this post was submitted on 24 Jan 2025
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/24657192

Summary

In a virtual speech at the World Economic Forum, Trump suggested Canada could become a U.S. state to avoid his proposed tariffs on imports.

The remark elicited gasps from the audience.

Trump claimed the U.S. does not need Canadian lumber, energy, or vehicles, vastly overstating the trade deficit between the two nations.

He reiterated his intention to impose tariffs, potentially as high as 25%, on imports from Canada and Mexico starting February 1.

Economists warn such tariffs would raise prices for U.S. consumers.

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[–] Sunsofold@lemmings.world 1 points 14 minutes ago

I want to see Canada put out an open offer for immediate welcome, territoriship, and instant citizenship for any state along the border that votes to join Canada.

[–] BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 15 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Canada is avoiding Trump's tariffs by not becoming a state.

They are not paying the tariffs, american people do. So by joining the US they would start paying all the tariffs that Trump is putting on China's products, European products ....

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world -3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Why do people think that happens? It does not happen. 90% of the tariffs will be absorbed by Canadian companies trying to keep up sales to the US because there's nowhere else to go, and even if they sell elsewhere, it'll be discounted that much to other countries because of the general laws of supply and demand.

The only way, and it's one that we have nothing in place to effect, is to mark prices as of the tariff date and to enact an export tariff for the amount of the sale under the price set point. That would highly discourage discounting sales and pretty much just cut them off since, in the case of products made or produced in the US, it would be competing with local products at 125% of the local price.

[–] Ithral@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

The importer, not the exporter pays tariffs. Aka Canada pays nothing, things made in Canada have an extra tax attached to them when they cross the boarder into the us, paid by Walmart or whomever ordered the goods

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Yes, but in the real world, while the importer pays the tariff, they've taken a discount on cost from their supplier in order to compete with local goods that aren't tariffed. That's why no country wants tariffs applied to their imports. Its almost like governments understand how this works.

[–] dgmib@lemmy.world 0 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Ummm no.

In the real world consumers ultimately end up paying the tariffs.

Domestic suppliers have a tendency to raise prices is response to increased demand and decrease competition from imports.

When Trump implemented a tariff on Washing Machines in 2018 during his first term. The price of imported washing machines went up, the price of domestic washing machines went up, the price of dryers… which weren’t tariffed went up.

Eventually it did led to more washing machines and dryers being manufactured domestically. Which did lead to a small increase manufacturing in jobs. But it was a net loss for the consumers.

Tariffs function as a flat tax on goods. Like all flat taxes this benefits the wealthy and hurts poor and the working class.

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 0 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

Well, when it's been in place and the Canadian economy is in free fall, you can come here and tell me how wrong I and all the governments were about how this works. I'm sure it'll go totally different than the softwood lumber tariffs that shut down the forestry industry in BC for a decade.

Here's the Canadian forest industry take on tariffs. Mostly borne by Canadian producers:

https://forestresources.org/2024/12/19/a-discussion-around-tariffs-on-cdn-lumber/

[–] inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

I mean honestly, he's just a giant douche canoe that accurately reflects the level of intelligence and emotional maturity that the most of his fucking deplorable Nazi base is. There's nothing he's here said that isn't what his moronic base says on a daily basis and is more or less a accurate representation of America and Americans by large.

America is a nation of idiots.

[–] Resol@lemmy.world 4 points 18 hours ago

Canada is already a state... a SOVEREIGN state.

[–] booganiganie@lemmy.world 4 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

If'n he can point to it on a map

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 0 points 11 hours ago

Oh, boy, what you've got going on looks like so much fun, how could we want to miss out?

[–] sircac@lemmy.world 28 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Why people keep listening to what that being says? Just respond to his actions, anthing else is useless...

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I somewhat agree with your point but after years of him saying he would do fucked up shit and then him doing a lot of it, it helps to be prepared for his intentions as they manifest into actions in many cases.

