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If you were leading a country like Brazil and wanted to maintain a healthy economic trend in GDP growth, but a large trading partner like the U.S. put up a huge barrier to trade, wouldn't you be compelled to strengthen ties to other large trading partners like China? Are other countries thinking this way too? How is the the U.S. "winning" here?
the U.S. exported more goods to Brazil than it imported, resulting in a goods trade surplus of $7.4 billion. This marked a significant increase from the previous year. Key details of the U.S.-Brazil trade relationship include: * U.S. Exports to Brazil: Major exports from the U.S. to Brazil typically include industrial machinery, fossil fuels (like refined petroleum), aircraft and parts, and chemicals. * U.S. Imports from Brazil: The U.S. imports a variety of goods from Brazil, with key products being crude oil, iron and steel products, aircraft, coffee, and wood pulp.
That was a $7.4 billion trade surplus with Brazil in 2024. And an increase from 2023. Yet, here we are placing tariffs on Brazil. Even more reason for Brazil to strengthen ties with any partner that isn't engaging in unfair trade practices with them and trying to influence their justice system.
If I were leading a country that was being treated this way, I would slowly and carefully begin shifting trade to other nations. Canada is a similar situation, we have a trade surplus with them, when all commerce (goods and services) is taken into account, yet we alienate them with punitive measures. In essence, we are taking advantage of a neighbor and ally.
USA has trade deficit with Canada on goods (oil, cars) of $63B, but services surplus of $32B. (Tourism, software, IP). Tourism from Canada is going down, but much less than 50% plus expected, for now…
However, President Trump won’t allow other countries to tax USA services because he has all the cards, he is basically King of the World unless other countries get together and decide to do something.
I stand corrected, apparently we have a $31 billion deficit on approximately $765 billion in total trade. Not surprising, as we import 4 million barrels of oil a day from Canada.
I might add that I do not personally consider a trade deficit to be a bad thing, necessarily. Or believe that there could be zero trade deficits across all nations.
As I understand it, Trump imposed tariffs on China during his first term in office. China retaliated by imposing tariffs on U.S. soybeans, leading to more soybean trade from Brazil to China. Trump ultimately had to subsidize soybean farmers for their losses, all at the expense of American taxpayers. The U.S. used to be the world's largest exporter of soybeans but has not and may not ever recover from that lost trade. The dollar value all of these transactions are measurable.
What isn't as easy to measure is the value of the damage to our international relations. If you believe that a primary source of what makes America great is its ties to and influence over other nations - with trade being central to those relationships - then you have to ask if Trump's isolationist policies (which goes beyond trade and includes the elimination of USAID soft power, goodwill, etc) are worth more to the U.S. economy and national security. The real value of the U.S. carrying trade deficits with other nations could actually be beneficial, a cost we should be willing to bear. But every time Trump slaps a trading partner with a tariff it compels that country to build relationships elsewhere, creating an opportunity for mercantilist China. Actually, it becomes an opportunity for BRIC nations, served on a silver platter.
For at least a decade much has been said about America being a nation in decline. Tariffs may facilitate and accelerate that decline.
@equalizer and @Howaya make some excellent points. The U.S. has a voracious consumer with plenty of disposable income ... for now. And in bigger numbers than many of our trade partners.
And China has a robust manufacturing base that is hankering to expand. China's Belt and Road initiative is poised to fill the void that the U.S. leaves in our alliances.
as i heard on a recent podcast, the global reallocation of capital will lag the reallocation of trust. and yeah, i dont need some trading genius to tell me to look out the window to see if the immediate weather is good.
And we should be asking, if China establishes a strong footprint in Latin America which economically benefits Brazil, how many others will follow? Each domino that falls may bring Chinese economic influence closer to our Southern border.
Indeed this up and down TACO "negotiating position" is forcing the rest of the world to realize that the US is no longer a trustworthy trading or defense partner. Even with DJT out of office, why would you sign a treaty or agreement, knowing with the next election it will blow up, depending on who wins. While DJT is the originator, the GOP in Congress is really responsible, as they have abdicated their role in government and in setting tariffs, for short term political benefits.
"While DJT is the originator, the GOP in Congress is really responsible, as they have abdicated their role in government and in setting tariffs, for short term political benefits."
I agree that GOP members of Congress have abdicated their responsibilities which enabled the president to overreach in setting tariffs (and in taking other actions).
Indeed this up and down TACO "negotiating position" is forcing the rest of the world to realize that the US is no longer a trustworthy trading or defense partner. Even with DJT out of office, why would you sign a treaty or agreement, knowing with the next election it will blow up, depending on who wins. While DJT is the originator, the GOP in Congress is really responsible, as they have abdicated their role in government and in setting tariffs, for short term political benefits.
The Repugnant Party, as has repeatedly been noted, stopped being a political Party years ago. It is no longer operating in good faith with regard to the workings of government and the separation of powers. They are playing cutthroat games with no regard to decorum, procedure or ethics. A current and pressing case in point is the gerrymandering in Texas. Demublicans were forced to flee the State in order to break quorum. Seems to me that's been done before?
Yes, treaties and agreements with foreign countries are now very problematical. Repugnants have shown, especially via the Orange Criminal Felon, that everything and anything is merely temporary; there is no honoring of previous arrangements. The prestige and influence of the USA on the world stage is horribly tarnished. And foreign entities can see that about half the country votes Red/repugnant. Election results will be a toss-up, unless there is a sea change, or we finally grow a brain and work around the infernal Electoral College.
i would say the real dismay by foreign allies lies with a populace capable of voting in someone like trump, and his downticket gop lackeys, twice. this cohort is across all age profiles , and in some form will not be going away nor getting smarter.
never has the weak link been clearer to china and russia , not to mention internal fascist factions.
