John Drake

Alas, if it comes in a little early and a bit further south, it could hit Bangkok. When would the mob scene start at the airport?

The trouble is that mercantilism fuels colonialism. Or at least that is what happened with European powers in the 19th century, where they fought to control raw materials in particular to manufacture finished products for export back to the colonies and elsewhere. That is precisely what Trump's old trade deal and this supposed new one seek to do, export things like American grain and meat, while receiving finished goods in return. And of course China never even lived up to this agreement originally. This will make the US a colony of China.

For some reason, DJT is also on the warpath about VAT. Thailand loads up on that through domestic and foreign tourists.

Trump and Elon are selling out the US. The country's international standing and domestic stability has been eviscerated in a mere four weeks. The US now has a foreign policy made in Beijing.

Trump, with Elon's backing, completes the circle. First North Korea, then Russia, and now China. I said a year ago on this forum he would betray his supporters on China, and now he's trying to do so. He's running up a surrender flag everywhere. https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/trump-eyes-new-trade-deal-with-china-includes-substantial-purchases-of-us-goods--nyt-93CH-3877869

The imagery is already burning into people's minds, establishing a lasting public perception: Trump sitting at the table with Elon looming over him, while both of them for some reason chuckling about giving the world over to Russia and China.

Which brings up the most interesting question of all: where do they all evacuate to? That impact line runs across some the most crowded impoverished portions of the Global South. Imagine 100 million people moving in one solid mass towards the new homeland in Europe or North America. Somehow, I don't think the Chinese are going to let them in, although that tip in Bangladesh could mean they'll try for China but will probably settle for Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos.

It was inevitable that Trump would botch up things sooner or later. All of his other issues are disappearing from view as he descends into this Ukraine fiasco. There is a shift in perception of him as a leader. You can feel it. He's going to blow his entire presidency because of some personal animosity towards Ukraine. After Greenland, Panama, Canada, Mexico, and Nato, Ukraine might be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

What does this mean? There aren't very many options if you're in the impact zone.

Sihanoukville 2.0 Keep the local riff raff out, unless they're coming in to work cleaning out the toilets and sweeping the floors.

Idiot comment. The title is: Thai Tourism Sector Shaken by US Tariffs and Market Uncertainty Tariffs! Tariffs! It is your comment that is a waste and off topic.

No mention of the one word in Trump's message about tariffs and how they will be applied. That word is "reciprocity." And it should scare Thailand to death. Because there is no reciprocity. Thailand has been given almost free access to the American market because it was considered a friendly nation. That's in the past. It has now aligned with China, BRICS, and regional dedollarization agreements. So, get ready to say bye-bye to that $10 billion trade surplus with the US. Might have helped had Thailand bought the F-16s, but they botched that, too.

Xi isn't that smart. It's just that everyone else is that dumb.

He was certainly better than many people gave him credit for. He walked the line between China and the US far better than his successors. He handled Covid well. He didn't impose a remittance tax on my money from abroad. He largely kept Immigration unchanged (very important to me). And if I had him among the choices for leaders on this list, he beats 80 percent of them.

Man bites dog.

Again, you want to reduce/cancel Social Security benefits and colas to people who spend their money outside the US. That would include any Social Security recipient who traveled outside for so much as a day and spent their money there. More, it would prohibit social security recipients in the US and who have never left it from purchasing merchandise directly from overseas--like ordering a book from an overseas book dealer. Social security is fungible. You cannot separate it from other income or other pensions. It's all in one big pot for each recipient. And what this loopy idea creates effectively is an Iron Curtain locking older Americans within US borders. Unless you're a millionaire. What's next? Special forms, declarations, and filings with SSA that list your daily spending habits and where the money goes? Crackpot idea.

This is Barry. Anymore questions? https://www.pattayamail.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Barry-Kenyon-PCEC.jpg

Too bad he didn't have time to apply to his car business which is going into the toilet after having transferred the core technology to Chna.

Crackpot argument, especially this: "However, if someone is receiving more than they contributed, then it is reasonable that the funders be able to set a condition that funds be spent in the nation providing the additional benefit." Your formula would mean that anyone on social security can never leave the United States, not even for a day trip. Because that would mean their benefits would be spent outside the US. Take a trip to Cancun? Sorry, no more Social Security of Cola for you. This would mean locking up older Americans behind their border. Crackpot belief.

So Elon and the billionaires are going to get a "refund" to go along with their tax cut. Sounds fair.

Who does this sound like is in the crosshairs of new trade policy? Maybe Vietnam? But it really, really sounds as if it was almost written to describe Thailand's practices.

Another rival political party about to bite the dust?

DOGE and Musk's role in it should have been to conduct the audits and investigations, keep his mouth shut, and turn over his results to the decision makers in the Oval Office and/or cabinet. But, no. This man's narcissism dwarfs even Trump's. He must be center stage, dressed and acting out like a teenager. His qualifications to enact government cuts and reorganization are non-existent. Most of his ideas are half-baked and short-lived, because he can't focus and when he blunders, he runs away (remember six weeks ago he turned a good portion of Trump's supporters against him, Musk, because of his pro-H1B infinite Indians immigration desires). He moved the entire apparatus then to take aim at British immigration in order to distract and cover up his mess. I'm getting very tired of seeing Musk's fingerprints on everything and his ugly mug on every news story.

People don't want to hear it on Aseannow, but Prayuth did a much better job of threading the diplomatic needle between China and the US/West. The Shins are totally going in the tank for Xi.

Wasn't Sihanoukville restrictive? There, the locals were only allowed to come into the city to clean the toilets or pick up the trash their Chinese masters made.