Can anyone point to an historical case study where protective tariffs resulted in a better economic or social outcome? I can’t help but recall the saying: “When goods don’t cross borders, soldiers soon will.” Not that I think the United States is going to war with Canada, but the (German-dominated) EU and China are less certain.
Canada hits back at 'punitive' U.S. tariffs in 'turning point' in relations
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Re: Canada hits back at 'punitive' U.S. tariffs in 'turning point' in relations
#12Tariffs, and protectionism, are such an extreme measure. It should only be used against countries that you're going to war with. They should never be used in the course of normal trade. America is like 50 countries with open border & free trade policy between them. Can you imagine what would happen if states decided to impose tariffs on each other?
Not quite. When 2 nations are each protective, it's bad for both. If they are both open, it's generally good for both. But - if one protects in a sneaky way, and the other is open - the it's amazing for the protectionist country. So nations strive to be 'open' but then to sneak in stuff, or rather, sometimes they are open, but really are not. It's impossible for American companies to sell into Japan for many reasons,…
And the US Dollar is NOT a 100% politically controlled currency, in your view?
Re: Canada hits back at 'punitive' U.S. tariffs in 'turning point' in relations
#13Is Trump’s point that the prices of these goods abroad are artificially low, so he’s going to implement tariffs to correct for that? If so, do counter-tariffs strengthen this argument? This would seem to create an infinite protectionist feedback loop.
Re: Canada hits back at 'punitive' U.S. tariffs in 'turning point' in relations
#14Re: Canada hits back at 'punitive' U.S. tariffs in 'turning point' in relations
#15Notice of intent to impose countermeasures action against the United States in response to tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products:
Re: Canada hits back at 'punitive' U.S. tariffs in 'turning point' in relations
#16Opinion: Trade sanctions against America won’t work. Sanctioning Trump himself might. https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/trade-sanctions-against-amer...
What a fantastic idea.
Re: Canada hits back at 'punitive' U.S. tariffs in 'turning point' in relations
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
Canada's dairy industry has had a long history of protection. It is likely that this industry would not exist without this protection.
It's true, the dairy farmers here in Canada act like an full fledged mafia
I don’t know enough about them to comment but situations like that is why trade agreements have tribunals and things go through the WTO etc etc. It’s a very complex balance with complex systems.
Canada also imports more than four times the dairy than it exports: http://www.cdc-ccl.gc.ca/CDC/index-eng.php?id=3803 (poutine 2-3 times per day adds up I guess).
Trump’s only direct authority for imposing steel tariffs is a narrow national security clause which is absurd and insulting to use against Canada and demonstrates that America can’t be trusted.
Even if a future president tries to rebuild international relationships I would be hesitant to waste years of effort working out any international agreement with America when the next TV populist president can easily tear it up. Unfortunately it takes a lot more effort to build things than tear them down.
Re: Canada hits back at 'punitive' U.S. tariffs in 'turning point' in relations
#18Can anyone point to an historical case study where protective tariffs resulted in a better economic or social outcome? I can’t help but recall the saying: “When goods don’t cross borders, soldiers soon will.” Not that I think the United States is going to war with Canada, but the (German-dominated) EU and China are less certain.
The US when it was industrializing? China now? Protectionism can be good for large nations/markets catching up to other nations/markets.
Re: Canada hits back at 'punitive' U.S. tariffs in 'turning point' in relations
#19Can anyone point to an historical case study where protective tariffs resulted in a better economic or social outcome? I can’t help but recall the saying: “When goods don’t cross borders, soldiers soon will.” Not that I think the United States is going to war with Canada, but the (German-dominated) EU and China are less certain.
Why would Germany invade Canada?
More seriously, I will be pretty surprised if this particular stupidity escalates to any kind of military action.
Re: Canada hits back at 'punitive' U.S. tariffs in 'turning point' in relations
#20Tariffs, and protectionism, are such an extreme measure. It should only be used against countries that you're going to war with. They should never be used in the course of normal trade. America is like 50 countries with open border & free trade policy between them. Can you imagine what would happen if states decided to impose tariffs on each other?
I think you mean sanctions, not tariffs or quotas. There is not a single country that does not apply tariffs or quotas.