I’m Canadian and I support them in order to teach our country to smarten up. We need to be taken to the economic woodshed after 10 years of Trudeau destroying our productivity with high debt and massive government spending / hiring.
Agreed. Sometimes you have to demonstrate that you are willing to follow through on what you said if the other party isn't complying. I'd prefer mutual, bilateral free trade but it hasn't been happening. It has been socialist, protectionist Europe and the world with regard to US made pharmaceuticals. And subsidies the world over while hollowing out US industries. Of course the goal for some of it is to undermine the US with drugs and illegals. For too long the purpose has been to weaken us and it needs to stop. I don't know what other methods would be effective and not ignored. Certainly diplomacy has been a failure.
One thing Biden showed the world was summed up with his responses of "Don't". The world learned he wouldn't enforce anything and acted accordingly. Trump is showing the opposite: he doesn't make idle, meaningless threats.
Curious: do you think there's a chance of a Conservative PM in the next election, and, if so, do you think he will handle the Tariffs any better than Trudy?
It was looking like the Cons were going to win in an historic landslide, now the polls supposedly show it’s close due to the anti-US (anti-Trump) rhetoric.
I do think the Cons would be able to engage DJT better. He hates Trudeau and doesn’t respect him (Trudeau has trashed Trump for 8 years), that makes it hard to have a productive conversation.
Regardless, I believe the Cons would gut the public service, unleash the O&G industry and hopefully DOGE our spending to help unleash our economy. I care more about that, tbh, than the tariffs.
I didn‘t think the Cons would have the testicular fortitude to gut the public service sector - though I can only imagine it‘s even more of a mess than it is here, especially re: “First Nations” spending that never, ever seems to end up at its supposed destination. Good to think they may make that a priority.
I think Cons still have to deal with immigration, however, and they seem as bad about that as the Liberals, but, that‘s just my observation from this side of the border.
Likewise, I have some doubts re: polling.
I decided to be masochistic the other day and watched the Liberal debate unfold - I‘m not sure if ANY L candidates would be an improvement over Trudy - Carney comes off as more out of touch than Trudy & Freeland seemed off her rocker.
I am also a Canadian, and hate Trudeau. He’s been a disaster for the country. But these tariffs on Canada are acting in bad faith. Canadians love America and Americans. We holiday, own homes, do business and have friends in America. The accusation that the US has a massive trade deficit with Canada is flat out wrong. What deficit that does exist is made up of the sale of Western Canadian Select crude which sells to the US for $56 a barrel. WTI crude sells at $68. This discounted oil (because we essentially only sell it to the US) is then refined in a massive US refining complex in Texas and the Gulf States and used for domestic consumption or world export. You are buying low and selling high - it’s a win win, the US is not losing on this deal. Here are the trade statistics
Removing oil from the equation, which again sells for less than WTI - the USA has roughly a 40B trade surplus with Canada in goods.
Canada needs to do more on defense spending. Full stop. We probably should pay something to the US until we reach an equivalent spending per capita. That would be fair and that would be a supported conversation worth having. Canada could open its banking, and dairy sectors more. That would be great for everyone. But this is not that. I will tell you, as a conservative Canadian hailing from the most conservative part of Canada. This is having an opposite effect than intended. This fentanyl ruse (for Canada’s part) is insulting. We will not respond favorably to being strong armed and coerced. Canada can cause the US some pain sure, but that won’t be long term the legacy or the true damage. It’s the relationship. The conversations happening in Canada should be disturbing for the US. We will do what we need to survive and deal with who we need to. And we are prepared to suffer. As a Canadian, this feels like a betrayal from your best friend. If the US can’t be counted on to honor their trade agreements, or operate in good faith to a generational friend and ally. Canada and Canadians will turn away, and on a generational time scale.
And how the US is being treated in the world. Most of the countries treat the US as a cash cow to subsidize everything they want and need. From defense to medicines to keeping sea lanes open. The huge cost of being the world's police officer is never shared. The patsies who've been in charge for 30-40 years allowed the US to be used and we have a huge debt to show for it.