I've said this for years but what we're witnessing is the last gasp efforts of old white men to remain in power. They'll be able to do it for a while (another 5-10 years) with gerrymandering, voter suppression etc... but eventually they will lose power. They can't handle the browning of America. It's just a matter of time.
The Repugnant Party, as has repeatedly been noted, stopped being a political Party years ago. It is no longer operating in good faith with regard to the workings of government and the separation of powers.
Is DEI actual implementation based on merit/qualifications? Was the coup against Trump in his first term (the fake Russia collusion) in good faith? Is an open border a good faith operation?
anyone with jr. high reading comprehension and interest in the subject would know that russia 100% interfered in favor of trump AND that the steele appendix was clearly labeled as unvetted, and only included due to comey's fear of being accused of hiding items of relevance.
in addition, due to construction of access roads for the grifting border wall, as well as destroying any process for talented law-obeying immigrants to continue building the economy, trump has become the greatest president ever for CRIMINAL immigrants. do you really think all the gang members are hiding out by picking crops and going to church and court hearings?
no doubt someone that seems to share many mental problems as his leader (and hopefully not as many criminal ones) can be convinced of anything not parroting rw propaganda.
I have noted repeatedly here that I do not subscribe to the "woke" agenda.
There was no coup against the Orange Felon Scum in his first term; Russia did indeed interfere. Connections to the Orange Criminal could not be proven.
Open border? You're operating from MAGA fantasy talking points on that score.
I broke my own rule, interacting with a troll such as yourself. I've said enough.
Comments
Key details of the U.S.-Brazil trade relationship include:
* U.S. Exports to Brazil: Major exports from the U.S. to Brazil typically include industrial machinery, fossil fuels (like refined petroleum), aircraft and parts, and chemicals.
* U.S. Imports from Brazil: The U.S. imports a variety of goods from Brazil, with key products being crude oil, iron and steel products, aircraft, coffee, and wood pulp.
If I were leading a country that was being treated this way, I would slowly and carefully begin shifting trade to other nations. Canada is a similar situation, we have a trade surplus with them, when all commerce (goods and services) is taken into account, yet we alienate them with punitive measures. In essence, we are taking advantage of a neighbor and ally.
However, President Trump won’t allow other countries to tax USA services because he has all the cards, he is basically King of the World unless other countries get together and decide to do something.
I might add that I do not personally consider a trade deficit to be a bad thing, necessarily. Or believe that there could be zero trade deficits across all nations.
What isn't as easy to measure is the value of the damage to our international relations. If you believe that a primary source of what makes America great is its ties to and influence over other nations - with trade being central to those relationships - then you have to ask if Trump's isolationist policies (which goes beyond trade and includes the elimination of USAID soft power, goodwill, etc) are worth more to the U.S. economy and national security. The real value of the U.S. carrying trade deficits with other nations could actually be beneficial, a cost we should be willing to bear. But every time Trump slaps a trading partner with a tariff it compels that country to build relationships elsewhere, creating an opportunity for mercantilist China. Actually, it becomes an opportunity for BRIC nations, served on a silver platter.
For at least a decade much has been said about America being a nation in decline. Tariffs may facilitate and accelerate that decline.
And China has a robust manufacturing base that is hankering to expand. China's Belt and Road initiative is poised to fill the void that the U.S. leaves in our alliances.
You make some excellent points in your post!
Trump's shenanigans will harm our relationships with other nations to our detriment.
as i heard on a recent podcast, the global reallocation of capital will lag the reallocation of trust.
and yeah, i dont need some trading genius to tell me to look out the window to see if the immediate weather is good.
https://www.barrons.com/articles/trump-tariffs-trade-news-us-china-e90376a5?mod=bar_FV
as they have abdicated their role in government and in setting tariffs, for short term political benefits."
I agree that GOP members of Congress have abdicated their responsibilities
which enabled the president to overreach in setting tariffs (and in taking other actions).
Yes, treaties and agreements with foreign countries are now very problematical. Repugnants have shown, especially via the Orange Criminal Felon, that everything and anything is merely temporary; there is no honoring of previous arrangements. The prestige and influence of the USA on the world stage is horribly tarnished. And foreign entities can see that about half the country votes Red/repugnant. Election results will be a toss-up, unless there is a sea change, or we finally grow a brain and work around the infernal Electoral College.
never has the weak link been clearer to china and russia , not to mention internal fascist factions.
The markets don't seem to care right now - so what if we only publish fudged numbers going forward? That will really smooth things out just fine.
China must be loving all these new business partnerships coming their way, courtesy of Dump.
Article details
Was the coup against Trump in his first term (the fake Russia collusion) in good faith?
Is an open border a good faith operation?
in addition, due to construction of access roads for the grifting border wall, as well as destroying any process for talented law-obeying immigrants to continue building the economy, trump has become the greatest president ever for CRIMINAL immigrants.
do you really think all the gang members are hiding out by picking crops and going to church and court hearings?
no doubt someone that seems to share many mental problems as his leader (and hopefully not as many criminal ones) can be convinced of anything not parroting rw propaganda.
There was no coup against the Orange Felon Scum in his first term; Russia did indeed interfere. Connections to the Orange Criminal could not be proven.
Open border? You're operating from MAGA fantasy talking points on that score.
I broke my own rule, interacting with a troll such as yourself. I've said enough.