CAN-USA Tariff Strife (split from various pol threads)

[The Bread Guy]

Very much echos of moscow

https://twitter.com/x/status/1899467690177118503

And ChatGPT's take on the text?

Assessment of Potential Russian Disinformation or Misinformation Influences​

Rating: 8/10

Indicators of Potential Russian Disinformation or Influence​

1. Exaggerated and Unverified Claims:
   
   • The claim that Ontario has placed a 25% tariff on electricity exports to the U.S. lacks supporting evidence. Ontario does export electricity to the U.S., but no known policy matches this description.
   • The idea that Canada’s tariffs on U.S. dairy range from 250% to 390% is misleading. While Canada has supply management policies for dairy, the highest tariffs typically apply only to imports exceeding quota limits under trade agreements. This kind of selective framing is a disinformation tactic.
   • The assertion that the U.S. subsidizes Canada’s national security by "$200 billion per year" is an outright fabrication. Canada is a NATO member and contributes its own defense spending. While the U.S. military plays a role in continental security, there is no direct $200 billion subsidy.
2. Threats and Economic Warfare Narrative:
   
   • The text presents Canada as an economic aggressor, suggesting retaliatory tariffs that could cripple Canada’s auto industry. This aligns with Russia’s broader goal of destabilizing Western alliances, including U.S.-Canada relations.
   • The call for a "National Emergency on Electricity" is baseless and inflammatory, implying an existential threat where none exists—another common disinformation strategy.
3. Political and Territorial Destabilization:
   
   • Advocating for the annexation of Canada ("The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State") is a highly provocative and unrealistic suggestion that would severely strain U.S.-Canada relations.
   • The suggestion that merging the U.S. and Canada would eliminate all tariffs, security concerns, and tax burdens is an oversimplification designed to appeal to populist sentiments.
   • Russian disinformation has a history of promoting narratives that question national sovereignty and fuel internal tensions in NATO-aligned countries.
4. Use of Nationalist and Grandiose Language:
   
   • Phrases like "The greatest and most powerful nation in the World", "The safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World", and "Canada will be a big part of that" serve to stoke ultranationalism and reinforce an America-first ideology.
   • The appeal to keeping "O Canada" as part of a U.S. statehood scenario is an attempt to soften a radical idea by giving it a false sense of inclusivity.

Conclusion:​

This text contains hallmarks of Russian-influenced disinformation:

• Economic misinformation
• Attempts to weaken U.S.-Canada relations
• Sovereignty disputes and exaggerated threats
• Nationalist rhetoric that aligns with destabilization efforts

While this message may originate domestically, its themes and structure mirror Russian disinformation tactics aimed at fracturing Western alliances.

 

[HavokFour]

I'm wondering if the current situation might actually give Republicans pause and have second thoughts on this little tidbit.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1899482408862237018

 

[Genetk44]

Wow. Doug Ford really triggered him lol

I firmly believe that Trump has been angling all along, right from the get-go of this, that Canada would try and use our energy sales to the US as a counter-measure to his actions. Gives him a perfect excuse to actually escalate to military action, as far-fetched as that may seem……I always remember a certain German radio station near the Polish border some years ago.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

The US is not going to invade us militarily. Especially if they don't want to fight an insurgency that would make Iraq and Afghanistan look like a playground scuffle.

 

[MilEME09]

The US is not going to invade us militarily. Especially if they don't want to fight an insurgency that would make Iraq and Afghanistan look like a playground scuffle.

Given how irrational, erratic and unpredictable this president is, i do not discount it as a possibility.

 

[Genetk44]

The US is not going to invade us militarily.

Yeah, that’s what people kept saying about Russian in January 2022. We keep messing with their energy supplies we’ll be giving them a very good reason to get very nasty…..and if we interfere with their food security on top ofmessing with their energy??

 

[Mills Bomb]

Canadians in US for over 30 days will be required to register with government

abcnews.go.com

"Canadians who are in the United States for 30 days or longer will soon have to register their information with the United States government, according to a notice obtained by ABC News."

"Those who stay for longer than 30 days will be required to apply for registration with the federal government and be fingerprinted starting on April 11, according to the rule, which is expected to be posted on the federal register Wednesday"

Closer monitoring of Canadians within the USA just announced, and, finger-printing...

 

[Good2Golf]

We keep messing with their energy supplies we’ll be giving them a very good reason to get very nasty…..and if we interfere with their food security on top ofmessing with their energy??

Except that POTUS said America doesn’t need Canadian energy, that it is self-sufficient.

So…just stop buying Canadian oil, gas, electricity and uranium.

Simple as that.

 

[OldSolduer]

The US is not going to invade us militarily. Especially if they don't want to fight an insurgency that would make Iraq and Afghanistan look like a playground scuffle.

Maybe - I’d venture to say a number of Canadians would not take up arms. I dare say some would.