Most Americans don't understand the economics of why egg prices didn't come down two weeks after Trump's inauguration. I guess they just thought he would wave a magic wand or something.
Or don't understand the basic biology of how long a female chick of an egg-laying breed takes to grow up enough to lay eggs. They are living creatures, not machines.
The stock market will decline whether or not the tariffs. It is massively overvalued and has been. This is the greatest bubble of all-time (modern history). People look to lay blame and Trump/tariffs will be a leading cause for about half the population. Look to the Federal Reserve instead. The trigger doesn't matter.
Tariffs are not inflationary - Michael Ashton "The Inflation Guy". Also read Michael Every with regard to geopolitics.
For some reason substack would not let me vote on the poll. I am a paid subscriber, but the message I received was "only subscribers can vote."
At any rate, I decided to comment simply because I don't care for the way the poll is crafted. The design will lower the approval rate for those supporting the tariffs, since the "approval" button requires one to accept the faulty premise there will be pain.
The entire narrative the stock market will tank, inflation will go bananas, etc..., due to tariffs was COMPLETELY DEBUNKED in Trump's first term. The Trump Admin imposed extensive tariffs in his first term and the stock market went up, consumer prices went down, jobs returned to the USA and the economy boomed.
It would be nice to see those FACTS acknowledged at the least and the poll (unscientific though it may be) worded appropriately.
I think how Alex phrases it, "a lot of you strongly support Donald Trump" is also somewhat misleading. I support Trump, but I support Trump because of his policies: things such as lower taxes, smaller government (e.g. more liberty), reforms of the 3 letter agencies that have gotten carte blanche without meaningful oversight, originalist judges and justices, election reform so that we have free, fair, and honest elections, and one that is run to the benefit of the citizens, not people breaking the law to come here. So it isn't that I would support Trump on anything, but he has done a great job on pushing policies that will return the US to a freer country, one that is run based on the founding documents (or at least one that is getting closer to that).
I agree- we all know what Alex thinks, and I’m not sure why he’s so short sighted, when he was able to see the Long Term consequences of the COVID shots. Setting Tariffs to further incentivize Mexico and Canada to do more to stop the flow of illegals and drugs (which he already acknowledges they started doing just under the threat) is the best and smartest play right now. It’s not a temporary problem that will be solved with just a temporary fix, and we are 10 plus years behind on trying to dig ourselves out of the massive hole we are in regarding those two issues. Improving both of those will in turn improve our economy, probably much sooner than Alex believes.
I would guess that a lot of people have no idea that other countries place tariffs on OUR goods that they import. Often or probably mostly, their tariffs are much much higher than ours. An example is that Germany (and EU) charges 10% tariffs on imported American cars. The U.S. charges 2.5% on imported German cars. Yet everyone is wailing about Trump's suggestion to charge equal tariffs! Seems fair to me.
It's pretty easy to state that when Trump was last in office, his rounds of tariffs did NOT cause any noticeable inflation. The tariffs that other countries put on their products do need to be countered.
We lose billions to China, Euro Union, Canada, and Mexico every year in trade deficits. They charge us to sell to them. We have always had the lowest tariffs of any country. If we reduce those trade deficits, we also reduce our own operating deficits. And, demand for US made products will go up since they'll be cheaper.
1) If the New York Times says Mexico is cracking down, it confirms Trump is right they are not doing so adequately. Kind of like Biden's "Bipartisan Immigration Reform", which did nothing of the kind. Trump wants/expects REAL results, not just a nod from the NYT and cronies.
2) The stock market is the toy of the uber wealthy. They'll use what they want to scare people and make it drop, then buy up cheap and up it goes again for them. Presto magico. The common investor just needs to learn not to buy the MSM agitprop.
3) Honda gets the tariffs...suspect other large companies will too. Their (and Apple's) actions tell you a whole lot more truth than some one day stock market fluctuation.