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[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 45 points 1 day ago (11 children)

Us citizens pay tariff this doesn't hurt Canadians. They should call bluff and say do 30%.

[–] CuffsOffWilly@lemmy.ml 12 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

Actually tariffs will hurt Canadians deeply. Why? Because it means that Americans will lean towards not buying products made in (or partially made in) Canada. Plus, Canada would certainly reciprocate meaning the price of everything is going to go up in Canada. It's not a good situation and our government needed to be spending the past 10 - 20 years developing stronger trade relations with other countries but instead we amplified our relationship with what is clearly a very unreliable and untrustworthy neighbour.

[–] unphazed@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago

They're already gonna hurt cause homes aren't gonna make themselves, and we're deporting our construction crews...

[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 3 points 20 hours ago

Basically sums up how half America feels about its country.

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It potentially reduces exports from Canada to the US, hurting our economy. Nobody wins

[–] bstix@feddit.dk 21 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Canada imports more from USA than it exports to USA. A trade war that decreases exports would hurt USA more than Canada.

The largest exports from USA to Canada are cars and trucks. (Finished products) The largest exports from Canada to USA are minerals, fuels and pulp. (Raw material)

This puts USA at a disadvantage in a tariff game, because it's a lot easier for Canada to replace American cars with Asian or European cars, than it is for USA to replace the variety of ressources that Canada provides

It's also a lot easier for Canada to find other customers for raw materials than it is to sell American cars on other continents.

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[–] HiddenLayer555@lemmy.ml 87 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (5 children)

As a Canadian, fuck you Trump. Canada will never be a US state. Not sorry.

[–] P00ptart@lemmy.world 43 points 1 day ago (6 children)

If it goes down I'm just gonna scoot up north and fight on your side for Canadian citizenship.

[–] mjhelto@lemm.ee 24 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's a really good idea! I'm about 5-8 hours from the Canadian boarder but I will not fight for a fascist country. I'll either join the other side or join a resistance here.

[–] P00ptart@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago (4 children)

I'm about 4 hrs from the border but could easily make that shorter in an emergency! Combat veteran as well.

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[–] briongloid@aussie.zone 29 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The amount of Americans visiting Australia who assume people here would want to live in America instead given the option was astounding to me.

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Just. You know....

become a state.

[–] ToadOfHypnosis@lemmy.ml 75 points 2 days ago (17 children)

Trump seems to have the goal of destroying the US from all I can tell. Our economy and power are so dependent on our connections to the rest of the world and he is burning them all down. The US dollar gets replaced as the fiat currency we are wholly fucked and this dumb shit is how that happens.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 20 points 1 day ago
[–] Hafler@lemm.ee 47 points 1 day ago (6 children)

Somehow, even with conservatives owning all the branches of government, it will be the Dem's fault.

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[–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 26 points 1 day ago (1 children)

There is no actual fentanyl or immigration basis for tariffs on Canada. Just submit to less representation than California, and help absorb large US debt with little in return for it.

[–] Grapho@lemmy.ml 17 points 1 day ago (1 children)

There's no basis for tariffs on Mexico either.

[–] bennieandthez@lemmygrad.ml 13 points 1 day ago

Really there is no basis for any tariffs, the richest nation in the world putting tariffs on other nations products because they can't keep up is embarrassing.

[–] coolusername@lemmy.ml 41 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (17 children)

rip you guys are gonna get couped
imperialism is manifesting itself in the imperial core

[–] Ram_The_Manparts@hexbear.net 29 points 1 day ago (4 children)

imperialism is manifesting itself in the imperial core

Sounds familiar

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[–] davel@lemmy.ml 48 points 2 days ago

Trump is going to speedrun all our ~~vassals~~ allies into joining BRICS, and I’m here for it.

[–] ksynwa@lemmygrad.ml 12 points 1 day ago (3 children)

What about the provinces within Canada? Are they gonna all merge to become one US megastate?

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[–] Enkers@sh.itjust.works 32 points 2 days ago

Dear Trump:

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