[4cal]

I rather suspect Trump doing this is going to do more to reinvigorate pro-free trade sentiment in america than anything I could say or do to convince people. It's really very helpful of him to do everything in the dumbest way possible. He has damaged the image of populism and done wonders for the democratic parties electoral chances over the next few years. All while failing to do anything that would entrench his cause or brand of politics (except in some of his court appointments).

Toward the end of his life, Nixon emerged as a sort of sage in some circles as the echo of Watergate faded. As I understand it, beyond that, in the mid 70's people were looking for a more "down to earth" President who didn't care so much about China and the Soviets etc... So we got Carter.

Since then, the Presidency has bestowed a cloak of invincibility on to those who have achieve the office. The story about Bush II not knowing there were different Muslim sects in Iraq, his inability to form a coherent sentence on his own, his shocking lack of concern for sending body after body into a middle east meat grinder with no purpose or strategy are just footnotes to the man who was President.

Thanks to the pervert, I feel that the shielding veil of these people being anything special may forever be lifted. We'll see who the Dems nominate in 2020. I get the feeling that the Democrats just may go as nutty as the GOP did.

[Beren]

Lol the best part is that Trump got talked out of actually imposing the tariff on any meaningful importers and ended up doing nothing.

It's smoke and mirrors with anti-European spin mostly.

Surprise, Trump Is Overhyping the Trade Issues With Europe

There are much bigger issues with China actually.

WASHINGTON — The United States trade deficit with China climbed to its highest level on record in 2017, a trend that could prompt the Trump administration toward tougher trade actions in the coming months.

The gap between Chinese goods imported to the United States and American goods exported to China rose to $375.2 billion last year, up from $347 billion the prior year, data released Tuesday morning by the Commerce Department showed.

The overall United States trade deficit in goods and services with the world widened 12.1 percent to $566 billion last year, the largest gap since 2008.

Even NAFTA-partners Canada and Mexico seem to have a chance. And who is the real enemy? The EU, of course!

[blackjack21]

You aren't choosing sound nationalist economic policy either. You are simply panicking because this isn't good for China. However, China has had a full year to do something about North Korea. Trump was nice to them, and now he isn't going to be anymore.

Damn, I'm good. One day goes by and Trump has the North Koreans at the bargaining table. The left is absolutely flipping out. This is absolutely awesome. But wait, there's more...

To hear more about what Trump did politically, you once again have to see how the mainstream media makes Rush Limbaugh more relevant than the MSM by giving Rush Limbaugh a de-facto monopoly on simply reporting the facts--and Limbaugh's not even a journalist. Democrat Nightmare! Steelworkers at Tariff Signing

Democrat Nightmare! Steelworkers at Tariff Signing
Mar 9, 2018

the United Steelworkers international president Leo Gerard was there. He was among them. He said, “Trump was able to see the steelworker agenda, what [Trump] did is what we’ve been fighting for for more than 30 years. … [W]hat makes me sad is we’ve been trying to get Democrats to this for more than 30 years.”

OMG, this is hysterical. The establishment is getting beat handily by a guy with no political experience who won the White House against seasoned veterans from both parties. It's just awesome!

Actually this is probably good for China.

It's good to see that you aren't worried at all. There really is nothing for China to worry about.

Trade wars are bad is so obvious a conclusion it hardly merits being called an analysis honestly.

Why are trade wars bad? Is it because they tax rich transnational merchants who don't care about workers?

This whole debacle really drives home how stupid the president is.

If I had only known that being stupid would make me so prosperous, I would have become stupid sooner. #MAGA!

If he had any hope of winning a second term it would be on the back of a strong to decent economy.

American steel workers get to vote in US elections. Burning steel workers in other countries don't get to vote in US elections. This bodes very well for Trump in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.

So, Trump gives a pass to Canada, Mexico, and announces Australia need only apply for relief.

It's a strong negotiating position...

So, who benefits from a wedge being driven between the US an Europe?

Russia!

Great Britain, and Brexit.

The globalists are whining.
Trump just kept another election promise.
If he is seen to support the working class Americans, they will probably vote for him next time as well.

Trump signing his tariffs into effect with all those "deplorable" steel workers is something the Democrats are going to regret.

Progressives should all be in favor of strong protectionism. Free trade is bad for the environment, bad for labor, and bad for human rights in general. We shouldn't be doing any business with any entities(states or corporations) that don't have high standards in those three areas.

China just effectively gave Xi Jinping the presidency for life--and it's already a communist dictatorship. There is no outcry from all these "open society" freedom loving people that hate Vladimir Putin for his anti-gay propaganda stance.

I rather suspect Trump doing this is going to do more to reinvigorate pro-free trade sentiment in america than anything I could say or do to convince people.

Well, well, well... look at the little Reaganite.

He has damaged the image of populism and done wonders for the democratic parties electoral chances over the next few years.

That's only if the Democrats dump Pelosi before her followers realize that Trump, not George W. Bush is president. That doesn't look like it's going to happen.