Any one that has read the latest Peter Zeihan book knows this was coming. We will have to make bilateral agreements about trade with individual countries. These big trade agreements do t work for our benefit anymore. We have to break the globalist theory on trade
Tariffs sting everyone but they sting others more. Leverage. We need to stop being the ATM of the western world and get our own house in order. We’re a generous and gracious nation and we’ve been taken advantage of. Creating a dependent class doesn’t work here either….
There is no way out of this fiscal mess without some pain and some will not like it. This is our chance to reset our republic and move forward. Tariffs are a negotiating tactic and I trust Trump to use them wisely. Zero base budgeting and examine the real purpose and expense of our government. Re Founding fathers at work here. Give them some room.
Trump did not provoke a trade war with Canada. It was Canada who declared a trade war against us a very long time ago. CANADA TARIFFS THE CRAP OUT OF US !!! Some of them are over 80% (or much worse as Uncle AI pointed out below). It's about time somebody finally retaliated against them. China?? We all know they abuse us to death. How about no respect whatsoever for intellectual property rights. China can't build anything without American know-how. Any advanced technology China has was stolen from the US. Honestly, I thought Trump already whipped Mexico into shape. I'm not sure what he's still doing there, but I bet we'll find out.
Stock market can also be manipulated, just like all the "protests" happening. The left will use every trick in their anti american playbook to hurt the Trump presidency.
The total amount of imports from Canada and Mexico only account for about 3.25% of the U.S. economy. Not exactly an economy buster if some prices move up.
It’s likely buyers (who pay the tariffs) will pressure suppliers to eat at least some of the costs - and may absorb some of the costs themselves, so the real dollar impact won’t be close to the full 25% tariff charge.
You’re right—imports from Canada and Mexico clocking in at just 3.25% of the U.S. economy aren’t enough to tank things, even if tariffs nudge some prices up. The market’s got a way of adapting, and one big shift could be buyers pivoting to U.S.-made products. If tariffs jack up the cost of importing, say, auto parts or produce, companies and consumers don’t just sit there—they sniff out alternatives. Domestic suppliers—think steel mills in Ohio or farmers in Iowa—could see demand spike as buyers ditch pricier foreign goods. That’s not wishful thinking; it’s basic economics. Look at how steel tariffs under Trump in 2018 gave U.S. producers a jolt—production rose about 5% in a year, per U.S. Census data, as buyers leaned local.
Your point about buyers and suppliers splitting the tariff hit is spot-on too. Importers aren’t dumb—they’ll haggle with Canadian or Mexican suppliers to shave costs, or eat some of it themselves to stay competitive. So, a 25% tariff doesn’t mean a 25% price hike across the board; it’s more like a ripple than a tidal wave. Meanwhile, U.S. producers get breathing room to ramp up, hire more, and grab market share. The stock market might not cheer the transition—it hates uncertainty—but over time, that shift could mean more jobs and output here. Noise fades; results stick.
Another powerful tool in their arsenal is closely linked to tax cuts. With a range of options at their disposal, they could effectively offset the burden of tariffs, stimulate economic growth, and create high-paying jobs here in the U.S. The current administration has a deliberate strategy—and it’s not just scribbled on the back of Donald Trump’s napkin.
Slash spending, leverage tariffs, pair them with smart tax cuts, and deregulate—then step back and watch capitalism ignite. The strategy hinges on coordination: tariffs bring in revenue and shield domestic industries, while tax cuts and deregulation unleash businesses to innovate and hire. Spending cuts keep the budget in check. Done right, it’s a recipe for growth—let the market do the heavy lifting.
Imagine channeling Milton Friedman: ban the minimum wage, swap it with a negative income tax for the poorest, and watch the economy roar. Friedman argued that minimum wages distort labor markets, pricing out low-skill workers and inflating costs. A negative tax—direct cash to those below a threshold—puts money where it’s needed without gumming up hiring. Pair that with spending cuts, tariffs, and deregulation, and you’d see businesses compete, prices stabilize, and jobs multiply. The catch? Execution. Get the tax levels wrong, and you either starve the poor or bloat the bureaucracy. Done right, it’s capitalism with a safety net—raw, efficient, and unapologetic.
