Close Reading

Trump's Import Tariffs Are To Combat a Non-Existing Problem \n \nThe import tariffs that US President Donald Trump has imposed on Mexico, Canada and China are meant to combat a non-existent problem, economics editor Jonathan Witteman recently analysed. Trump sees the structural trade deficit (the difference between the export and import of goods and services) that the United States has with almost all of its trading partners as a sign of weakness. Contrary to almost all political left-wing and also right-wing economists, he believes that a trade deficit is bad for a country's economy and believes that the US is being cheated by countries that export more to the US than they import. \n \n'I have said that the EU must make up for its enormous deficit with the US by purchasing our oil and gas on a large scale. If not, punitive tariffs will follow', Trump said last December, for example, about the trade balance between the US and the European Union. \n \nA connection between a bad economy and having a trade deficit cannot be found, political economy professor Andres Freytag concludes in the analysis. There are many countries in the world, such as Germany, with a trade surplus but a poorly performing economy. The opposite is more likely to be true: in countries with a trade surplus, more people are unemployed. This was shown by the Peterson Institute. \n \nTrump's tariffs are more dangerous for the economy, because they reduce imports and exports, partly because other countries in turn impose punitive tariffs in response. Trump's announced import tariffs during his first term even led to a larger trade deficit and to 7.2 billion dollars in welfare losses in the US.

I am so ashamed as an American and as a human being. I am so very sorry for all of this BS. And Americans are all going to be sorry because of what’s happening in Washington right now. We are all going to suffer. Canada, please keep doing everything you can to work with the UK and the EU and all allies to make the world work while the US sinks into a quagmire of squalor, no long the leader of the free world. ???

If I was Canada I would put the army on standby. I don't trust the US at all. \nThey will come for your assets just like they said about Greenland and how they wanted to get assets of Ukraine. \nSame with Russia for the EU.\nAlthough Russia is small/overrated player.

We now have the BABA principle in Canada, irrespective of tariffs: Buy Anything But American!!! We're also cancelling our US holidays. Mexico and the EU can have our money.

On the 28th of February, 2025, America was the first country in the world, and on the 1st of March, 2025, it was widely known that EU helped Ukraine more, and that all countries can live without military equipment from the US, and that even poor weak Putin is not afraid of the US. Power is not a business nor a game.

Wow, articulate strong talk, no lies, no propaganda, no bluster, none of the total and complete unrelenting bullshit we have endure on a daily basis from the sociopathic delusional asshole that currently occupies the White House. It should be no surprise that our leadership chooses to blame all of our problems on someone else, because that's exactly what they do every day. We have a drug problem, it's because of Canada and Mexico. We have an immigration problem, likewise Mexico and Canada. We have a deficit problem, that's because of the EU and NATO. Our problem is our government, specifically Republicans who won't accept the simple truth: you want to solve problems you have be disciplined and smart. You have to spend money to fix your problems instead of blaming some else and trying to get them to pay for it. You pay to solve your problems instead of giving huge tax cuts to people who don't need them. You stop lying to your people. You want to change the trade imbalance? Build products that other countries want at a price that makes sense. The EU has no laws that prevent American car manufacturers from selling their cars in Europe. American car companies make shitty cars. They make cars that are too big, that don't make sense for European where streets can be very small and gas is very expensive. The US manufacturers don't make a single small car in thos country that can compete with European cars. US agricultural products are laced with poisonous chemicals that are outlawed in the EU because they kill people. Our governmeent doesn't give a shit about that because to grow healthy food means you have to cut profits, almighty dollars, instead of grow things that the rest of the world will accept. We have an idiot for president who thinks he knows more than anyone else and an idiot party that won't tell him the truth. This is going to cost us big time. We are going into recession, probably a long one because we don't have real leaders and the president on his best day is nothing more than a reality TV personality, and not a very entertaining one at that.

Trump laughed at Biden but he is the same not OK old man now. He wanted to make America great again but raised inflation, lost neighbours, allies, buyers of military equipment and his own political profit. In one day America has become not the first country in the world but it has become known that EU helped Ukraine more and that all countries can live without US. ?

I'm glad we're decoupling from the US! Closer ties with the EU

EU ❤Canada | US ??????

It is time for our country to join the EU and dump this pariah country US is becoming.

Can't us in the EU strike a free trade deal asap to help Canada? I wonder.

Liberals of all western countries drove us apart and to do this bullshit lets be real here for a second. What Trump did at the Ukraine meeting is weakness? Ukraine is the epitome of weakness morons, they should learn to preserve their own assets while waging a senseless war since 2014 when Maidan happened. Clowns, your country giving billions away and what will you have in return back from Ukraine? Nothing, cause they looking for handouts. More use and benefits from Russia at this point then EU and Ukraine.

