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Torillian on 01 February 2025
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IkePoR said:
Torillian said:

So we want to extort them for stuff, nothing to do with fairness or whatever like we can argue with China. So then my argument is that this is a bad move to extort your closest allies in the world. We hurt our legitimacy on the world stage for minimal short term gains. 

Essentially, but not for stuff.  More for influence - if Trump thinks the US is getting the low in a 60/40 deal with Mexico or Canada, he wants to be able to push closer to 50/50.  

The cartels run Mexico and Sheinbaum fears them; he wants to be able to help fix that issue but in return for that help he wants a better deal with the border and imports.  

Tariffs, should they stay in place, are long term gains.  Your argument for hurting our legitimacy - when Trump won in 2016, legitimacy went out the window.  Most countries hate Trump but respect him and/or his power as president enough to play ball.  It's been a 9 year love-hate relationship with the rest of the world.

He's the one that made the recent deal. Why would anyone make a trade deal with America ever again knowing our word means absolutely nothing? 

Tariffs can be long term gains in certain ways if they target specific industries that you want to strengthen for non economic reasons. Economically it's all a loss. I agree that legitimacy was hurt by electing Trump, but it can always get worse. 



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