Donald Trump the Megathread part II - Mod Warning added to OP 10/1/26

I thought his last update on the Mexico and Canada auto tariffs was that it would apply only to finished products, which means a car could be made in Mexico and Canada but would not face tariffs if final assembly was in the US, like the way cars used to arrive in kits and were assembled in the Ford factory in Cork.

According to Irish Indo Elon is leaving "government" in the US

On listening to RTE about Trump's threatened tariffs on imports to the U.S, specifically the Pharma industry imports, I was made aware of the knock-on effects they could have for the U.S Medical community, the Medical Insurance business and the U.S population generally, something I had no thoughts about. If the U.S-based Pharma have to pay tariffs to the Trump Admin of products made in their overseas plants, then will pass on the additional costs to their customers. Those customers will include Pharmacy chains, Medical hospital chains and Medical insurance Co's all of whom will pass on the costs.

Mention was made on the programme that some pharma products will travel cross-border [similar to metals used in auto production] several times before the items are in a finished state for sale and use. Medical Insurance Co's would presumably alter their TAC's for customers when the pharmacy and hospital claims start rolling in so their stay profitable. Patients health would presumably suffer as a result. If this is correct, then I would not like to be a medical insurance Co boss in the U.S.

Another probable side effect might be an increase in cross-border smuggling of the tariffed items, and possibly other items the smugglers might start cost rumours about for profit purposes, all federal and state tax free.

The same RTE programme has mentioned a rumour about that Tesla shares market price have risen on foot of another rumour that Musk is going to spend more time on the Tesla industry and less on his role in the Trump Admin due to the falling Tesla share prices. RTE made clear it was a rumour. Mention of a name in respect of whom might be behind the rumoured change in focus interests could be costly.

There are similarities but somewhat more along the lines of Putin's Russia.

It's hard to keep track at this stage with all the flip flopping. Realistically just the uncertainty around it all may just make manufacturers stay put and ride out the tariffs (aka just increase prices for consumers)

Press sec Karoline has rubbished this

So that pretty much confirms it then!

Co-founded Tesla, lmao.

You mean bought it, shafted the people who *actually* founded it and the only car he had a major influence over is currently a boat anchor that's scuttling it along with Musks deranged behaviour and fascist tendencies.

https://youtube.com/shorts/uoPU5JedCR0?si=Wmd-uo2TQeuzGp7M

Musk getting the bullet. That didn't last long

In other Trump related news, experts are floating the distinct possibility that Russia could indeed attack the Baltic States, presumably Putin thinks his good buddy won't interfere, as he has previously stated he won't rush to the aid of countries that he feels don't deserve it.

We live in a time where it is possible that a state of emergency would allow Trump to seize power in the US and Russia could attack NATO. This is a non-zero possibility and something that should worry anyone with even the most basic grasp of global politics and a >60 IQ. Meaning a lot of Americans will be wholly untroubled by this.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/03/07/what-baltic-intelligence-agencies-say-about-the-risks-of-peace-talks-with-russia_6738924_4.html

I think Lithuania is the Baltic state with the high ethnic Russian population, he probably thinks of them as his fifth column.

SKY have there ticker with this news:

"A source close to the White House has told our economics and data editor Ed Conway there will different bands of tariffs.

The bands will differ both by country and by industry.

The specific band each country or industry is placed into will depend on how the White House views each country's barriers to entry for trade.

Conway added that how a tariff is defined is open to interpretation.

Trump wants to mirror tariffs imposed by countries on US imports - but the UK's 20% VAT rate could, for the White House, count as a tariff"

And our 23% Vat rate

Thats another thing - I heard trump and his yes men/women spinning the fact that Europe has VAT on most goods and this is an issue BUT failing to mention the US has the same - its called SALES TAX

@aidanodr

Thats another thing - I heard trump and his yes men/women spinning the fact that Europe has VAT on most goods and this is an issue BUT failing to mention the US has the same - its called SALES TAX

Such dishonesty from a man who promoted the tariffs as something the exporting companies would have to pay.

He really does love the poorly-educated.

He is going to divide and conquer with EU ,some countries 10% others 20% , we will be 20 minimum and left hung out to dry .