 

[PrairieFella]

Maybe - I’d venture to say a number of Canadians would not take up arms. I dare say some would.

I sure hope everyone here would do their duty as members of the Armed Forces.

 

[IKnowNothing]

Except that POTUS said America doesn’t need Canadian energy, that it is self-sufficient.

So…just stop buying Canadian oil, gas, electricity and uranium.

Simple as that.

Come now. Trade manipulation for the elastic goods he wants to onshore, not the inelastic ones he can't. Miran's playbook didn't include this response, therefore it's not allowed.

 

[MilEME09]

Except that POTUS said America doesn’t need Canadian energy, that it is self-sufficient.

So…just stop buying Canadian oil, gas, electricity and uranium.

Simple as that.

Better yet cut it off before they can ween off

 

[RangerRay]

Plus Tesla stock absolutely shit itself. Down 15.43% on the day, and over 50% since mid December. Musk is destroying the value of the brand.

Am I missing something, but why hasn’t the board of Tesla fired his ass for failing to uphold his fiduciary responsibilities to the shareholders of the company? My understanding is that he’s the CEO of o corporation, not the owner. But I admit, my knowledge may not be the best here.

 

[Quirky]

The US is not going to invade us militarily. Especially if they don't want to fight an insurgency that would make Iraq and Afghanistan look like a playground scuffle.

The only insurgency will be the keyboard warriors coming out in full force complaining on Reddit.

 

[lenaitch]

Our greenhouses are profitable because of our location. We can operate year round because of it. Our climate is conducive to it. We are on the same latitude as Northern Cali and Rome, Italy. Lots of sun, year round, very moderate temps, right on the most used border crossing in NA and on Hwy 401. Things like snow load and wind have little effect here. The further north you go the less profitable greenhouses become.

But you are in tornado alley. Have they done anything to harden them against wind, debris, hail, etc.?

Yes, we are blessed here in our tiny corner of Canada. The soil here was lake bottom at one time and exceedingly organic. Our climate is second to none. We are further south than many US states. If it’s not grown in greehouses, it’s grown on farms that are most of the county land. We have a number of vineyards and wine production, craft brewers, local meat and poultry producers. In urban areas, like Windsor, you find Canada’s auto capital, robotics manufacturers, the hub of Canadian tool and die shops and innovation. There's a lot packed into this little county. And yes, we even have real palm trees growing down here. BTW, Highbury Canco (Hienz), only takes field tomatoes. They don't use any hothouse products.

As an aside, our greenhouses are huge corporations with other greenhouse operations in Ohio, Alabama, California and Mexico.

Look at our little area on the map. We're the yellow bit, south of Detroit. Well into the States.

https://www.geographicguide.com/pictures/map-north-america.jpg

But it is so flat and boring. I was doing some work with ground search teams a number of years ago and somebody quipped that the highest point of land was a 401 overpass. Another said 'what's the first thing you do when responding to a lost person'. Yell "stand up!"

 

[lenaitch]

But maybe a better question is...do we need fresh fruit and vegetables all the time? Growing up in the north you had berries/crab apples and some BC produce trucked north depending on season. Everything else was very limited options and/or quantities....and don't ask about prices. Canned and frozen goods were the common replacement for most side dishes. And the first garden harvests were always a nice mini-celebration compared to more canned beans.

Fair point. Much of it is lifestyle and availability due to better transportation and growing /packaging methods to enable long distance transportation. Growing up, I had no idea what an Avocado was and products like Strawberries and Watermelon were in-season treats.

 

[HavokFour]

Canadians in US for over 30 days will be required to register with government

abcnews.go.com

"Canadians who are in the United States for 30 days or longer will soon have to register their information with the United States government, according to a notice obtained by ABC News."

"Those who stay for longer than 30 days will be required to apply for registration with the federal government and be fingerprinted starting on April 11, according to the rule, which is expected to be posted on the federal register Wednesday"

Closer monitoring of Canadians within the USA just announced, and, finger-printing...

Be interesting to see how this will effect the snowbirds next fall.

 

[daftandbarmy]

King Lear comes to mind

"Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!
You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout
Till you have drench’d our steeples, drown’d the cocks!"

Trump lashes out at Canada, promising major tariff hike and financial penalties that will be 'so big'​

U.S. president says he will double steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-canada-steel-alumimum-tariffs-1.7480309

 

[Czech_pivo]

Better yet cut it off before they can ween off

I can't see them ever being able to ween themselves off our available resources, being unrefined or refined.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Be interesting to see how this will effect the snowbirds next fall.

If it becomes a real issue, it will effect their real estate sectors in some southern states.

A smart country, say Portugal or Spain, would be looking at this as an opportunity to gather up some of these snow birds and gently guide them to their shores. The cost of living for 1, 2, 3+ months in Portugal/Spain is substantially cheaper overall (including flights) than being in Florida/Arizona.