Politics Trump announces 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico, starting Aug. 1

[annotator]

• President Donald Trump unveiled the new rates in letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum.
• Trump said that if the EU or Mexico retaliates with higher tariffs, “then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added on to the 30% that we charge.”
• “Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough,” Trump wrote to Sheinbaum.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/12/trump-tariffs-european-union-eu-mexico-trade.html

 

Go President Trump!

[Will B Good]

 

Getting pretty desperate now to distract from the Epstein debacle.......what next?......Bomb someone?

[Celsius]

Bomb Cali

[RayC]

1 hour ago, annotator said:

• President Donald Trump unveiled the new rates in letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum.
• Trump said that if the EU or Mexico retaliates with higher tariffs, “then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added on to the 30% that we charge.”
• “Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough,” Trump wrote to Sheinbaum.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/12/trump-tariffs-european-union-eu-mexico-trade.html

 

Go President Trump!

 

Can you explain why you think (the threat of) a trade war is a good thing?

[annotator]

5 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

Can you explain why you think (the threat of) a trade war is a good thing?

It's like with Brexit. Opponents kept on claiming that it would hurt the British economy. And maybe it did a little bit. But so what? Independence was worth a few pounds. The same thing goes for America. Even if it hurts us a bit economically, we'll end up a lot less dependent on the rest of the world. And what's important is that even if it hurts big business, middle class and working class Americans will get a bigger piece of the pie.

 

[CallumWK]

4 minutes ago, annotator said:

It's like with Brexit. Opponents kept on claiming that it would hurt the British economy. And maybe it did a little bit. But so what? Independence was worth a few pounds. The same thing goes for America. Even if it hurts us a bit economically, we'll end up a lot less dependent on the rest of the world. And what's important is that even if it hurts big business, middle class and working class Americans will get a bigger piece of the pie.

 

 

This must be the most ignorant post I have read in a long time.

 

Firstly, the UK economy isn't hurt a little, it is in a lot of pain, and that is well documented everywhere.

 

Secondly, in the US it is exactly the middle and working class that are hurt the most by Trump's idiocy, as big business get protected by his tax breaks.

[annotator]

1 minute ago, CallumWK said:

 

This must be the most ignorant post I have read in a long time.

 

Firstly, the UK economy isn't hurt a little, it is in a lot of pain, and that is well documented everywhere.

 

Secondly, in the US it is exactly the middle and working class that are hurt the most by Trump's idiocy, as big business get protected by his tax breaks.

But how much of that pain is due to Brexit? It isn't like France and Germany are flourishing.

 

[RayC]

2 minutes ago, annotator said:

It's like with Brexit. Opponents kept on claiming that it would hurt the British economy. And maybe it did a little bit. But so what? Independence was worth a few pounds. The same thing goes for America. Even if it hurts us a bit economically, we'll end up a lot less dependent on the rest of the world. And what's important is that even if it hurts big business, middle class and working class Americans will get a bigger piece of the pie.

 

 

Brexit has hurt the UK economy more than a little bit. For example, the OBR estimated that, over time, Brexit would cost the UK economy 4% of GDP (£32bn per annum). If that estimate is anywhere close to accurate, then that is sizeable in anybody's language. On top of that there are the non-financial barriers such as the increased complexity of doing business in the EU. I could go on. 

 

And what of the benefits? Increased sovereignty? In theory, but in practice, very debatable as the trade deals that the UK has agreed with the EU and the US show: They were basically given to the UK as, 'Take it or leave it'. The Johnson Brexiter government also promised a 'bonfire of EU legislation'. It hasn't happened and shows no sign of happening. Why? Perhaps, in contrast to what was claimed by Brexiters, not all EU law is bad. Or perhaps, it is the realisation that if the UK wants to take part in the game, then it is sometimes necessary to play by other people's rules especially when - like in the cases of the EU and US - they have the whip hand.

 

Having said all that, I think that the comparison with Brexit is a false one. The US can (largely) dictate terms in bi-lateral trade talks. However, what I still don't understand is why (the threat of) a trade war is considered a good thing. If played out, it will likely result in a reduction in the volume of trade, a reduction in choice and increase in price for consumers and/or reduced margins for companies amongst other things. Whose interest does that serve? I also don't see how US sovereignty is enhanced.

[RayC]

16 minutes ago, annotator said:

But how much of that pain is due to Brexit? It isn't like France and Germany are flourishing.

 

 

'It will hurt us but it will hurt you more' has never stuck me as a good argument.

[NoDisplayName]

1 hour ago, annotator said:

Trump said that if the EU or Mexico retaliates with higher tariffs, “then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added on to the 30% that we charge.”

 

So if the EU or Mexico increase taxes on their citizens, then Trump will raise taxes on American consumers again?

 

And that's supposed to "liberate" us?

 

Where'd he get his economics degree?  Trump University?

 

1 hour ago, annotator said:

Go President Trump!

 

Agreed.

 

Trump should go, the sooner the bigly better.

[Patong2021]

Mexico has not retaliated yet. They were keeping quiet as they negotiated. However, now, he is pushing the  Mexicans into a corner. Why would the Mexicans trust trump now? He has tried to screw the Canadians with his constant changing of positions. Everytime Canada came close to an agreement with the USA, Trump changed the conditions. he  has done the same thing with the EU. At some point, everyone will say enough and say, we'll take the pain just to teach the USA a lesson in good faith bargaining.

[Clapped out]

51 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

'It will hurt us but it will hurt you more' has never stuck me as a good argument.

Its nothing to do with good ( or bad ) arguments........its just a side show of his Saturday morning medication kicking in  :(

[NoDisplayName]

Now it's getting serious.

 

Trump is threatening to dump toxic waste on the EU.

 

“Because of the fact that Rosie O’Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship.”

 

“She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA,” he added in his post.

 

https://globalnews.ca/news/11286284/trump-threatens-rosie-odonnells-u-s-citizenship/

 

 

If he manages that, I'll chalk that one up to "winning".

[JAG]

8 hours ago, annotator said:

And what's important is that even if it hurts big business, middle class and working class Americans will get a bigger piece of the pie.

A novel approach for the current American administration!

[HappyExpat57]

It's TACO time again. And again. And again. And again. And again.