We already have a negative income tax for the poor, especially for those with young children. Do a sample tax return of a mother of 2 making just $22,700/years (clearly a struggle) and between the EITC and the refundable portion of the CTC, she will pay $0.00 in income tax while getting a net refund of $9,990 - in a lump sum refund check (these need to be doled out over 12 months). On top of that, she will qualify for over $500/month in food stamps - and would also likely be eligible for rental assistance, Medicaid and who knows what else.
I know for a fact that a lot of young people (20-somethings) live as a family with kids but do not get married so they can collect benefits such you you mentioned.
Bravo! Some commenters were asking for a basic economics/tariff lesson. I think you’ve provided just that in your comments today. Much appreciated! While I understand business principles, having run a small business for 30+ years, I don’t have any training or experience in foreign markets, tariffs, tax cuts, or the teachings of Milton Friedman. The All In podcast has provided me with a bit of an education on this as well. David Friedberg on that podcast is also very vocal about his concern for the deficit and national debt. He recorded a podcast with Ray Dalio which was very informative as well.
Too many self-anointed experts fumble the debt debate, hyperventilating over deficits like it’s Armageddon. Ken Fisher slices through the hysteria with a clearer take: the $35 trillion debt isn’t the apocalypse—it’s reckless government spending that’s the real rot. Interest payments as a slice of GDP remain tame, far below the ’90s freakout levels, and long-term bond rates—lazing at historical averages, not spiking to 10%—back him up. The deficit phobia’s overcooked; it doesn’t strangle the economy unless the cash gets flushed into bloated, brain-dead programs. Fisher’s fix? Hack away at the waste—tariffs, tax cuts, and deregulation can fuel growth to shoulder the debt. The true crime isn’t the number on the ledger; it’s dumping money into bureaucratic black holes and corporate welfare dressed up as ‘stimulus.’ That’s what robs the future, not some fearmonger’s spreadsheet bogeyman.
I had the privilege of working with Ken Fisher—an MBA earned the hard way, by absorbing his unmatched mastery of capital markets and the economy. He’s forgotten more about these subjects than most so-called experts will ever grasp in a lifetime. If Ken Fisher is anything, he’s a genius.
Day-to-day stock market swings—like a 1%, 2%, or even 4% drop—are just background noise, not a referendum on any single headline. The media loves to pin it on something flashy, like “Trump’s tariffs,” but that’s oversimplified nonsense. The market’s a tangled mess of forces—expectations, trading algorithms, global events—and tariffs are just one thread, if that. Truth is, things could get a lot uglier before they turn around, and that’s not a bad thing. A real shakeout could clear the deck for something better.
Over time, tariffs paired with tax cuts could actually juice the U.S. economy, putting more money in the average worker’s pocket and easing inflation’s bite. The logic’s straightforward: protect domestic industries, boost jobs, and keep prices from spiraling—especially if we get serious about slashing spending. That’s the kicker—cut the fat, and the whole system runs leaner. The market might twitch and groan in the short term, but that’s just the sound of it adjusting to a bigger shift. Patience pays off here.
I’m Canadian and I support them in order to teach our country to smarten up. We need to be taken to the economic woodshed after 10 years of Trudeau destroying our productivity with high debt and massive government spending / hiring.
Agreed. Sometimes you have to demonstrate that you are willing to follow through on what you said if the other party isn't complying. I'd prefer mutual, bilateral free trade but it hasn't been happening. It has been socialist, protectionist Europe and the world with regard to US made pharmaceuticals. And subsidies the world over while hollowing out US industries. Of course the goal for some of it is to undermine the US with drugs and illegals. For too long the purpose has been to weaken us and it needs to stop. I don't know what other methods would be effective and not ignored. Certainly diplomacy has been a failure.
One thing Biden showed the world was summed up with his responses of "Don't". The world learned he wouldn't enforce anything and acted accordingly. Trump is showing the opposite: he doesn't make idle, meaningless threats.
Curious: do you think there's a chance of a Conservative PM in the next election, and, if so, do you think he will handle the Tariffs any better than Trudy?
