Summary

Trump announced that 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico will take effect on February 1, though a decision on including oil remains pending.

He justified the move by citing undocumented migration, fentanyl trafficking, and trade deficits.

Trump also hinted at new tariffs on China.

Canada and Mexico plan retaliatory measures while seeking to address U.S. concerns.

If oil imports are taxed, it could raise costs for businesses and consumers, potentially contradicting Trump’s pledge to reduce living expenses.

  • protist@mander.xyz
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    19
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    10 hours ago

    I live in Texas, and it’s hard to overstate how much of our produce is imported from Mexico. This would be an almost immediate 25% price hike on food that basically can’t be grown at scale here because we don’t have Mexico’s climate. Surely he’d exempt food from whatever he’s about to do. Right…?

    • puntinoblue@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 hour ago

      I expect food would be exempt as you don’t want an angry, hungry, volatile population. Bread and Circuses

    • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      5 hours ago

      “surely he’d exempt X from…”

      Exact same reflection as all the people who depend on migrant workers that voted for him only for the bubble to burst in their face.

    • adarza@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      7 hours ago

      it’s a 25% import tax paid by the importer. when their margins are added, and then the distributors’ on top of their higher costs, at each step of the distribution chain… it’ll be a fair bit more than ‘just’ +25% once product reaches the store shelves.

    • chingadera@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      edit-2
      8 hours ago

      Will it benefit the average person? If the answer is yes, you can take it off the list.

      Even if it benefits the rich, it would have to exponentially hurt the average American more for it to be considered. They’ve already turned their nose up at studies that have proven better working conditions, pay, and benefits would make them richer in the long run because it takes a little bit of control away from them. These people are sick, and the only thing that is going to correct it at this point is a violent uprising.