Nancy Pelosi says politicians could learn from drag queens, Trump 'lip syncs' his policies
This is so awesome. Trump is depicted with US steel workers, and Nancy Pelosi is on a drag queen show. It's a dream come true.

Lol the best part is that Trump got talked out of actually imposing the tariff on any meaningful importers and ended up doing nothing.

Trump is totally awesome. He has North Korea at the bargaining table and is taking photo-ops with US steel workers while Nancy Pelosi keeps calling him George W. Bush and showing up on drag queen shows. I couldn't be any happier.

[Rugoz]

China doesn't have a massive trade deficit with the US, but a massive trade surplus.

Trump can't even get his stupid tweets right, what a f***ing idiot.

[Sivad]

China just effectively gave Xi Jinping the presidency for life--and it's already a communist dictatorship. There is no outcry from all these "open society" freedom loving people that hate Vladimir Putin for his anti-gay propaganda stance.

That's just liberal hypocrisy.Their primary concerns are strong markets and cheap shit, human rights and a healthy environment are merely afterthoughts for them.

[Atlantis]

It's smoke and mirrors with anti-European spin mostly.

There are much bigger issues with China actually.

True, the real target is China.

The attacks on allies (Canada, Australia, the EU, etc.) are just to do some arms-twisting for revising existing trade arrangements, while helping GOP representatives getting elected.

He's also trying to get 3rd parties to ban Chinese steel because some of it seems to be rerouted via 3rd countries (Vietnam, etc.) to the US.

He'll probably hit China over intellectual property by using the Super 301 trade act.

The country took a progressive turn back in the 30's and I don't see any reason why it wouldn't this time around.

You mean the New Deal?

Why should the US oligarchy want to introduce similar measures? The US is the richest country in the world and Americans aren't starving.

The oligarchy will provide panem et circenses. The American "masses" like that better than "left populist options."

The Trump phenomenon is directly attributable to the fact that there hasn't been any real progressive populist option in this country for decades.

Has there every been? Leftist options are closed to the empire because it needs to exploit dependent states for feeding the homeland. True socialism is international. National socialism never ends well.

Even NAFTA-partners Canada and Mexico seem to have a chance. And who is the real enemy? The EU, of course!

Apart from Mexico, he has so far only exempted white Anglo-Saxon countries (Canada, Australia) and hinted that Britain could get an exemption, if ..., you know what.

To go by the Trump team's public announcements in combination with alt-right propaganda spreading across the net, he still hopes to break up the EU by inciting resentment among its members - punishing some while giving preferential treatment to others.

I think that Theresa May may be dumb enough to go for the trap and try to break EU unity on the issue. There's a UK trade delegation due in Washington next week. If she does, it would throw the biggest spanner into the Brexit talks so far.

[Torus34]

It's amusing to consider some of the ramifications of electing a businessman to the office of President of the United States of America. President Donald Trump may see the country as another business entity. [Ed.: When all you have is a hammer, ...'.] We should be mindful of the fact that he has run several businesses into the ground and walked away, leaving others to absorb the cost of his incompetence. In doing so, he's shown scant interest in buckling down and rectifying his mistakes.

[Hindsite]

It's amusing to consider some of the ramifications of electing a businessman to the office of President of the United States of America. President Donald Trump may see the country as another business entity. [Ed.: When all you have is a hammer, ...'.] We should be mindful of the fact that he has run several businesses into the ground and walked away, leaving others to absorb the cost of his incompetence. In doing so, he's shown scant interest in buckling down and rectifying his mistakes.

The USA is about $20 trillion in debt due to the government being run by politicians that were mainly lawyers. Perhaps it is time that the people elect more businessmen, like President Donald Trump, who will also run the government like a business instead of a charity to give away the taxpayer's money.

[Godstud]

You solution is to have your country run by a second rate businessman?

America is doomed.

[SpecialOlympian]

The USA is about $20 trillion in debt due to the government being run by politicians that were mainly lawyers. Perhaps it is time that the people elect more businessmen, like President Donald Trump, who will also run the government like a business instead of a charity to give away the taxpayer's money.

Oh no.

Sovereign debt.

Better pay off all those T-Notes, ASAP.

[Beren]

If Trump will run the government like a business, then the government goes bankrupt while Trump gets richer.

[Hindsite]

If Trump will run the government like a business, then the government goes bankrupt while Trump gets richer.

To Hell with the government establishment. One of Trump's campaign promises was to run the government in a way to make the people richer, not the government establishment and the swamp creatures. The tax cut sure put more money in the pockets of the people. Chalk up one more promise fulfilled. Praise the Lord.

[hartmut]

Trump announced a tax on global imports of steel (25%) and aluminium (10%) by citing security concerns, which allows a presidential decision without congress approval.

Chinese steel has already been largely eliminated from the US market due to punitive taxes introduced a couple of years ago. Thus, these measures aim US allies, especially Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the EU, Japan and South Korea.

The EU, Canada and Brazil have already said that there would be counter measures if the US tax were to come into force. The EU intends to tax imports of bourbon, motorcycles and jeans. In response to which Trump has tweeted that he would slap a 25% tax on imported cars. But he has threatened that before.

