So, naturally, the G7 summit went swimmingly. And by “swimmingly, I mean, it was a total disaster that further isolated the United States from our closest global allies. Not only did Donald Trump continue to push unnecessary and ill thought out tariffs against our friends, but then he called the leader of Canada a liar publicly. He’s really taking this idea of “nationalism” to an uncomfortable level. It’s like he found out that the people of North Korea are told to worship Kim Jong Un as a god, and Trump asked his advisors how that happened and is following a road map: discredit the free press? Check. Isolate the country from the rest of the world? Check. Make friends with classically evil dictator figures? Double check. I wonder what Kim and Trump talk about over dinner?
I will freely admit that I’m not an economics expert. Not even kind of. So when it comes to predictions regarding the economy, it’s my instinct to trust the analysis of people who understand that stuff. Now, when I say people who understand that stuff, I don’t mean self professed “deal makers”. That would be like listening to an actor’s political opinion: They might know what they’re talking about, but just as realistically, they’re trying to put on a show. So when the grand consensus by economists, both employed by the government and independent, seems to conclude that isolating the country from trading partners, imposing unnecessarily aggressive tariffs on them, and starting and escalating trade wars will ultimately kill more jobs and companies than help them, I’m inclined to believe them over the one loudmouth “Dealmaker” who is assuring everyone that he’s just playing hardball.
So, Trump is trying to sell his hasty tariff proclamation by playing the victim card again. I forgot that great businessmen whine about how they’re being taken advantage of on trade deals. But he says he won’t get rid of these tariffs unless a new, fairer NAFTA deal is put together. I dunno. I can’t seem to figure out what his idea of fair is. But I’m willing to bet the builders and construction companies who rely on Canadian imports for materials don’t think things are terribly fair at this point. Did you know that 40% of frame building lumber for Texas comes from Canada? Eddie Martin from the Tilson Housing Corp. does.
Mind the Exit 