees

 

[Admiral Beez]

I vote for accepting refugees

There is merit to that, as we need skilled construction workers and tradespeople, and young adults. Though I expect many would get their Canadian passports and then return to the USA in a now less deportable state, where their roots are.