It was looking like the Cons were going to win in an historic landslide, now the polls supposedly show it’s close due to the anti-US (anti-Trump) rhetoric.
I do think the Cons would be able to engage DJT better. He hates Trudeau and doesn’t respect him (Trudeau has trashed Trump for 8 years), that makes it hard to have a productive conversation.
Regardless, I believe the Cons would gut the public service, unleash the O&G industry and hopefully DOGE our spending to help unleash our economy. I care more about that, tbh, than the tariffs.
I didn‘t think the Cons would have the testicular fortitude to gut the public service sector - though I can only imagine it‘s even more of a mess than it is here, especially re: “First Nations” spending that never, ever seems to end up at its supposed destination. Good to think they may make that a priority.
I think Cons still have to deal with immigration, however, and they seem as bad about that as the Liberals, but, that‘s just my observation from this side of the border.
Likewise, I have some doubts re: polling.
I decided to be masochistic the other day and watched the Liberal debate unfold - I‘m not sure if ANY L candidates would be an improvement over Trudy - Carney comes off as more out of touch than Trudy & Freeland seemed off her rocker.
Impressed that a Canadian would say this.
I am American, but a friend of Canada. I agree.
I am also a Canadian, and hate Trudeau. He’s been a disaster for the country. But these tariffs on Canada are acting in bad faith. Canadians love America and Americans. We holiday, own homes, do business and have friends in America. The accusation that the US has a massive trade deficit with Canada is flat out wrong. What deficit that does exist is made up of the sale of Western Canadian Select crude which sells to the US for $56 a barrel. WTI crude sells at $68. This discounted oil (because we essentially only sell it to the US) is then refined in a massive US refining complex in Texas and the Gulf States and used for domestic consumption or world export. You are buying low and selling high - it’s a win win, the US is not losing on this deal. Here are the trade statistics
https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/canada
https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/imports/canada/crude-oil-petroleum-bituminous-minerals
Removing oil from the equation, which again sells for less than WTI - the USA has roughly a 40B trade surplus with Canada in goods.
Canada needs to do more on defense spending. Full stop. We probably should pay something to the US until we reach an equivalent spending per capita. That would be fair and that would be a supported conversation worth having. Canada could open its banking, and dairy sectors more. That would be great for everyone. But this is not that. I will tell you, as a conservative Canadian hailing from the most conservative part of Canada. This is having an opposite effect than intended. This fentanyl ruse (for Canada’s part) is insulting. We will not respond favorably to being strong armed and coerced. Canada can cause the US some pain sure, but that won’t be long term the legacy or the true damage. It’s the relationship. The conversations happening in Canada should be disturbing for the US. We will do what we need to survive and deal with who we need to. And we are prepared to suffer. As a Canadian, this feels like a betrayal from your best friend. If the US can’t be counted on to honor their trade agreements, or operate in good faith to a generational friend and ally. Canada and Canadians will turn away, and on a generational time scale.
He said he was going to do this...he is doing this....and I voted for it...it's time to change the way government has been treating us as US citizens.
And how the US is being treated in the world. Most of the countries treat the US as a cash cow to subsidize everything they want and need. From defense to medicines to keeping sea lanes open. The huge cost of being the world's police officer is never shared. The patsies who've been in charge for 30-40 years allowed the US to be used and we have a huge debt to show for it.
agreed and those patsies who have been in charge have profited mightily from it at our expense and I am glad it's being addressed.....
Most Americans don't have a clue of the actual cost of a barrel of oil when factoring in the costs of US military protection of the shipping lanes.
Most Americans don't understand the economics of why egg prices didn't come down two weeks after Trump's inauguration. I guess they just thought he would wave a magic wand or something.
Or don't understand the basic biology of how long a female chick of an egg-laying breed takes to grow up enough to lay eggs. They are living creatures, not machines.
The stock market will decline whether or not the tariffs. It is massively overvalued and has been. This is the greatest bubble of all-time (modern history). People look to lay blame and Trump/tariffs will be a leading cause for about half the population. Look to the Federal Reserve instead. The trigger doesn't matter.
