Talk & Tariff

(Talk & Tariff)

True to his word, President Trump announced the imposition of 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and 10% on China. Reciprocal retaliation is being promised. As policy, imposing levies runs the risk that the longer the stoppage persists, conditions invariably worsen. Unless some accommodation is discovered, a change in behavior is elicited. The main complaint President Trump has with the two North American neighbors has been immigration and fentanyl.


However., there have been immediate, and indeed negative, results by the adding of these tariffs. Wall Street has sold off across all Indexes for the past two days and prices have increased in some sectors. The Trump theory has been that the American economy is so much larger than its competitors that any levy against any other nation and its diminished GDP, terms will be rapidly arrived. Therefore, in what could be called a form of extortion, in the end, Trump's terms will be met. And, truth be told, despite in place agreements, there are trade imbalances that exist right now and that is one more thing for the President to address. Like he might tonight.


The other idea is that President Trump will be delivering a Joint Address to Congress, in his second term. In the meantime, he has paused all military aid to Ukraine. Democrat participation at the President's Speech, is to bring up "guests" who were harmed by the Trump Administration. So, advice to the President ? Do no harm. How much harm, however, did Democrats inflict when they took President Zelenski aside and talked him into rejecting the mineral deal with President Trump. Though, Zelenski might be in the process of re-considering.


(To be continued tomorrow)

For his part, President Trump had a ninety-minute speech. In it, Trump bragged about the progress of his Administration to date; the border, DOGE and all points in between. There was some drama when Congressman Al Green (D-TX) had to be escorted from the Chamber for a lack of decorum. Laken Riley and Josclyn Nungaray. Riley was the Georgia nursing student murdered by an illegal alien and Nungaray, twelve years old, will have a wilderness preserve of Galveston Bay re-named in her honor. The President also confirmed an appointment to West Point and made a thirteen-year-old cancer survivor an Honorary Secret Service Member. Also, the terrorist responsible for the loss of the thirteen service members lost at the Afghanistan departure.


The reaction of Democrats in the Chambert was telling. This was the same Caucus that only days earlier had voted as a Bloc to block a Republican measure that would have outlawed male participation in women's sports. Common sense ? Not to Democrats. For their part, Republicans, especially in the House, are advancing the Trump tax reform with a Bill ready for consideration by April. However, if the Democrat point was to do no harm, but harm is what they have done and all their sullen displays evident, Democrats saw no favors from last night.

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