this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2025
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Donald Trump just imposed a 25 percent tariff on virtually all goods produced by America’s two largest trading partners — Canada and Mexico. He simultaneously established a 20 percent across-the-board tariff on Chinese goods.

As a result, America’s average tariff level is now higher than at any time since the 1940s.

Meanwhile, China and Canada immediately retaliated against Trump’s duties, with the former imposing a 15 percent tariff on American agricultural products and the latter putting a 25 percent tariff on $30 billion of US goods. Mexico has vowed to mount retaliatory tariffs of its own.

This trade war could have far-reaching consequences. Trump’s tariffs have already triggered a stock market sell-off and cooling of manufacturing activity. And economists have estimated that the trade policy will cost the typical US household more than $1,200 a year, as the prices of myriad goods rise.

All this raises the question: Why has the US president chosen to upend trade relations on the North American continent? The stakes of this question are high, since it could determine how long Trump’s massive tariffs remain in effect. Unfortunately, the president himself does not seem to know the answer.

In recent weeks, Trump has provided five different — and contradictory — justifications for his tariffs on Mexico and Canada...

...more in the article.

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[–] CosmicCleric@lemmy.world 101 points 18 hours ago (5 children)

And economists have estimated that the trade policy will cost the typical US household more than $1,200 a year

Remember this, when you hear about tax cuts for the wealthy.

~This~ ~comment~ ~is~ ~licensed~ ~under~ ~CC~ ~BY-NC-SA~ ~4.0~

[–] Hubi@feddit.org 28 points 18 hours ago

Funny, isn't that the exact amount of the stimulus checks he handed out during his first presidency?

[–] cheers_queers@lemm.ee 5 points 14 hours ago (12 children)

off topic, but what does your signature mean? can you really copyright your comments? I've never seen this before

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[–] sundrei@lemmy.sdf.org 31 points 15 hours ago

He had the idea to raise tariffs, and he believes all his ideas are really good, so he followed his own good advice and raised tariffs, dead simple.

[–] notsoshaihulud@lemmy.world 80 points 18 hours ago (8 children)

All this raises the question: Why has the US president chosen to upend trade relations on the North American continent?

It's because the trade agreement trump's unhappy with was made by a raging moron.

[–] thejml@lemm.ee 64 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

For everyone else following along, the USMCA that was put in place after Trump renegotiated NAFTA in his first term… was made by Trump. So he’s unhappy with his own legacy. Which seems on brand for him, tbh.

[–] OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca 25 points 17 hours ago

At the time he was extremely proud of it. It was the best deal ever made.

[–] ryper@lemmy.ca 12 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Part of the agreement allows for a review next year and his complaints could have been addressed them, but apparently negotiated such a lousy deal he can't wait that long.

[–] SreudianFlip@sh.itjust.works 15 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

They are tanking markets for both the fire sale bargains and to hurt the poor more, so they can direct the resulting anger towards projects like territorial expansion and government privatization.

[–] Benjaben@lemmy.world 9 points 15 hours ago

Thank you. Stated goals and actual goals for these people are always entirely independent, if they align it's just coincidence / convenience. People need to stop being so credible and debating this shit on its stated terms, fascists don't debate in good faith.

[–] thesohoriots@lemmy.world 22 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

The same moron who sunk casinos somehow

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[–] turnip@sh.itjust.works 12 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (2 children)

Look at the Project 2025 document, its supposedly written by the heritage foundation but has a section on building a border wall and doing capital punishment. Its clearly crafted by Trump.

Inside it talks about tariffs, using them to force other countries to lower their tariffs against the US. I assume its meant to force a free trade agreement that is 100% free trade, and not a misnomer like it is now, he wants the massive shock so that country are entirely submissive.

[–] nectar@lemmy.world 11 points 13 hours ago

You think trump is capable of not just coming up with the worst political takes known to man, but also is even aware of that much policy?

I think you give him way more credit than he deserves

[–] drmoose@lemmy.world 6 points 13 hours ago

Seems like it's not going according to plan then huh. US opponents are anything but submissive right now. I don't think US has the capacity for a long game.

[–] Yodan@lemm.ee 25 points 18 hours ago

Because his only job now is to sign any papers handed to him by his posse of self enriching gremlins. He doesn't need anyone's vote anymore, he doesn't need anyone's money (except if it starts with a B) and doesn't care anymore because he will likely die in office. If he signs horrible shit billionaires around him want, then he gets to coast as president, no thinking involved. This is what he is doing.

Also Trump: Has anyone seen my tan spray? Sir, you left it in the fridge again. Here. That's not it, that's barbecue sauce!

[–] blazeknave@lemmy.world 9 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

I don't get the $1200 #... If every component of my purchase goods is 25% higher to the manuf passed to me, shouldn't it be 25% of my annual spend?

[–] realitista@lemm.ee 12 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Not every good is imported. Not every country has tariffs leveed against it.

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[–] itslilith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

25% on top of the old price, for goods not produced domestically. Assuming that's all of them, that'd be 25% of your spend going towards products (Services are part of your spend, but don't get tariffed), indeed. But some things get produced in the US, so I imagine they factored that in there. For the average household, this seems to amount to about $1200/a

[–] PersnickityPenguin@lemm.ee 3 points 10 hours ago

Well until you buy a car. So that $40,000 suv is now $50,000

[–] DarkDarkHouse@lemmy.sdf.org 10 points 15 hours ago

Not arguing with you, just want to point out 25% is the new tax but that doesn’t mean the price is only going up 25%.

[–] ininewcrow@lemmy.ca 16 points 18 hours ago (3 children)

Market manipulation .... upset the system .. make it dive ... buy cheap ... sell them high

Keep doing this for the next four years until you become king of the world!

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