Tariffs are not inflationary - Michael Ashton "The Inflation Guy". Also read Michael Every with regard to geopolitics.
Your point is very valid and mostly overlooked. Thank you for the sanity.
This is a pretty good summary and consistent with much of Michael Every.
https://unherd.com/2025/02/why-trumps-tariffs-are-a-masterplan/
For some reason substack would not let me vote on the poll. I am a paid subscriber, but the message I received was "only subscribers can vote."
At any rate, I decided to comment simply because I don't care for the way the poll is crafted. The design will lower the approval rate for those supporting the tariffs, since the "approval" button requires one to accept the faulty premise there will be pain.
The entire narrative the stock market will tank, inflation will go bananas, etc..., due to tariffs was COMPLETELY DEBUNKED in Trump's first term. The Trump Admin imposed extensive tariffs in his first term and the stock market went up, consumer prices went down, jobs returned to the USA and the economy boomed.
It would be nice to see those FACTS acknowledged at the least and the poll (unscientific though it may be) worded appropriately.
I think how Alex phrases it, "a lot of you strongly support Donald Trump" is also somewhat misleading. I support Trump, but I support Trump because of his policies: things such as lower taxes, smaller government (e.g. more liberty), reforms of the 3 letter agencies that have gotten carte blanche without meaningful oversight, originalist judges and justices, election reform so that we have free, fair, and honest elections, and one that is run to the benefit of the citizens, not people breaking the law to come here. So it isn't that I would support Trump on anything, but he has done a great job on pushing policies that will return the US to a freer country, one that is run based on the founding documents (or at least one that is getting closer to that).
Well said! I probably wouldn’t invite him to dinner, but I do agree with his policies
I don't understand why people think the candidate must be their best friend. The question is, "Can he do what I want him to do?"
For example, many people in 2020 didn't "like" (or worse) Trump. So we had four years of Good Ole Joe from Scranton.
How'd that work out?
I agree- we all know what Alex thinks, and I’m not sure why he’s so short sighted, when he was able to see the Long Term consequences of the COVID shots. Setting Tariffs to further incentivize Mexico and Canada to do more to stop the flow of illegals and drugs (which he already acknowledges they started doing just under the threat) is the best and smartest play right now. It’s not a temporary problem that will be solved with just a temporary fix, and we are 10 plus years behind on trying to dig ourselves out of the massive hole we are in regarding those two issues. Improving both of those will in turn improve our economy, probably much sooner than Alex believes.
I would have to agree that some of the phrasing seemed almost like it was a push-poll versus a more objective poll.
I would guess that a lot of people have no idea that other countries place tariffs on OUR goods that they import. Often or probably mostly, their tariffs are much much higher than ours. An example is that Germany (and EU) charges 10% tariffs on imported American cars. The U.S. charges 2.5% on imported German cars. Yet everyone is wailing about Trump's suggestion to charge equal tariffs! Seems fair to me.
You clearly did not have to buy a washing machine at that time.
And yet somehow you lived through it.
It's pretty easy to state that when Trump was last in office, his rounds of tariffs did NOT cause any noticeable inflation. The tariffs that other countries put on their products do need to be countered.
We lose billions to China, Euro Union, Canada, and Mexico every year in trade deficits. They charge us to sell to them. We have always had the lowest tariffs of any country. If we reduce those trade deficits, we also reduce our own operating deficits. And, demand for US made products will go up since they'll be cheaper.
1) If the New York Times says Mexico is cracking down, it confirms Trump is right they are not doing so adequately. Kind of like Biden's "Bipartisan Immigration Reform", which did nothing of the kind. Trump wants/expects REAL results, not just a nod from the NYT and cronies.
2) The stock market is the toy of the uber wealthy. They'll use what they want to scare people and make it drop, then buy up cheap and up it goes again for them. Presto magico. The common investor just needs to learn not to buy the MSM agitprop.
3) Honda gets the tariffs...suspect other large companies will too. Their (and Apple's) actions tell you a whole lot more truth than some one day stock market fluctuation.