Im American and i don’t care about other countries. Im for America and only America. Ukraine has been taking and taking out money. Weapons and we get nothing. Yet the EU is going to get their money back, but not us. And Canada got that tariff because of the fentanyl that’s coming across you and the Chinese border. So I don’t care if Canada is mad

Stocks of EU defence companies are up by 25% and US defence stocks are down by 10%. Thank you, americans!

Let us be a part of the EU ❤??? \n\nLets ditch US. ?

So many US citizens really don't understand how they've been taken for mugs over the years with tariffs. \nThe EU being the worst. Now you have a president that is trying to level the playing field and punish those that won't give up easily.

As an American, I don’t watch CNN clips and believe what politicians say on either side to get my news. However, it’s absolutely true that EU, and China places tariffs on the US. It is also true that United States provide most of the security for all the free nations. At what point do we say enough? I do not know if Mexico or Canada has tariffs on US goods before this. But if they did, they have become quite entitled, haven’t they.

He even pissed off the Canadians. Probably EU should work closer with Canada, and maybe even China if the US is not able to get their ****** together.\nAnd pls , hurry , would be cool if we could elect people that a grown up.

If look at another perspective, if Trump did not impose tarrifs, then Canada will continue to sell the cars back to US for high profits. Trump mentioned about this, he is not happy. Actually I can understand Trump and what he is trying to do. If he is not harsh, Canada will never change taking advantage of US, not spending on own military.... Etc. US empire is declining fast, and Trump knows this. He is desperate to make his own country great again and stop the decline even though what he must do is going to be very unpopular among all americunts' friends and allies. The same for EU and troublemaker Ukraine who started the war by arrogantly provoking giant superpower neighbor Russia. US cannot afford to fund money, soldiers, weapons for war anymore. If EU wants to support, EU can go ahead without US. Trump is trying to save his own country so he is not wrong.

The fact that Trump had put tariffs also against the EU, I firmly think he will do it to us here in U.K.. it will not surprise me.\nHe’s an a-hole, an think he’s doing good for the USA, but the U.S will suffer. Good luck, no sympathy!

Thank god Trudeau.\nWe can no longer trust the US.\nnever would I thought a US president would side with Russia.\nThere's a dictator in Russia and a dickhead in the Whitehouse.\nTrade with Europe.\nI hope Ukraine don't sell out there country to a brother of putihitler.\nEurope need uk to rejoin EU\nEU now need more than ever a European army including Ukraine.\nWell done Trudeau

Canada we love you! Greetings from Germany, please come to us to the EU. Herzlich Wilkommen, ihr seid herzlich eingeladen. Lasst du gute Verträge abschließen und wieder auf Verlässlichkeit und Ehrlichkeit setzen. ?✌️

CNN is just another media that whitewashes Trump too often. If you, in the US, had any sane media, all hell would be breaking loose by now! But all the critics I see are so soft, and always fearfull of how Kraznov would percieve them, that they are useless!\nI´m a german in Germany and I´m frightened!\nNot of Putin. I´m sure we in the EU can handle him, even if it`s gonna be hard and will cost us a lot.\nBut right now it seems the US turns heel and switches sides.\nI don`t know if we can handle a russian wanna be empire, that´s supported by the US....\nLand of the brave and free, my ass!

Hello from Greece. EU buy Canadian. Let us support them. ❤❤❤

Being the US's neighbor wasn't a choice. It's geography. For decades we worked together to create a safe and friendly border. Then a broken and rotted manchild fooled the ignorant into voting his toxicity into power and all that work stands to fall. I'm sure there are many Canadians that agree with me when I say, how I wish we could simply paddle our land over to the EU AWAY from the crumbling US, which will soon be welcoming the likes of putin and Kim Jong Un with open arms.

What a speech!what a man!\nAnd now in EU ( and it will be this time) we HAVE to do exactly the same ! Support ??\nSupport ?? \nThis président and his acolytes have broken our relations with us for decades

what the hell is going on in the world? US vs CAN, US vs Europe, Italy siding with US refusing to support EU against russia. I mean what is going on here?

Im form Germany and i will open my arms if Canada wants to join the EU. That would be a big jump for Europe and Canada to become Independent from the US. Slava Ukraini

anyone figure out yet that Russia would love for the EU to approach them along with Ukraine with a truce proposal without US involved so that Trump looks like a problem... and separates us from our long term allies looking like people you cant trust. \n \nthe great deal maker is being played by putin. \n \nhe has divided the alliance, and now has singled out USA as outside the circle. This president is driving us into the dirt.

Trudeau..A real leader. Thank you guiding us through this dark days. Greetings from an EU civilian. CANADA WE LOVE YE!

Canadian, European (EU), British statesmanship and desire to adhere to agreements and the rule of law 10/10; US 1/10. This is what happens when the USA elects a criminal, clueless, senile dolt with a mental age of five as President.

