The inevitable has happened—Trump’s tariffs are now in effect, after Trump told reporters in his daily ramblings that there was nothing Canada or Mexico could do to forestall them. It was obvious they were going to happen—Trump and his economic advisors have decided that they love tariffs, and that it’s going to solve their revenue problems for the big tax cuts they plan to give billionaires. It won’t—tariffs are paid by the importers, who pass it along to consumers, but Trump refuses to believe that, so it’s the American people who are coming in for a world of hurt, especially as the stock market started to plunge once the markets started to realise that Trump was being serious.
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-03-04T06:17:07.867Z
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-03-04T06:18:16.623Z
Here at home, Justin Trudeau announced that the first tranche of retaliatory measures would start immediately, with more to come after consultation. Of course, the last line in his statement should have been the first—that it’s the Americans who have broken the agreement that Trump himself signed, which speaks volumes about the Americans can no longer be trusted to uphold their own agreements. Oh, and Trump is still planning on increasing duties on lumber coming from Canada, so keep an eye out for that as well. As the trade war ramps up, here is a look at what to expect, and how provinces are also expected to respond with their own measures.
Trudeau's statement on the coming tariffs and counter-tariffs. #cdnpoli
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-03-04T01:59:14.433Z
Here is the plan, from Feb 2nd:www.canada.ca/en/departmen…Tariffs on $30B of goods now; another $125B in a few weeks.Here's the detailed list of products covered by the initial action tomorrow:www.canada.ca/en/departmen…
— Kevin Milligan (@kevinmilligan.bsky.social) 2025-03-04T02:10:25.520Z
I'm ok with some countertariffs; we need to use all tools. But tariffs on peanut butter and OJ aren't enough.We need to see aggressive non-tariff actions.No one in America seems to want to take the fight to Trump. But we can and we should and we will. Elbows up!
— Kevin Milligan (@kevinmilligan.bsky.social) 2025-03-04T03:16:59.941Z
True to form, Pierre Poilievre decided that blaming the government for the imposition of tariffs was the way to go, with a bunch of mendacious fabrications about what they have and have not been doing, with the have-not mostly being to implement his plans with alacrity, as though he’s a super genius who has it all figured out, when, well, we know that’s not exactly true.
Next, this guy will blame Ukraine for Russia's invasion.
Embarrassing. https://t.co/QrdQ6UQo5U
— Alheli Picazo (@a_picazo) March 4, 2025
Of course, we were also treated to a Doug Ford performance, as he got all theatrically angry on American television and threatened to cut off electricity across the border, and that he would do it with a smile. Of course, Ford (who is claiming he got a “stronger mandate” in last week’s election in spite of losing seats) is all talk. His bluff is going to be called, and no electricity will actually be cut off, because it’s not going to be that easy to do in spite of what he thinks, and you can bet he’ll come up with some kind of excuse about why he was all bluster.
I suspect Doug Ford or someone senior working for him is currently being briefed urgently on the logistics and implications of cutting off Ontario power to U.S. customers.
— Chris Selley (@cselley) March 4, 2025
— Effin' Birds (@EffinBirds) March 4, 2025
Ukraine Dispatch
A Russian drone attack injured four and damaged energy infrastructure in Odesa. Ukraine is also investigating negligence surrounding a Russian missile strike on a military graining ground over the weekend. As expected, the Americans have “paused” their aid to Ukraine, as last week’s ambush was a set-up in order to give a justification for their plans to do so.
Ukraine is fighting for the normal and safe life it deserves, for a just and reliable peace. We want this war to end. But Russia does not, and continues its aerial terror: over the past week, more than 1,050 attack drones, nearly 1,300 aerial bombs, and more than 20 missiles have… pic.twitter.com/OkZMY9hhgT
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 3, 2025
Or to put it another way, Lutnick doesn’t see the problem with Russia orchestrating mass killings like in Bucha in other places in Ukraine that he’s willing to let Russia occupy. https://t.co/MjnW0Jc6dR
— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) March 3, 2025