It says much about the US president-elect’s values doubtless, we can all think of plenty of other words but that’s his choice and we have to live with the consequences.
Yesterday, true to his selection, we received an inkling of what is to come as he fired the first salvo, promising to impose levies of 25 per cent on all imports from Canada and Mexico and an extra 10 per cent on Chinese goods. They will come into effect on his first day in office. The tariffs would remain “until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country”, Trump posted on Truth Social.
The use of capitals is indicative. This is going to be a commander-in-chief, who for now anyway, brooks no opposition, who sees trade as a way of imposing social, domestic policies on other nations.
Part of Trump’s beef with China for instance is that Beijing has not followed through its pledge to subject people found dealing the deadly synthetic opioid, fentanyl, to the death penalty. With Mexico, it’s the perceived failure to crack down on the “onslaught of criminals and drugs” crossing the US border. He’s also determined to target the import of Chinese cars from Mexico, threatening “whatever tariffs are required – 100 per cent, 200 per cent, 1,000 per cent”.
Denne historien er fra November 27, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 27, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Kyrgios to return but keeps focus on Sinner and Swiatek
Nick Kyrgios just wants to speak his truth, man. He does, after all, have his own podcast to go along with his blue tick on X/Twitter, where he is not afraid to add a hot take or two to the big topics. It's hardly a new development.
Slot eyes strong second half as Reds dream of quadruple
Arne Slot did not use the word, though Jurgen Klopp became quite familiar with it.
Isak stars as Newcastle expose Arsenal's failings
A night that was about whether you could take your chances; for goals, and maybe for finals.
Britons splurge £13bn on festive fun – but inflation may leave a nasty hangover
UK retail outlet Next has posted another rise in sales ahead of expectations over the Christmas period, but warned that a price increase is on the cards for 2025 as it looks to overcome raised costs following last year's Budget.
Next posts rise in sales but warns of difficult year ahead
UK retail outlet Next has posted another rise in sales ahead of expectations over the Christmas period, but warned that a price increase is on the cards for 2025 as it looks to overcome raised costs following last year's Budget.
Carney failed to stop Brexit but hopes to save Canada
Mark Carney may enter the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as leader of Canada's Liberal Party.
Trump fails to rule out use of force to take Greenland
US president-elect Donald Trump has refused to rule out using military or economic action to pursue acquisition of the Panama Canal and Greenland.
At least 126 dead in Tibet after powerful earthquake
A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the foothills of the Himalayas yesterday near one of Tibet’s holiest cities, killing at least 126 people and flattening hundreds of houses and causing tremors felt in Nepal, Bhutan and India.
Far-right firebrand's ghost will loom large over Europe
The death of Jean-Marie Le Pen should give us a moment to ponder the long march of the French far right and the rise to power of fascistic parties across Europe.
French far-right political leader Le Pen dies at 96
Unrepentant bigot and Holocaust denier Jean-Marie Le Pen founded the National Front and fought for populist policies
