It’s that easy. Canadians are expected to arrive sometime today.

I approve of that. Nicely done.

Personally, I’m against tariffs in principle. So I was skeptical of Trump’s moved here. But as leverage they seem to have their practical use.

And now Beijing wants a seat at the table.

“Beijing Prepares Its Opening Bid to Talk Trade With Trump”

https://www.wsj.com/world/china/beijing-prepares-its-opening-bid-to-talk-trade-with-trump-ccec3ca4?mod=hp_lead_pos3

The US was an oddity. Countries don't usually behave magnanimously the way it used to, giving out aid, supporting the UN, fostering democracy in the world, etc. I think that was just a leftover from the Cold War when some sort of ideological war was supposed to be playing out. It's time for the US to revert to the way countries usually are: selfish, ruthless, aiming to literally destroy competitors rather than creating a level playing field for all.

Plus, it's pretty well established that the US government used to accept drug imports in order to crush noisy sections of the population, so it's significant that fentanyl abuse was highlighted. I wonder if that came from Vance.

He sure did. — NOS4A2

So, what's the plan, the drug traffickers will be discouraged by the prospect of tariffs?

So, what's the plan, the drug traffickers will be discouraged by the prospect of tariffs?

I think the point is to convince these governments to help tackle the problem, which is apparent in all countries involved.

I think the point is to convince these governments to help tackle the problem, which is apparent in all countries involved. — NOS4A2

Right. Maybe have the countries that are dependent on us stop fucking us over.

At the very least. I think Zelensky was saying that he received all of the weapons he was promised, but the rest, over 100 billion dollars, is missing. Where has it gone?

I don’t know if this translation is accurate or not, so take it with a grain of salt.

and look how that has turned out. — NOS4A2

Yeah. Peace with Israel has continued without Islamists taking over. So?

Or you think it would be better to have Egypt as a failed state too, something equivalent of Syria? Btw, I think Egypt is one country that was off the aid cutting bloc (if I remember correctly).

Sure, I'm not a fan of the institutionalised aid given by rich countries to poor ones. There's a lot of negative aspects. Starting from the fact that aid doesn't usual give the growth. But all of it? Not all has been a just lost cause. Things like famines have become far more rare in Africa.

Africa is the last place that has large famines. Ok if those become larger?



How about Central and South America? And of course one might ask, you think the security of the US or Canada (that's where you live) is going to better with more nations going into such a dire state as Haiti?

He sure did. — NOS4A2

What role does Canada play in the U.S. fentanyl supply?

Almost none. In its fact sheet, the Trump administration says Canada has a "growing footprint" in narcotics distribution with Mexican cartels active in the country. But law enforcement and drug policy experts agree that Canada plays a minimal role in fentanyl smuggling into the U.S.

(See here)

Seems more of an excuse, because Canada likely isn't cheating in trade as China. Hope the Canada, Mexico and the EU make a coordinated stance against Trump's trade war. But in the end, it's the Americans themselves that have to pay the price.

It will be surprising if Canada puts together a rope-a-dope response to the tariffs of the kind that Mexico has done.

Each of the Provinces have been focused upon particular targets to boycott. The emphasis upon targeting states that support Trump is not a feature of the Mexican statements.

Edit to add: Canada buys 30 days.

But in the end, it's the Americans themselves that have to pay the price. — ssu

Most of the wood Americans use comes from Canada. Canada doesn't require the sustainability rules for harvesting wood that Americans do. It would benefit the planet if the US stops buying Canadian wood altogether. I'd like to see that happen, actually.

Canada concedes.

For 30 days. Time for companies to start looking at ways to evade tariffs, if they hadn't thought that Trump is serious...

And US steel producers ready to higher prices to match the price of imported steel. Yes, that's the way!!!

“Oh, hey, we’re going to impose huge sanctions on our two nearest and main trading partners, Mexico and Canada. …Wait on. What? They’re on the phone? Lemme talk to them…”

“OK, we’re NOT going to impose huge sanctions on our two nearest and main trading partners, Mexico and Canada. They were real nice to me, told me what a great president I am, and said they’ll send troops.”

Yet more ‘volleys of incompetence’, as the NYT put it last week.

Meanwhile, Trump is insisting that the FBI is 'corrupt' and that the investigations into the January 6th insurrection and his illegal retention of classified documents were the 'weaponisation of the Justice Department' which should 'never happen again'. :vomit:

USAID gives American tax-payer dollars to fund the state-run BBC’s charity, which pushes woke propaganda about misinformation and climate change and DEI in other countries.

Last year USAID gave BBC Media Action $3.23million (£2.6million) of US taxpayers' money, making it the second largest donor to the British-based charity.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14359179/Donald-Trump-Elon-Musks-USAID-closure-hit-BBC-charity.html

This and other examples of “humanitarian aid” has proven a wasteful and corrupt system.

Let’s impose tariffs for no reason, then act like something’s been accomplished when nations agree to do exactly what they’ve been doing. The Trump cult will no doubt be celebrating their very stable genius as he battles problems he invented.

This and other examples of “humanitarian aid” has proven a wasteful and corrupt system. — NOS4A2

:up:

So the new plan is to turn the Gaza Strip into a 'Mercan playground for the rich?

Shit's gonna fly.

Don’t worry— I’m sure the very stable genius has thought this through. His knowledge of Middle East relations is terrific and huge.

It's just another realestate opportunity...

I think the point is to convince these governments to help tackle the problem, which is apparent in all countries involved. — NOS4A2

"War on Drugs", Nixon. Been there, done that. We now know, without a doubt. that the real way to address drug abuse is from the demand side, not the supply side.

In June 2011, the Global Commission on Drug Policy released a critical report, declaring: "The global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world."[5] In 2023, the UN high commissioner for Human Rights stated that "decades of punitive, 'war on drugs' strategies had failed to prevent an increasing range and quantity of substances from being produced and consumed."[13] That year, the annual US federal drug war budget reached $39 billion, with cumulative spending since 1971 estimated at $1 trillion.[14] — Wikipedia

War on Drugs is just an excuse for Trump, he sees money there to access toward building a wall or whatever the fuck his plan is. He doesn't give a shit about the people who die from fentanyl overdose.

Add manslaughter to the list of Trump's crimes:

Deaths predicted amid the chaos of Elon Musk’s shutdown of USAid

Critical supplies of life-saving medicines have been blocked and children left without food and battling malnutrition as multiple effects were reported across the globe after Elon Musk resolved to shut down the US government’s pre-eminent international aid agency....

...Analysis confirms that several thousand women and girls are likely to die from complications during pregnancy and childbirth as a direct result of Trump’s order to freeze aid to the agency for 90 days.

I assume Trumpists will dance with joy with each death, because it translates to cost savings.

I think the point is to convince these governments to help tackle the problem, which is apparent in all countries involved. — NOS4A2

In 2024, Canada made up just 0.2% of U.S. border fentanyl seizures. Trump's second biggest complaint is that Canada is ripping the U.S. off... by selling stuff to them and not buying the same amount back.

:D

How Bill Cassidy, a lifelong vaccination advocate, wound up voting for RFK Jr. as health secretary
^{— Anne Flaherty, Will McDuffie, Cheyenne Haslett, Allison Pecorin · ABC News · Feb 4, 2025}

Sellout. Circus.

Everything Trump says with respect to international relations is just the opening bid in a negotiation. He anchors it at something ridiculous and then Canada is spending 1.3 billion on something nobody needs. The way to deal with Trump is to ignore the threats and find alternatives that are more reliable.

Out of all his pie-in-the-skies this is Trump’s worst idea ever, sure to set the region on fire and send all involved into a spiral of evil. The only way he can redeem himself is if this turns out to be some negotiating tactic.

They trot out that kind of argument every few years. In opposing Trump’s border wall during his first terms they claimed border apprehensions were so low that no wall was required, and it’s such a small problem that people shouldn’t worry about. But what others care about is what isn’t apprehended, and what isn’t seized.

The Canada/US border is the largest border in the world. Canada’s fentanyl labs have been known for years, as has its tradition of drug smuggling. One ”superlab” busted just last fall (and close to the border) was estimated to be able to produce 95,500,000 fentanyl doses, which far exceeds domestic consumption. So why should we not wish to stop this drug from crossing the border?

It’s stupid to blame Trump and not the people who fund bullshit like Iraqi Sesame Street. It’s their fault aid is tied to massive government waste and corruption.

Out of all his pie-in-the-skies this is Trump’s worst idea ever... — NOS4A2

What? You would actually judge some of Trumps actions on a scale of evil rather than on a scale of greatness?

The only way he can redeem himself is if this turns out to be some negotiating tactic. — NOS4A2

Isn't everything a negotiating tactic for him? His MO, inflict as much pain as possible, or the threat of pain, until the opponent give in and gives you what you want. The thing left unknown in many cases, is "what the hell does he want?", and this produces the appearance that he's going around inflicting pain, and threatening pain for absolutely no reason.

What makes Iraqi Sesame Street "bullshit"? It's been part of the effort to restore the country to normalcy after the devastation inflicted by Bush's war. Pottery Barn rule.

Regardless, Trump could have ordered review of all the programs and done selective shutdowns. It's a product of executing a simplistic solution with callous disregard for the consequences. That's why I labeled it manslaughter, and not murder.