Trump, Tariffs, Trade, What is happening to our World?

[@viktorlarsson5193]

Hello, Scandinavian here. In the 18th century, the Swedish parliament decided to reduce the import of goods that the country could produce itself. But above all stop the import of luxury goods, such as; Chinese tea, porcelain, tobacco from America and silk fabrics, etc. Through prohibition and high tariffs, where only a few companies got a monopoly on that trade mainly: the East India copany. The law around this monopoly was called the "oktrojen" and was incredibly profitable for those directly involved in the company, but turned out to be a big tax sinkhole. A mercantile project that made Sweden poorer but a few merchant families super rich. Protectionism was not the way to go 250 years ago and is even less so today.

[@TwoSeniors]

@@viktorlarsson5193 thanks for your comments. It’s always interesting to gain different points of views from different countries. It really does seem that history shows a pattern that Protectionism is not the way to go. I never knew about it until I started doing some research. Cheers, thanks for the info.

[@martinrodgers6114]

Canada should search elsewhere for markets. There is no reason we cannot sell our products to Europe, Asia , and South and Central America. America is not vital to our existence. Excellent talk.

[@TwoSeniors]

We do sell to China, the UK, Japan and Mexico. It makes sense to sell to the US, us to them, them to us, since we are so close. We’ve always been close neighbours, had great trade relations. Canada and the US have one of the longest undefended borders. That is in part because we like one another…lol…

[@AndrewInTO]

Unfortunately, Canada's current government has spent the last 9 years doing EVERYTHING in its power to suppress innovation, industry, and especially development and exploitation of our natural resources in a hopeless quest for "net zero". Canada COULD have been among the richest and most prosperous countries on the planet. If we'd had the political will and inter-provincial relationships (instead of inter-provincial enmity), we could've had a fund generated from oil & gas revenue to rival that of Norway's. Quebec, all on its own, with its natural resources, could've been an economic super-power. Instead, their laziness, reliance on transfer payments and obsessions with socialism and a dead language have driven ALL investment and money to other regions. As a result, Canada's GDP per capita has been stagnant and today, is in the same place it was nearly a decade ago while other countries have passed us by. If we don't course correct soon, at some point in the future we'll be so poor that we'll have NO CHOICE but to join the US as a 51st state... either that, or become a vassal state of China or Russia.

[@kkemp221]

All trump achieves with his 'based on nothing rhetoric' is anger and hostility. Countries taking measurements against the USA. Europe for example. Is a big market to loose. Yet trump is on a collision course. Threatning with militairy force to get greenland, threatning with higher tariffs on european products which makes the american people pay the price btw and so on. He is isolating the USA

[@lawrencejeffrey9245]

It was too easy to trade with the guy just over the fence. We thought that the free trade agreement, NAFTA of the 90s made us "safe" from this assault. We thought that NAFTA 2.0, USMCA would put this to bed. We did not know this clown would get re elected. You are right. No excuses. Time to smarten up.

[@happycamper848]

@@TwoSeniors After Trumps attack on Canada we have no choice about trading elsewhere. So we shall, sooner the better. There is no more sense to trade with the USA. It WILL have initial pain, but that is coming anyway. Once done, we will be better off. Besides the protection of unstable lunatics to the south we never need fear them again.

[@Gryphon-v4n]

You even have a pen made in the USA in your hand.

[@TwoSeniors]

@@Gryphon-v4n ha ha ha ha… so I do, did…lol… It was from Walt Disney resort. So now, do we really know that it was made in the US… Anyway, whether it was or not, I bought it on my visit. It’s hard to understand how all this trade, no trade etc will pan out. I work part time for an American company here in my province. Will there be tariffs on the product sent? Will I lose my job? Just not sure how all this will pan out. I also purchase wool from a company in California. In a way, we (I) could feel helpless. We have to wait and let our governments work all this out. I’ll have to get my American cousins buy items for me and I’ll confiscate them on my visits…lol… but then, we have the border controls. So, now win… basically, I don’t think it will be all that bad but we’ll see.

[@Jeanny346]

I agree with you! But rump is not interested in helping any one but his self!

[@TwoSeniors]

Thanks. I was hoping my comments helped people realize that he’s trying or implementing an old trade idea that didn’t work in the 1800’s so it might now work now. However, in the short term it may.

[@susanwerner9961]

Well said, Sue. The US has many social problems right now and many pending economic problems stemming from an emerging oligarchy. However, Trumps strategy is to tell US citizens all our problems stem from "over there" and "those people". Half the country believes him because they want a savior abd are uneducated. My Grandmother was a Canadian citizen, left to marry my Grandfather in Detroit. I wish she had never left. I may never have been born, but being an American is hard these days.

[@TwoSeniors]

I appreciate your comments, very accurate. In Canada, we are thinking of you all in America. Feel for you and pray for good outcomes. I have the opposite family history of you… my ancestors arrived in Philadelphia, lived in New Jersey for a long time and eventually migrated to Canada. A task much easier to do back then than now. I’m a 6th generation Canadian. I think with the things that are happening our Canadians are gradually becoming even more patriotic than before. There could be some blessings to all of this. Our attitudes and abilities to adjust will help. Trusting for good things, Cheers!

[@gordonbgraham]

Working class people can't afford a home...or even rent in Canada. Be careful what you wish for.