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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[–] BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 20 points 5 days ago (9 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 ....

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[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 47 points 6 days ago (11 children)

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

[–] CuffsOffWilly@lemmy.ml 13 points 6 days 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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[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 16 points 6 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] bstix@feddit.dk 24 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days 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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[–] sircac@lemmy.world 30 points 6 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 19 points 6 days 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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[–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 26 points 6 days 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 6 days ago (1 children)

There's no basis for tariffs on Mexico either.

[–] bennieandthez@lemmygrad.ml 13 points 6 days 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.

[–] ksynwa@lemmygrad.ml 12 points 6 days ago (3 children)

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

[–] Binette@lemmy.ml 8 points 6 days ago

All I know is that Quebec would never allow that

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Just. You know....

become a state.

[–] Resol@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

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

[–] SneakyWeasel@lemmy.ca 11 points 6 days ago

How about trump can suck my left nut. There, I said it.

[–] booganiganie@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

If'n he can point to it on a map

[–] PanArab@lemmy.ml 11 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (4 children)

Canada’s economy is dependent on the US. Trump might actually pull this off.

Edit: More context since people are downvoting. Consider the following now picture yourself one of the greedy capitalists in Canada, which is a preferred outcome? Losing your wealth or losing Canadian sovereignty?

Just because I think it is likely doesn’t mean that I think it’s right. This is clearly wrong.

[–] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 22 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Canada is also America's largest trading partner.

America had $357 billion dollars worth of imports from Canada in 2023, if they introduce a 25% tarriff Americans will pay $446 billion instead because it's not like you'll get all that stuff anywhere else for cheaper since America is going to put tariffs on practically every other country they trade with apparently.

Corporations spend billions on the current infrastructure and trade routes and logistics, they will not uproot everything and go through the pains of firing everyone then moving to America and retraining because of a short term loss. American administrations are fickle, many of them will simply wait out the 4 years hoping it will return to normal then. If it doesn't then maybe they might consider it then but for the next 4 years Americans are going to be paying a shitload more for anything that's not made in America.

American businesses will also find it a lot more difficult to sell their products out of the country when those countries retaliate with tarriffs against them.

[–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 12 points 6 days ago

Canada's oligarchs like the fact that only Israel and US is allowed to compete with them, and elections are cheaper to buy. A single state makes them lose power. Population understands only negatives from US, and also would not vote for Trump.

Unfortunately for Canadians, they are still programmed to side with US over China and Russia, and that programming makes it a blasphemy to seek independence that would also protect them from the US. As long as Canada's position is to beg to restore its fully subservient colonial status, then the Trump extortion will continue.

One goal that Musk would have behind this is that it can destroy the big 3 automakers.

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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.

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