Radiorum Posted February 19 Report Posted February 19 Trump continues to push to make Canada the 51st state using glaringly false economic claims. In the video, he says, “Canada has been bad to us on trade … (they) have to start paying up … $200 billion in subsidies … we don’t need their product … who the hell made these deals, they’re so bad.” Let’s look at his words and find out how they are false. First, he needs to learn the difference between a subsidy and a trade deficit. Trump claims that the bilateral U.S. deficit in merchandise trade with Canada amounts to the U.S. “subsidizing” Canada. This claim has no economic merit whatsoever… Trump’s claim Canada is subsidized by the U.S. through this bilateral deficit is laughable – and Trump’s economic team surely understand that. They are many things (aggressive, corrupt, and untruthful), but they are not ignorant. Rather, they are trying to drown out rational discussion of this issue in a barrage of threats and bluster. Second, the $200 B figure it completely made up. Trump’s claim the bilateral deficit is $200 billion is an utter fabrication. The bilateral deficit was $40 billion (U.S.) in 2023 according to U.S. data, down 29% from 2022. It fell another 9% during the first 9 months of 2024. Compared to a two-way trade flow of almost $1 trillion (U.S.) per year, this imbalance is puny. Third, they do need our product. Just consider the energy sector: Canadian energy (including oil, gas, coal, and electricity) made up 60% of the total bilateral merchandise trade deficit over the last decade. Having access to a secure and lower-cost energy source is a major benefit for U.S. businesses and consumers. (The US enjoys a strong surplus in services trade and investment income flowing out of Canada, but Trump never mentions this.) Fourth – he’s really relying on the short memories of his MAGA base when he comments that “Who the hell made these deals, they’re so bad." It was him! In 2018, and at the time he called it “the best trade deal ever made.” How do you negotiate with a country that so clearly operates in bad faith? Canada Subsidizes the U.S., not the Other Way Around 3 Quote
herbie Posted February 19 Report Posted February 19 Oh we're used to BS claims from that blowhard. We 'stole' auto manufacturing from the USA. Yeah, right. 🙄 Your trade deficit is a 'subsidy'. We need your 'protection'. 3 Quote
Aristides Posted February 20 Report Posted February 20 The disappointing part is the number of brain dead sycophants who accept whatever comes out of his cake hole. 2 Quote
Videospirit Posted February 20 Report Posted February 20 Canada is a strong country. If we went full war footing in preparation the only countries we'd need allies to protect ourselves from are Nuclear powers, and if we have assurances that no one will nuke us only the US, China, and maybe India would be a serious threat to us. Of those, only the US is likely to attempt to annex Canada before it targets one of Canada's allies. We have both France and the UK for a nuclear guarantee even without the US. So we don't need the US to protect us. We just need a guarantee that it won't invade us. Having an alliance with the US is great and we've done our part to carry our weight in NATO, but we aren't taking advantage of the US. Our military situation is in a state where we let the US take advantage of us by purchasing from them. I don't consider that a bad deal since the US offers a much stronger security guarantee to Canada than Canada does to the US, but if the US doesn't like the state of our alliance we can take our business elsewhere, although it'll take a while because of how dependent everything is currently. Quote
BeaverFever Posted February 20 Report Posted February 20 Trump is a liar and an id1ot, everyone knows that. The only thing to puzzle is where the lying ends and the stupidity begins. What more is there to say about this clown. Part of me wants the 30 days to be up already so we can start watching this dipshit damage his own regime with these tariffs and we can get a few shots in on him too 2 Quote
Radiorum Posted February 20 Author Report Posted February 20 9 hours ago, Videospirit said: So we don't need the US to protect us. We just need a guarantee that it won't invade us. Sadly, this is what we have come to. 8 hours ago, BeaverFever said: Part of me wants the 30 days to be up already so we can start watching this dipshit damage his own regime with these tariffs and we can get a few shots in on him too All that oil Canada exports to the US (4 million barrels/day) can find another buyer Canada is now looking at making oil deals with China China would be happy to buy our oil. The US is closing doors, and we'll look for open doors. We need to move away from the instability of the US. Quote