Time for UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the EU to form an unbreakable trade alliance. US wants to go alone? So be it

All you had to do was protect the border and lower the many tariffs you have on US goods. Over a million people in the US have died due to fentanyl and the human trafficking. Canada and its bureaucratic masters are realizing that America no longer wants to be part of the new world order and global elite bureaucratic government. The US is 37 trillion in debt we are currently dismantling our own corrupt bureaucracy and ending the Hegemony to focus on America first instead of policing the world for the elites. Canada, Mexico and the EU better adjust because no more handouts are coming we simply can't afford it.

American liberals love and respect Canada and the EU more than their own country. That's why they have put us in so many one-sided relationships.

Canada, we would love for you to join the EU! In these challenging times, having a strong and reliable friend like you would mean a lot to us. Sending much love from Luxembourg, Europe ?

I don't think Trump or his followers have the language skills or attention span to understand this.\nThe rest of the Western countries on the other hand want us all to unite and work together. Ignoring the USA and it's implosion. Join the EU guys it'll be fantastic for both of us

This is a watershed moment in history. The axis of evil now contains Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and the USA. History tells us that such tectonic shifts in political and military power have many unpredictable consequences for many decades. Peace in Europe is unlikely to be one of them. We must urgently prepare for the worst. \nThe USA is no longer a serious player in world affairs. If the EU does not fill the breech, there will soon be global chaos, and probably war throughout Europe. It is time now for Europe to decouple from the USA. We must prevent the USA and Russia from carving up Ukraine between them. Let's join forces.

Boycott All US Products and Anything Musk . The EU , Canada , Australia , New Zealand , Japan , Mexico and many more Countries have a combined GDP much greater than the USA . Lets see Trump sell US made Products to Russians with an average monthly wage of Less than $400. US Dollars a Month ?

Trump needs his ass kicked; you should hit us with 40% tariffs, cut off all oil, and build stronger ties with the EU.

Trump is a criminal and the world's biggest traitor on record. He is not the brains behind it though. It is the rich right wingers like Musk and Putin. The US dies not get shared intelligence anymore because Trump is probably passing info to Putin. He is just a kao dog who would prefer to play golf and get told what to do. Stand firm Canada. The EU is with you and will help in any way it can. I feel the majority of the US is also on your side, and I do not see Trump finishing his term in Washington. I think the people are protesting a lot now, and it is rising!

Hello Canada, \nThe Netherlands here (well, one citizen thereof). We love Canada; I speak for all the citizens hereof. Your troops liberated us at the end of WWII. We have not forgotten that. Now, we in Europe are facing Hitlers shadow, in Putin. Join us. Apply to become a member of the EU.

Idiots won a political contest often feel revolutionary and decide to export it to other countries. Maoism, Leninism, Islamic Rev in Iran.. now Trump and Vance think they must correct EU and Canada and elsewhere as they think they are correcting US.

Take action. DJT understands action. Join the EU. Ship natural resources to the EU and China instead of the US. Take extra measures to support Ukraine. The WSJ said this is the dumbest idea of all time. Just don't sit on your hands!

As a European I would welcome Canada to join the EU a far more stable country, my absolute preference. The USA meddles in politics worldwide and we need to be independent of the US. The Trump administration is represented by incompetent individuals!

I stand With Canada ??, EU ,UK , UKRAINE ???..this mad man Should be removed NOW 25Th Amendment Now he must Be stopped at All Cost hes tanking our economy and taking jobs from Americans but Gave all Of us ?..Not smart ?.. Respectfully...Start a garden and protest every chance you can..Call write ...senetors...They need your votes ..?????✊??????

As a European I would welcome Canada to join the EU a far more stable country, my absolute preference. The USA meddles in politics worldwide and we need to be independent of the US. The Trump administration is represented by incompetent individuals!

We in the EU should stand by Canada and offer whatever support is necessary, including financial grants if needed. We should also match Canada by imposing our own 25% tariffs on the same goods and services, acting as a force multiplier. If the ‘Mango Mussolini’ refuses to listen to reason, he must feel the consequences of these actions. Hang in there, Canada! You are an incredible tough people and while your country is mentally prepared for this trade war, the US have not given it a single thought… they will be surprised and the madman will fold

Not personel just buisness. No we are not. We are trying to get the tyrant (putin to the table) EU is weak and we are the only ones who can solve this war. Yet NONE of you even tried while Biden was in office. This will enable us to produce these goods at home and you as well. No need to import export everything. You will come out well too. Its the game you all are playing.

I love how trump just dont give a fuck about canada and EU.\nLook how these suckers suck balls to the us

Please, join the EU. We need leaders like Trudeau and your goods can be sold here as well. Let's boycott the US.