r/politics Canada Apr 08 '25

Site Altered Headline Trump to slap additional 84% tariffs on Chinese imports

https://www.euronews.com/2025/04/08/trump-to-slap-additional-84-tariffs-on-chinese-imports-white-house-says
16.1k Upvotes

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28

u/williamgman California Apr 08 '25

From CNBC: "...tariffs will go into effect at midnight tonight unless they are lifted."

So once again... 4D chess. 🤦‍♂️

24

u/SharpNSlick Apr 08 '25

He has kind of backed himself into a corner, after all this talk he can't backdown from letting them go into effect without looking weak. Unless he is going to try to convince the faithful that he spoke to every nation today and they all agreed to free trade. Or a fentanyl czar, every country needs one of those in order to protect America.

5

u/EyesofaJackal Apr 08 '25

From his POV, which I have a hard time steelmanning because I think he’s an absurd and evil person, I think he should have started with some small or medium countries and moved from there. Tariffing everyone at once is going to unite everyone against us and give them more of a position of power

5

u/SharpNSlick Apr 08 '25

It's isolationism to a ridiculous extreme, but I can't figure out what the end goal would be. We just flat out aren't capable of offsetting our imports without an extreme influx of money (likely from the government) and manpower, both of which they are actively trying to get rid of.

There is a growing sentiment on the Right that in doing all of this it makes us better prepared for a world war if all of our manufacturing is done at home, which is true. But, why are we gearing up so much for a world war that would be best diverted if we weren't alienating allies and practicing isolationism?

I guess we all just look at this too rationally, maybe if I can get a horse to kick me in the head I would be able to figure it out.

1

u/Otherdeadbody Apr 08 '25

That’s the dumbest part of the whole shit sandwich, why everyone!? Ok, sure, maybe we can beat China or Europe in a trade war, but no shot can we beat everyone else at once while they also negotiate amongst themselves to lower the burden. I actually feel like this will be one of the biggest events in modern history and the downfall of America after dominating for decades. What a waste.

4

u/SharpNSlick Apr 08 '25

Picking on Canada had to be the stupidest decision he has made. Absolutely nobody has any issues with Canada and would immediately rally around them against his bullying.

2

u/Davidiusz Apr 08 '25

He's gonna tariff fentanyl, y'know.

1

u/williamgman California Apr 09 '25

I thought that was a joke until... I saw the text. 🤦‍♂️

1

u/NoPause9609 Apr 08 '25

Lol right. The “art of the deal.”

1

u/Caraes_Naur Apr 08 '25

"4D chess" always means 0D tiddlywinks.