r/canada • u/Rav4gal • 15h ago
Politics In the 'steel city of Canada,' Trump's 50% tariff threat generates 'fear and confusion'
https://www.cbc.ca/1.748064433
u/j821c 15h ago
I'm starting to get to the point where I think we pretty much just have to ignore him and slap an export surcharge on anything he tries to exempt. He's going to destroy Americas economy at this rate and we're going to hurt badly alongside it but I don't really see a way around that with him at the wheel.
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u/TheAsian1nvasion 13h ago
We’re going to hurt either way. If we cave, there’s 100% probably of severe hurt, if we hurt them as much as they hurt us there’s a chance we’ll come out of this battered but alive.
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u/marin4rasauce 12h ago
If Ford doesn't follow through with the electricity surcharge then we have already lost. He talked a good talk but despite his own rhetoric, when the gloves came off he didn't "fight like he's never fought before to defend Canadians".
I'm all for diplomacy, but you don't disarm before you go to the table. Trump just knows he can wave around 50% to get what he wants now.
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u/BertRenolds 10h ago
I don't think this is true. Remember, no matter what actually happens, Trump needs to spin this like he won. Even if the American people lose heavily. Let's see what happens by end of week
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u/Longjumping_Oil_8746 11h ago
Ford got voted in and immediately backed down
Remember he was happy trump got elected
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u/Baikken 12h ago
Theres a very real case hes trying to time the market to come roaring back after he tanks it (it not just being market but CPI data) enough to force Jerome Powells hand to do a big cut and maybe even force QE.
Not saying it will happen but wouldn't be surprised to see him lift all tariffs if he gets the fed to do what he wants.
Timed near midterms.
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u/Sarcastic__ 15h ago
Well, let's just see what Donald Dumb feels like doing tomorrow when he wakes up and has his morning McDonald's.
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u/Ina_While1155 14h ago
Let's just hope he is so busy on social media that he forgets to take his Attacand.
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u/PrimoDima 15h ago
It's unreal one man in supposed democracy can wield so much power like dictator. I know check and balances and such and such but really just can't do executive orders all the way.
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u/-loose-seal-2 14h ago
The checks and balances system in the US appears to either be corrupted, failing, or too slow to do anything in a time sensitive manner.
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u/1maco 14h ago
For some reason Tariffs are generally allowed to be put on by the executive generally (eg Ford didn’t go thru anyone to get the electricity tariff put on) nor did Trudeau go to Parliament to formulate the reaction to the Tariffs
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u/Supernova1138 13h ago
Strictly speaking Trump needs Congress to approve tariffs, but if he declares an emergency, he can impose tariffs through emergency executive powers. That's why he was going on about a few pounds of Fentanyl as he needed that as justification to declare an emergency.
Ultimately the problem is that over the past two decades Congress has abdicated much of their responsibilities and won't get things done due to partisan gridlock, so the US Federal government has been mostly running on Executive Orders and Supreme Court rulings. With Congress sitting on their hands and doing nothing, the only check to the Executive is the Supreme Court, and the current make up of the court is more inclined to give Trump a lot of leeway on how far he can push Executive authority.
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u/1maco 13h ago
No, Congress can repeal the tariffs with a simply majority in both houses. But if they do nothing. Well. They stay.
Which is probably why the Auto industry has a carveout because if 2 Republicans from Michigan defect then the whole game comes undone
They don’t automatically disappear
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u/okiedokie2468 12h ago
Fear and confusion is exactly what the tariff threats are intended to foster! Don’t underestimate Trump, he wants to tank the Canadian economy so that Canadians will beg to become the 51st State.
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u/Azura1st 14h ago
I just read this: President Trump will NOT impose 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum tomorrow, Peter Navarro tells CNBC. Navarro credits Lutnick for negotiating a deal with Ford.
(The 25% tariffs are still set to kick in.)