Some time ago I made a few posts about the USA being 'number 1'
And the way the USA thinks means everyone else doesn't even count. Looks like them chickens have come home to roost.
Canada is a weak country. For years it towed the American line but with no benefit to itself. When Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, as a small example, the result was not good for Canada. When Canada imposed tariffs on Chinese electric cars, the result was not good for Canada. In the USA, people like Donald Trump were quietly thinking "look how much Canada bends over and gets nothing in return. Let's push it some more". Doug Ford, after saying he would not remove ANY of the tariffs and electricity export charges until the USA did the same, caved in about two seconds later after going to a meeting. He could meet me and get nothing either. He is another "talk big" but otherwise weak politician. Carney, who I have never liked, so I won't even put his first name here, is weak too. Watch how he loves to gesture with his hands, but says nothing.
It makes me chuckle when people like John Kennedy say that Canada should just remove its tariffs and the USA will do the same, he forgets to mention there already is a trade agreement in place negotiated by none other than Donald Trump. But Canada thought it was special, which is another sign of weakness.
Canada can talk big, but can't back it up. I wonder how long it will be until it capitulates. The voices will start being heard: maybe becoming a US state won't be too bad.
Trump is not entirely correct when he says other countries have taken advantage of the USA, but there is some truth in it from a different angle. If the much touted 'richest country in the world' (actually most in debt) really is the richest, then it can't be doing too badly. It is the top 1% who offshored production to cheaper countries. Cheaper countries did not take the business, they were given it. It is the 1% who wiped out the middle class and much of the working class. Bringing back production to the USA for something as basic as shoes will lead to higher shoe prices, because the cost of labour is so much higher. Tariffs will not fix that.
Canada is not in the same league as China. The response will not be the same. China's total exports to the USA amount to about 3% of its GDP. China can survive without the USA. But the USA consumer is going to have a hard time. Sure, there is lots of cheap Chinese crap out there. But there is also a huge amount of good stuff.
The USA is not a friend. It is looking out for its own interests. The non-weak countries around the world do the same.
There will be lots of spin, as can be seen in this very article. Check the language: "This of course isn't the first time China has weaponized its rare earth reserves."
When the USA imposes tariffs, sanctions, or whatever it is spun as being somehow 'right'. When China does the same, it is called 'weaponizing'. To the author of this article, get your vocabulary consistent. The USA has long weaponised the dollar, and them chickens are coming in to roost around the world. The USA has weaponised electric cars, but banning Chinese electric cars. So let's have a little consistency and a less spin.