Aristides Posted February 21 Report Posted February 21 On 2/19/2025 at 7:44 PM, Videospirit said: .So we don't need the US to protect us. We just need a guarantee that it won't invade us. Trump has shown his guarantees aren't worth the paper they are written on. 2 Quote
Videospirit Posted February 21 Report Posted February 21 1 hour ago, Aristides said: Trump has shown his guarantees aren't worth the paper they are written on. Yeah, which is why we can't offer much of value in exchange for such a guarantee, since it's basically worthless. Quote
Aristides Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 Trump says he wants Keystone built right now but he doesn't need our oil. You can't make this shit up. 1 Quote
Barquentine Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 Just listening to the Trump babbling away on tv. Is he really so stupid he doesn't know the difference in a subsidy and a trade deficit? And speaking recently about the USMCA treaty he said: “I look at some of these agreements, I’d read them at night, and I’d say, ‘Who would ever sign a thing like this?" HE DID! Un-believable! Quote
eyeball Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 On 2/19/2025 at 9:01 PM, BeaverFever said: Part of me wants the 30 days to be up already so we can start watching this dipshit damage his own regime with these tariffs and we can get a few shots in on him too We might have to wait longer Big tariffs on Canada next week? Not necessarily, White House says https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7468442 It's past time somebody told Trump to either shut up or put up. 1 Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
Aristides Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 38 minutes ago, Barquentine said: Just listening to the Trump babbling away on tv. Is he really so stupid he doesn't know the difference in a subsidy and a trade deficit? And speaking recently about the USMCA treaty he said: “I look at some of these agreements, I’d read them at night, and I’d say, ‘Who would ever sign a thing like this?" HE DID! Un-believable! Yes it is but Trump and the truth have never met. Quote
eyeball Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 4 minutes ago, Aristides said: Yes it is but Trump and the truth have never met. Doesn't he have any advisors willing to correct him at all? Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
Aristides Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 Just now, eyeball said: Doesn't he have any advisors willing to correct him at all? I don’t think people who correct him stay employed very long and a lot of this stuff comes from his underlings like Miller. Quote
Barquentine Posted March 4 Report Posted March 4 On 2/20/2025 at 1:01 AM, BeaverFever said: Trump is a liar and an id1ot Unfortunately he's an Id!ot-Savant. He's a great con-man and has a shark-like nose for blood in the water. (As in Ukraine). Other than that you're correct. Quote
herbie Posted March 4 Report Posted March 4 And we should "negotiate" with a man who tears up his own trade agreements? Shut off the oil & hydro for a couple days. So the US public sits up and takes notice. 1 Quote
Aristides Posted March 5 Report Posted March 5 4 hours ago, Boges said: JT said the quiet part out loud today. He did and damn eloquent I must say. As much as I didn't like the guy, he has impressed me ever since he decided to quit. Maybe he just doesn't give a shit any more and decided to tell it like it is. I don't think he said anything that most Canadians weren't thinking. 3 Quote
Aristides Posted March 5 Report Posted March 5 I've been musing on the F-35 purchase. I've always thought it was the right aircraft but am wondering how wise we are to be tying ourselves to US military equipment if we don't have to. It might be pie in the sky but what about the Gripen as an interm while we join the UK, Italy and Japan on the Tempest 6th Gen fighter project. Trump is forcing European arms manufacturing to undergo a renaissance so why don't we become part of it. 1 Quote
cannuck Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 On 2/19/2025 at 11:01 PM, BeaverFever said: Trump is a liar and an id1ot, everyone knows that. The only thing to puzzle is where the lying ends and the stupidity begins. What more is there to say about this clown. Part of me wants the 30 days to be up already so we can start watching this dipshit damage his own regime with these tariffs and we can get a few shots in on him too You realize you just described our entire cabinet over the last decade.? Trump's game has always been to play the media like a fiddle. It's slight of hand. We are all babbling about 51 state BS while he gets on with his real agenda. Quote
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