Brexit

[palou]

Victorlink87 said:

JRPGfan said:

Trump isnt against unfair trade,.... he just wants all trade to be unfair towards the other parties.
Thats basially what "america first" means. He is unwilling to deal, without there being huge gains for the US.

Also yes, divide and conquer, is probably what he is thinking, and what the russians/chinese want too.
But why would the US want a weak ally they can take advantage of? instead of a strong partner?

Ever heard the expression "with friends like you, who needs enemies?"
Basically trump doesnt set out to make friends, in his world view, screwing everyone over, even friends for profits, is the way of things.

In this way, he differs quite alot compaired to most past US presidents.

I would have to disagree to an extent. The US has been absolutely taken advantage of in the area of trade for decades. Tariffs have been imposed upon the US, but the US imposes no or much smaller tariffs resulting in massive trade deficits, half a trillion to a trillion dollars. Trump has helped level that playing field quite a bit. The main culprits of the unfair and lopsided deals for the US were the EU and China.

 

In all honesty all leaders of countries should be trying to do what is best for their country. Including not rolling over to unfair/bad deals.

 

Interestingly enough both parties agreed that US was losing in trade deals before Trump. It wasnt until Trump that the divide happened. I understand and agree with the Trump disdain, but I hate that it has caused so many on both sides to turn a blind eye.

 

Lastly, we can pretend all we want that the leaders in the EU, Russia, and China arent trying to get over on other major countries and unions, but we would be lieing to ourselves. Everyone does it and if everyone is trying to do it, no one will succeed and we all win.

Well, the latest US trade deficit data we have, is a 10-year high, so the effectiveness of the measures taken could be put into question.

 

I'm more concerned about the methods which Trump is taking to implement those changes. The EU has been in recent years willing to engage in, and is actively seeking, opportunities to open markets with its allies - They recently completed significant deals with Canada and Japan, which have been worked on for quite some time (Japan received the car import tariff reduction Trump has been wanting so much, for example.) That just takes a bit of time, and diplomacy, to make a deal that satisfies all and allow a smooth transition while maintaining good relations. Trump instead sees it fit to bypass international laws and procedure, and purposely antagonizes trading partners, which leads to trade war, both sides seeing how reciprocal damage can be applied to each other, rather than seeking how to construct a mutually beneficial economical relationship.