This looks very much like a rash decision by the president and Wilbur Ross didn't look happy announcing it.

Even if this were to save a few jobs in the US steel and aluminium industries, it risks putting in danger more jobs in industries using steel and aluminium since their costs will increase. Senior republicans like Paul Ryan have appealed to the president to reconsider his decision (Ryan represent Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Harley Davidson is based).

The decision has been condemned by politicians around the world and even the IMF has been uncharacteristically critical of the US decision. If the tit for tat were to continue we could slide into global recession like in 1929. The major actors will probably halt the escalation, but nothing can be taken for granted as we seem to enter uncharted waters with an unpredictable president.

I think it is fact that EU-Tariffs regarding US are in total higher than vice versa.
Take cars, the most important and by this most vulnerable industry of Germany. EU-tariffs for US-cars are 10%, while EU-cars in US are only 2.5% declared.
EU remains relaxed, and indeed makes jokes about Trumps attempts by threading him to pay tariffs for cranberry fruits and Harley Davidson motorcycles , which are both the very low end of technological evolution at present time.

[Atlantis]

I think it is fact that EU-Tariffs regarding US are in total higher than vice versa.
Take cars, the most important and by this most vulnerable industry of Germany. EU-tariffs for US-cars are 10%, while EU-cars in US are only 2.5% declared.

No, that is not true.

Some tariffs are higher in the EU (cars) while others are higher in the US (trucks, 25%).

Taking all traded items into consideration, tariffs between the EU and US are balanced. Overall, they are very low and don't have a significant impact.

Even if we reduce the tariffs for US cars to zero, the US will still not export cars because US cars are shit.

German car manufacturers would benefit from US import taxes because they manufacture in the US and even export from the US.

Don't pretend that what Trump says has anything to do with trade. He's just trying to get Republican elected in a district in Pennsylvania that has a lot of steel works.

[Sivad]

Why should the US oligarchy want to introduce similar measures?

Because the Hamptons is not a defensible position.

The oligarchy will provide panem et circenses.

That strategy only works for so long and is already beginning to fail.

Leftist options are closed to the empire because it needs to exploit dependent states for feeding the homeland.

Imperialists have no use for fairness and equality but the homeland doesn't need imperialists or imperialism. Imperialism doesn't serve the homeland, it abuses the homeland to serve its own ends and sooner or later the homeland will figure that out.

[SpecialOlympian]

To Hell with the government establishment. One of Trump's campaign promises was to run the government in a way to make the people richer, not the government establishment and the swamp creatures. The tax cut sure put more money in the pockets of the people. Chalk up one more promise fulfilled. Praise the Lord.

They actually don't put any extra money into people's pockets, they just take less out.

A more direct way to make people rich would be to confiscate wealth from the wealthy and distribute it to the poor. But Trump is too much of a beta cuck to try that. Also he gave himself a massive tax break and plays golf a lot and his anus constantly leaks cum.

[colliric]

Lol,

Wouldn't you stand to lose your moolah/mojo out of that?

You certainly talk rich that's for sure...

[Beren]

To Hell with the government establishment. One of Trump's campaign promises was to run the government in a way to make the people richer, not the government establishment and the swamp creatures. The tax cut sure put more money in the pockets of the people. Chalk up one more promise fulfilled. Praise the Lord.

Hello Einstein, you remind me of this:

Only people with Einstein's qualities can understand the Donald's greatness.

[Atlantis]

That strategy only works for so long and is already beginning to fail.

What one Earth are you talking about? Trump won with panem et circenses, and he is going from one victory to the next. While the opposition is in tatters, Trump will exploit populism for reigning in the free press and the independence of the judiciary.

He'll be able to install a fascist police state by playing the masses like a fiddle. While Bannon considered him "an imperfect vessel," his daughter Ivanka will be the perfect vessel to lead you into a new age dystopian fantasy. Taking Xi Jinping's lead for livelong, or why not hereditary, leadership, even your grandchildren will continue to sing in praise of their glorious Trumponian dynasty. The ultimate wet dream of all imperialists come true with the help of your revolutionary masses.

[Potemkin]

What one Earth are you talking about? Trump won with panem et circenses, and he is going from one victory to the next. While the opposition is in tatters, Trump will exploit populism for reigning in the free press and the independence of the judiciary.

He'll be able to install a fascist police state by playing the masses like a fiddle. While Bannon considered him "an imperfect vessel," his daughter Ivanka will be the perfect vessel to lead you into a new age dystopian fantasy. Taking Xi Jinping's lead for livelong, or why not hereditary, leadership, even your grandchildren will continue to sing in praise of their glorious Trumponian dynasty. The ultimate wet dream of all imperialists come true with the help of your revolutionary masses.

While I agree that the USA is in a similar historical juncture to that of late Republican Rome, I would dispute that it is yet at the Caesarian stage. No, Trump is more like Tiberius Gracchus than Julius Caesar or even Augustus Caesar. Trump will ultimately fail, but he will have set the stage for the next ambitious populist who comes along. Trump has opened the door, but someone else will pass through it...