Well, it had to happen at some point

With all due respect to S2007, our private journalist that keeps us informed of the bullshit that Mr Trump generates per day, here is something that the US has to be aware of.

Canada is keeping their increase in tariffs regardless of what Trump might vomit.

I hope that Mexico is doing the same.

In the meantime:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gmd3g2nzqo

Orange fucktard wanted a fight that hard that he got it.

 

Interesting years ahead, to say the least.

 

Well, it was only a matter of time. Protectionism always triggers countermeasures.

 

I don’t understand why the US started raising tariffs. What’s the intended effect of this?

 

To put pressure on the counterparty and put pressure on them to negotiate better trade deals.

 

If it doesn’t work, then who ends up paying for it? )

 

A reaction to WTO rules being flouted. Under WTO, the "most favored nation" (rules based framework) is a failure and liability (Don doesn't play that). The world trade organization in it's modern form is not favorable to the Don. Perhaps a reimagining is in order.

Maybe he's trying to get everybody to ignore/invalidate the WTO.

 

The saddest thing about all of this is that many of Trump's ideas are actually great for the country, but he's fucking it up. Had he approached lots of these things in a normal business like fashion, assessed the nuances thoroughly over time and then worked carefully to GRADUALLY put the country in a better spot through implementation and negotiation, these things would work well. Instead he's kicking down the door and slapping his hawg on the table. While it makes for an entertaining show, the price of admission to this performance is going to be too high for the country.

 

a reimagining just because he doesn’t like it?

 

I'm not in on his secrets, but I can guess. China's been taking advantage of WTO since it joined (under Clinton pres). I vaguely remember him calling China a "currency manipulator", and to some extent he's not fuckin' wrong. Who has capital controls and an offshore/on-shore currency? They printed over thirty-trillion yuan to develop (read: pump RE).

If the US tariffs large exporters, they will respond with currency devaluation (usually). If the US buys X amount of goods, and then imposes a tariff, then (ostensibly) less than X amount will be traded going forward. That may or may not be acceptable to the exporting nation (it's not).

Under WTO, you are not supposed to tariff MFN trading 'partners'. But you are also not supposed to do things that are considered untoward or selfish. This includes things like dumping. I don't think the Don is happy with the prior arrangement. I distinctly remember a few words: