Free Republic

When Donald Trump's fortunes took a downturn in the 90s and he needed to raise cash fast, he sailed his 282ft (85m) superyacht, the Trump Princess, to Asia hoping he could attract Japan's wealthy. It wasn't the first time the businessman had sought out Japanese buyers or lenders for his projects. In the cut-throat world of New York real estate, Trump had a front-row seat from his Fifth Avenue skyscraper of Tokyo's buying spree in the 80s of iconic US brands and properties, including Rockefeller Center. It was then that his worldview on trade and America's relations with its allies...

Hysteria has erupted here and abroad over President Trump’s threats to level trade tariffs against particular countries.Both American and foreign critics blasted them variously as either counterproductive and suicidal or unfair, imperialistic, and xenophobic.Certainly, tariffs are widely hated by doctrinaire economists. They complain that tariffs burden consumers with higher prices to protect weak domestic industries that, shielded from competition, will have no incentive to improve efficiency.Their ideal is “free” trade. Supposedly a free global market alone should adjudicate which particular industry in any country can produce the greatest good for the world’s consumers, whether defined by lower prices or better...

The US Postal Service (USPS) said it has stopped accepting parcels from mainland China and Hong Kong until further notice. Letters will not be affected by the suspension, said the company, which declined to offer a reason for the decision, external. However, on Tuesday new rules came into force which closed a loophole that allowed small packages worth $800 (£641) or less to be sent to the US without paying tax or fees. It was one of the measures announced by US President Donald Trump who imposed an additional 10% tariff on all goods imported to the US from China....

(I don't know if it was posted back in late October, but this story seems very relevant to current events and shows the magnitude of the fentanyl potential threat to all of N America -- FYI, the location "Falkland BC" is between Vernon and Kamloops about a four our drive north of the border; a small aircraft or helicopter would be flying over largely barren terrain all the way south to let's say Omak WA or any other location in WA state -- no indication in story that any of this was destined for American markets -- you'll need to...

U.S. — In an unprecedented, history-making moment, a man has won an argument with a woman. The man, who is also the President of the United States, is reportedly celebrating his victory after miraculously winning an argument over trade with Prime Minister Trudeau, the second female Prime Minister of Canada. "We've never seen anything like this in recorded history," said Dr. Ben Shmellings, a historian. "This kind of thing just doesn't happen. A man getting in an argument with a female and prevailing? We're as shocked as you are." The Babylon Bee will keep you updated on the argument, as...

On CNN This Morning, Jonathan Kott, a DC lobbyist and former aide to senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), predicted that Trump supporters will give him six to eight months, but then "turn quickly" on him when the improvements in their lives he promised don't materialize. That's soothing speculation for CNN's base, but Kott's powers of prognostication have a questionable track record. Less than two months before the 2024 election, here's what Kott, in a Fox News appearance, predicted: "I think voters are still getting to know Kamala Harris. And she's introducing herself. And the more she does,...

Even in a world where President Donald Trump clearly racks up foreign policy wins, CNN’s smug harpies desperately try to convince all eight of the network's viewers that he’s really losing. CNN anchor Erin Burnett injected a hefty amount of spin into her reporting on Mexico and Canada collectively waving the white flag on their retaliatory threats against Trump’s tariffs and agreed to increase security on both the Southern and Northern borders respectively. But in Burnett’s Trump Derangement Syndrome-afflicted worldview during the February 3 edition of OutFront, this supposedly constituted “Trump backing down twice in a day.” Huh? So “what...

President Trump has now started implementing his promise to impose new or additional tariffs on goods from various countries, starting with China, Canada, and Mexico. Trump already imposed tariffs in 2018 against various countries. Now, once again, the media are all over how prices are going to jump for consumers because tariffs are a “regressive consumption tax,” and how tax receipts from tariffs won’t go up, etc. etc. Now we’ll look at what tariffs did and didn’t do last time. One, they didn’t trigger inflation, which stayed below the Fed’s target. Two, they more than doubled tax receipts from customs...

US tariff policy reduced labor productivity in the American manufacturing sector during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as Alexander Klein and Christopher M. Meissner report in Did Tariffs Make American Manufacturing Great? New Evidence from the Gilded Age (NBER Working Paper 33100). The researchers find that at the industry level, higher tariffs were associated with reduced labor productivity, greater total output, more establishments, and more workers. They also find that higher tariffs were associated with lower output per establishment, suggesting that higher tariffs led to the entry of smaller, less productive firms. The effects of tariffs varied significantly...

China’s state-run Global Times on Sunday rounded up ministers and business leaders to condemn President Donald Trump’s ten percent tariff on imports from China, which were scheduled to take effect on Tuesday. “China’s position is firm and consistent. Trade and tariff wars have no winners. The U.S.’ unilateral tariff hikes severely violate WTO rules. This move cannot solve the US’ problems at home and more importantly, does not benefit either side, still less the world,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. The Foreign Ministry insisted China has “one of the strictest and most thorough drug control policies in the world,” so...

To Canada and Mexico regarding the tariffs: resistance is futile. The leaders of Canada and Mexico are indignant because Trump slammed 25 percent tariffs onto their exports. In this dispute, most of the world will side with Canada and Mexico, and Trump will be viewed as mean, erratic and even racist. It is likely that Democrats will also blast Trump, but that will be a mistake -- for Democrats. For years, the nation has talked about massive numbers of fentanyl deaths, yet there has been little or no relief. Trump is taking the only action that is likely to alleviate...

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum immediately responded to President Donald Trump’s implementation of tariffs on Monday by vowing to post 10,000 troops along its shared northern border with the United States. In return, Trump agreed to delay tariffs for a month while he finalizes an agreement on security and trade with Sheinbaum. The agreement came after the two leaders spoke earlier about Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on goods from Mexico. “We put tariffs on, they owe us a lot of money, and I’m sure they’re going to pay,” Trump told reporters of Mexico Sunday night. After Monday’s conversation, Sheinbaum posted on...

The American Gas Association says it is working with President Donald Trump's administration to "mitigate" potential rising costs as part of Trump's new tariffs on Canada and Mexico. The AGA noted in a statement that roughly 9% of U.S. natural gas supplies are sourced from Canada. AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert affirmed her intent to work with the Trump administration in another public statement. "Energy security is national security, and our highly integrated North American natural gas delivery system is critical to ensuring our nation’s safety and fueling our homes and vital industries. AGA is dedicated to continuing to...

In the first two weeks of his second term, President Donald Trump is acting quickly and following through on his campaign promises. Repeatedly, he has promised to authorize tariffs against Canada and Mexico for their inadequate level of cooperation in stopping the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants into our country. On Saturday, Trump followed through on his promise by signing an executive order which levels 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico.

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday that he would seek a strong trade relationship with the U.S. after President Donald Trump suggested he would slap Europe with tariffs after he hit America’s biggest trading partners — Canada, Mexico and China — with import taxes. Starmer spoke to reporters while hosting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at his country estate on the eve of a mission to improve relations with the European Union. “In the discussions that I have had with President Trump, that is what we have centered on, a strong trading relationship,” he said. “So it...

Canadian hockey fans of the Ottawa Senators booed The Star-Spangled Banner at the NHL game against Minnesota Wild on Saturday night, hours after Donald Trump hit Canada with tariffs. Boos and jeers were heard throughout the rendition that was performed by the Ottawa-based singer Mandia at a sold out arena with nearly 20,000 spectators. It comes after President Trump ordered 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and 10% on goods from China starting on Tuesday. Trump declared that they would remain in place until a national emergency over the drug fentanyl and illegal immigration to the U.S. ends. The...

On Saturday, President Donald Trump slammed some serious tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Then, the Trump administration sent out a memo for immediate release on Sunday, with more details on the administration's acts and intents: TARIFFS STRENGTHEN THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, RAISE WAGES, AND CREATE JOBS: According to a 2024 analysis of tariffs done by McKinsey & Company, “tariffs on imported goods could reduce competition for US producers, increase demand for US-made goods, and create jobs.”A 2024 study on the effects of President Trump’s tariffs in his first administration found that they “strengthened the U.S. economy,” and “led to significant...

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro blinked first when Donald Trump threatened punishment if the South American country didn’t release American hostages and accept the repatriation of its citizens who are in the U.S. illegally. After sputtering and threatening, Maduro nonetheless agreed on the repatriation demands and released six American prisoners to Special Envoy Ric Grenell on Friday.Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino also talked smack about Trump's threat to take back the Canal if the Central American country didn't do something about the increased Chinese influence there. On Sunday, Mulino—after a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio—decided not to renew its...

On Saturday, President Trump hit Canada and Mexico with a hefty 25% tariff on all goods, and, predictably, both countries fired back with their own retaliatory measures. Sure, they felt the need to put on a show of defiance, but let’s be honest—this won’t end well for them. I’ve noticed social media is flooded with outrage, particularly from Canadians whining about the tariffs and taking shots at Trump and the U.S. However, they fail to see the wider picture. There’s a far simpler path for Canada to end the tariff war, and the answer is right there in Trump’s own...

President Trump spoke to reporters on Sunday night upon returning to Washington, DC, from his Mar a Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida. The president addressed a wide range of issues from the busy news weekend and took questions from reporters. As The Gateway Pundit reported, President Trump imposed his long-awaited 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and 10% tariffs on China on Saturday. This was met with pushback from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced he would impose his own tariffs on the United States, which many in Canada think is a big mistake. In the fallout...