Yes, and kind of also like "The Inflation Reduction Act" which was Orwellian in the title.
Well, you do have to admit all that inflation did reduce the economy, so there was plenty of "inflation reduction"!
Yes, looking forward to many companies bringing some manufacturing back to the US.
Any one that has read the latest Peter Zeihan book knows this was coming. We will have to make bilateral agreements about trade with individual countries. These big trade agreements do t work for our benefit anymore. We have to break the globalist theory on trade
Tariffs sting everyone but they sting others more. Leverage. We need to stop being the ATM of the western world and get our own house in order. We’re a generous and gracious nation and we’ve been taken advantage of. Creating a dependent class doesn’t work here either….
Agreed. I’m hoping those in the dependent class, and others, understand that and utilize patience.
There is no way out of this fiscal mess without some pain and some will not like it. This is our chance to reset our republic and move forward. Tariffs are a negotiating tactic and I trust Trump to use them wisely. Zero base budgeting and examine the real purpose and expense of our government. Re Founding fathers at work here. Give them some room.
Trump did not provoke a trade war with Canada. It was Canada who declared a trade war against us a very long time ago. CANADA TARIFFS THE CRAP OUT OF US !!! Some of them are over 80% (or much worse as Uncle AI pointed out below). It's about time somebody finally retaliated against them. China?? We all know they abuse us to death. How about no respect whatsoever for intellectual property rights. China can't build anything without American know-how. Any advanced technology China has was stolen from the US. Honestly, I thought Trump already whipped Mexico into shape. I'm not sure what he's still doing there, but I bet we'll find out.
Some are much higher than 80%. IIRC, eggs are 225%, pork and pork products 300% or more.
Agree
Governing based on the stock market is foolish
Stock market can also be manipulated, just like all the "protests" happening. The left will use every trick in their anti american playbook to hurt the Trump presidency.
The total amount of imports from Canada and Mexico only account for about 3.25% of the U.S. economy. Not exactly an economy buster if some prices move up.
It’s likely buyers (who pay the tariffs) will pressure suppliers to eat at least some of the costs - and may absorb some of the costs themselves, so the real dollar impact won’t be close to the full 25% tariff charge.
You’re right—imports from Canada and Mexico clocking in at just 3.25% of the U.S. economy aren’t enough to tank things, even if tariffs nudge some prices up. The market’s got a way of adapting, and one big shift could be buyers pivoting to U.S.-made products. If tariffs jack up the cost of importing, say, auto parts or produce, companies and consumers don’t just sit there—they sniff out alternatives. Domestic suppliers—think steel mills in Ohio or farmers in Iowa—could see demand spike as buyers ditch pricier foreign goods. That’s not wishful thinking; it’s basic economics. Look at how steel tariffs under Trump in 2018 gave U.S. producers a jolt—production rose about 5% in a year, per U.S. Census data, as buyers leaned local.
Your point about buyers and suppliers splitting the tariff hit is spot-on too. Importers aren’t dumb—they’ll haggle with Canadian or Mexican suppliers to shave costs, or eat some of it themselves to stay competitive. So, a 25% tariff doesn’t mean a 25% price hike across the board; it’s more like a ripple than a tidal wave. Meanwhile, U.S. producers get breathing room to ramp up, hire more, and grab market share. The stock market might not cheer the transition—it hates uncertainty—but over time, that shift could mean more jobs and output here. Noise fades; results stick.
Excellent analysis. Thank you. I hadn’t thought about it that way.
Another powerful tool in their arsenal is closely linked to tax cuts. With a range of options at their disposal, they could effectively offset the burden of tariffs, stimulate economic growth, and create high-paying jobs here in the U.S. The current administration has a deliberate strategy—and it’s not just scribbled on the back of Donald Trump’s napkin.
Slash spending, leverage tariffs, pair them with smart tax cuts, and deregulate—then step back and watch capitalism ignite. The strategy hinges on coordination: tariffs bring in revenue and shield domestic industries, while tax cuts and deregulation unleash businesses to innovate and hire. Spending cuts keep the budget in check. Done right, it’s a recipe for growth—let the market do the heavy lifting.
