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Donald Trump tells Canada to become a state to avoid his tariffs (www.huffpost.com)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml
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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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[–] 47 points 2 years ago (15 children)

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

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  • [–] 16 points 2 years ago (2 children)

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

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  • [–] 24 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    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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  • [–] 13 points 2 years 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.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    Canada will absorb most of the extra cost if we want to sell product to the US.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Will it though. Seems like Mexico will build the wall talk.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Honestly, the only way to keep that cost in the US is to mandate that anyone selling across border has a price set as of the day of the tariffs. If they sell under that price, they get export tariffed for the difference. Then at least there's a chance that the tariff burden will be passed on to the US consumers and maybe they'll do something.

    But we don't have anything in place to make something like that happen at this point, and even if we did, I doubt we have the political will to shelter Canadians that way. Sure as fuck Polievre won't do any such thing.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    My understanding is that tariffs in general can apply to both imports and exports, on either side.

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  • [–] 10 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Well according to wiki you are right. I was on ever taught tax on imports in school. Taxing exports only works of there is one possible vendor and if there is not then the competition will just has to charge slightly less while expanding production.

    Imagine if China , EU, and or japan be like here is 10% discount. Or better yet Trade alliance among countries who Trump charges on exports would be hillarious.

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