The Immediate Tariffs

Overnight, the Orange Menace went on Lie Central to say that tariffs were coming on Day 1.

If you read the MSM this morning, those capitulators and appeasers are confused and up in arms. “Really?”, they say, “On Day 1? Doesn’t he realize what this will do?”

As usual, I’m chuckling. From the start, I believed he’d do this, and I told you he’d do this, and YOU knew he’d do this.

Because the Orange Menace doesn’t read, and his dementia has severely impacted his memory, he is seemingly unaware of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Full agreement here. The USMCA replaced NAFTA as the free trade agreement the countries would adhere to. It was discussed in 2017, finalized and signed in 2018, and went into effect early in 2020. Remember who was president then? Remember whose idea it was?

In case you forgot — YES — the 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada are in violation of the USMCA.

Personally, I think this is GREAT. While I’m unsure he’ll be able to pull it off, I truly hope he does. Yes, that’s callous, and no, I’m not looking forward to paying more for fruits and vegetables. This article shows some information on how much produce comes from Mexico. And remember, Inauguration Day is in JANUARY - which is winter, meaning if you want peppers, tomatoes, berries, etc. that won’t be in season here, it’s a good time to consider growing them at home¹. And there is an open question about whether California farmworkers will be targeted initially for deportation. California grows a huge amount of produce.

As an aside - there is a farmworker visa program, which is terrible for the humans who farm under that program: their employers hire via third parties, and the employers are responsible not just for wages, but also housing. Often the people are treated terribly. Not to mention that there is a logistic lag between when people would be deported and when the new victims would arrive.

But it warms the cockles of my heart that the harm to his voters will come so soon². And that’s just fruits and vegetables - the impact to manufacturing, especially related to cars and car parts, due to the close relationships between the US and Canada, will also be immediately impacted. Not to mention any retaliatory tariffs from Canada and Mexico. Plus, the time spent in front of the WTO. And we haven’t even gotten to China.

So what do you think?

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On a personal note: I write my posts the day before, and they are sent automatically to you at 6 a.m. (Sometimes, yes, like today, I have a second post.) When the post launches, I post a link on Substack Notes, Bluesky and several pages on Facebook. Earlier today, Facebook declared me a spammer for posting the link to this morning’s post. Since many more people read my posts than subscribe - and since an avenue is now denied to me, if you know anyone you feel would find my work valuable, please let them know they’ll need to subscribe. I am very sad about the censorship, but suspect it will get worse after the Inauguration.

1. This is actually a good idea in general - you can grow hydroponically if you’ve got the space, or use the AeroGarden (and related brands) which don’t take up much room. Your produce (and herbs) will be fresh, free of chemicals, and they will taste good. I’m a mechanical idiot, and can tell you that if I can do it (and I do) anyone can.

2. I have read that many people voted for Don the Con strictly because of the economy. I have been warned that under no circumstances am I allowed to call them stupid.