Imagine channeling Milton Friedman: ban the minimum wage, swap it with a negative income tax for the poorest, and watch the economy roar. Friedman argued that minimum wages distort labor markets, pricing out low-skill workers and inflating costs. A negative tax—direct cash to those below a threshold—puts money where it’s needed without gumming up hiring. Pair that with spending cuts, tariffs, and deregulation, and you’d see businesses compete, prices stabilize, and jobs multiply. The catch? Execution. Get the tax levels wrong, and you either starve the poor or bloat the bureaucracy. Done right, it’s capitalism with a safety net—raw, efficient, and unapologetic.
We already have a negative income tax for the poor, especially for those with young children. Do a sample tax return of a mother of 2 making just $22,700/years (clearly a struggle) and between the EITC and the refundable portion of the CTC, she will pay $0.00 in income tax while getting a net refund of $9,990 - in a lump sum refund check (these need to be doled out over 12 months). On top of that, she will qualify for over $500/month in food stamps - and would also likely be eligible for rental assistance, Medicaid and who knows what else.
I know for a fact that a lot of young people (20-somethings) live as a family with kids but do not get married so they can collect benefits such you you mentioned.
We don’t have negative tax for the poor. We have negative tax for those with children.
While substantially smaller - a single person making $10,000 would get $632 as an EITC. It’s a pittance, but a negative income tax nonetheless.
Bravo! Some commenters were asking for a basic economics/tariff lesson. I think you’ve provided just that in your comments today. Much appreciated! While I understand business principles, having run a small business for 30+ years, I don’t have any training or experience in foreign markets, tariffs, tax cuts, or the teachings of Milton Friedman. The All In podcast has provided me with a bit of an education on this as well. David Friedberg on that podcast is also very vocal about his concern for the deficit and national debt. He recorded a podcast with Ray Dalio which was very informative as well.
Too many self-anointed experts fumble the debt debate, hyperventilating over deficits like it’s Armageddon. Ken Fisher slices through the hysteria with a clearer take: the $35 trillion debt isn’t the apocalypse—it’s reckless government spending that’s the real rot. Interest payments as a slice of GDP remain tame, far below the ’90s freakout levels, and long-term bond rates—lazing at historical averages, not spiking to 10%—back him up. The deficit phobia’s overcooked; it doesn’t strangle the economy unless the cash gets flushed into bloated, brain-dead programs. Fisher’s fix? Hack away at the waste—tariffs, tax cuts, and deregulation can fuel growth to shoulder the debt. The true crime isn’t the number on the ledger; it’s dumping money into bureaucratic black holes and corporate welfare dressed up as ‘stimulus.’ That’s what robs the future, not some fearmonger’s spreadsheet bogeyman.
I had the privilege of working with Ken Fisher—an MBA earned the hard way, by absorbing his unmatched mastery of capital markets and the economy. He’s forgotten more about these subjects than most so-called experts will ever grasp in a lifetime. If Ken Fisher is anything, he’s a genius.
Day-to-day stock market swings—like a 1%, 2%, or even 4% drop—are just background noise, not a referendum on any single headline. The media loves to pin it on something flashy, like “Trump’s tariffs,” but that’s oversimplified nonsense. The market’s a tangled mess of forces—expectations, trading algorithms, global events—and tariffs are just one thread, if that. Truth is, things could get a lot uglier before they turn around, and that’s not a bad thing. A real shakeout could clear the deck for something better.
Over time, tariffs paired with tax cuts could actually juice the U.S. economy, putting more money in the average worker’s pocket and easing inflation’s bite. The logic’s straightforward: protect domestic industries, boost jobs, and keep prices from spiraling—especially if we get serious about slashing spending. That’s the kicker—cut the fat, and the whole system runs leaner. The market might twitch and groan in the short term, but that’s just the sound of it adjusting to a bigger shift. Patience pays off here.
You seem to be assuming that the tariffs are causing the stock market decline. The market was probably over bought anyway.
No pain, no gain.