Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †
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To understand President Trump’s position on Canada, you have to go back to the 2016 election and President Trump’s position on the NAFTA renegotiation. If you did not follow the subsequent USMCA process, this might be the ah-ha moment you need to understand Trump’s strategy.
During the 2016 election President Trump repeatedly said he wanted to renegotiate NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement. Both Canada and Mexico were reluctant to open the trade agreement to revision, but ultimately President Trump had the authority and support from an election victory to do exactly that.
In order to understand the issue, you must remember President Trump, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer each agreed the NAFTA agreement was fraught with problems and was best addressed by scrapping it and creating two seperate bilateral trade agreements. One between the USA and Mexico, and one between the USA and Canada.
In the decades that preceded the 2017 push to redo the trade pact, Canada had restructured their economy to: (1) align with progressive climate change; and (2) take advantage of the NAFTA loophole. The Canadian government did not want to reengage in a new trade agreement.
Canada has deindustrialized much of their manufacturing base to support the ‘environmental’ aspirations of their progressive politicians. Instead, Canada became an importer of component goods where companies then assembled those imports into finished products to enter the U.S. market without tariffs. Working with Chinese manufacturing companies, Canada exploited the NAFTA loophole.
Justin Trudeau was strongly against renegotiating NAFTA, and stated he and Chrystia Freeland would not support reopening the trade agreement. President Trump didn’t care about the position of Canada and was going forward. Trudeau said he would not support it. Trump focused on the first bilateral trade agreement with Mexico.
Hat Tip very dear friend of the Treehouse, Zurich Mike.
Switzerland is in a conundrum. More specifically, the Swiss National Bank is stuck betwixt two points that are also playing out in other stable western countries. Exports to the USA account for over ten percent of the Swiss manufacturing base.
The Trump tariffs are putting pressure on Switzerland to drop the value of their currency as an offset to retain competitive pricing. However, simultaneous to the tariffs, the Swiss Franc is being purchased by global investment groups and sovereign foreign countries as a safe harbor due to the stability of the currency, which is driving up the value of the franc.
The Swiss Franc is now at the highest point against the U.S dollar in decades. One franc is worth 1.21 dollars. This makes their exports cost even more. The Swiss government desperately needs to lower the value of their currency. The Swiss central bank has already dropped interest rates to 0.25% and is now contemplating negative interest rates as a result.
SWITZERLAND – […] That is why many are speculating on a reaction from the Swiss National Bank (SNB). SNB Director Martin Schlegel could weaken the currency by selling the Swiss franc against the dollar and euro in order to support the export-oriented economy.
But this could provoke a backlash from Trump if he perceives the SNB’s intervention as currency manipulation. Even during Trump’s first term in office, Switzerland was on the US list of suspected currency manipulators.
Celebrating the first 100-days, the White House will be hosting cabinet members each day this week to highlight their specific accomplishments in the first 100-days of the Trump presidency.
Today, on Day #99 of the administration, Karoline Leavitt introduces Border Czar Tom Homan to outline border security measures and deportation effort that have been a priority for the Trump administration. WATCH (prompted):
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If you never followed how President Obama constructed and influenced the rise of Justin Trudeau in Canada, then it might seem perplexing when President Donald Trump stands generally ambivalent to the outcome of today’s election in Canada.
When asked about the election in Canada President Trump previously said, “I don’t care. I think it’s easier to deal, actually, with a liberal and maybe they’re going to win, but I don’t really care.” The core of President Trump’s position stems from the economic issues that have been present for decades. Leading candidate Mark Carney, who had not lived in Canada for the past 10-years until his installation, has said he is prepared to guide Canada into an alignment with the European Union.
As Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined, previous Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traveled to Mar-a-Lago and said if President Trump was to make the Canadian government pay reciprocal tariffs, open the USMCA trade agreements to force reciprocity, and/or balance economic relations on non-tariff issues, then Canada would collapse upon itself economically and cease to exist.
In essence, Canada cannot survive as a free and independent north American nation, without receiving all the one-way benefits from the U.S. economy. To wit, President Trump then said, if Canada cannot survive in a balanced rules environment, including putting together their own military and defenses (which it cannot), then Canada should become the 51st U.S state.
The Canadian Mitt Romney “conservative”, Mark Carney’s closest competitor, Pierre Poilievre, is also very upset at President Trump.
Attorney General Pam Bondi makes her 79th appearance on Fox News to outline the current DOJ results from the ongoing illegal alien deportation operations, border security operations and drug enforcement operations.
Within the interview Attorney General Bondi gives results from the ICE/DHS/DEA raid in Colorado Springs and other enforcement measures around the country. WATCH:
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This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †
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President Trump holds an impromptu press conference traveling back to the White House from Morristown, New Jersey.
President Trump departed Marine One with Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Champion Saquon Barkley, then takes questions. The topics covered his message to President Putin, the Zelensky meeting, Iran – no bombs needed, Zelensky meeting #2, what Zelensky said, Crimea, opinion on Russian President Putin, actions vs Russia, taxes and tariffs, the Russia deadline, relationship with Zelensky, the Crimea factor, Virginia Giuffre, Tariffs Talks with China, Melania’s birthday dinner, and the Wisconsin Judge arrest. WATCH:
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears on NBC Meet the Press to discuss the ongoing negotiations to bring a ceasefire to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Secretary Rubio notes the ongoing discussions have positive indications but also concerning elements where there are demands that are challenging to fulfill. Ultimately, the goal is to stop killing people and achieve peace. At the end of the day the USA has funneled billions of dollars into what appears to be a never-ending conflict, and our willingness to maintain support is close to an end. WATCH:
[Transcript] QUESTION: And joining me now is Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Secretary Rubio, welcome back to Meet the Press.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Good morning. Thanks.
QUESTION: Well, good morning to you. Thank you so much for being here. President Trump is about to mark his 100th day in office. It comes as a key campaign promise is to end the war in Ukraine and against the backdrop of that extraordinary meeting between President Trump and President Zelenskyy. Mr. Secretary, is Russia and Ukraine now closer to a deal in the wake of that meeting?