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I've got a cousin in Canada, somewhere in Whitehorse.
Seems like Trump is serious about taking Canada as the 51st state, and is starting by doing his utmost to weaken the Canadian economy by starting a trade war over his fabricated concerns about fentanyl.
For those of us on this side of the pond, what can we do to help our friends and relatives in Canada?
And yes, the irony of using YouTube is not lost on me.
I did see something a couple of weeks ago about the Canadians looking to join the EU, although personally I think that Canada is much closer politically to the US than the European standard (which is itself being eroded by oligarchs financing right wing populists).
But Trump is backing down on the trade war already, I guess someone has explained the damage it will do, he says it is just a temporary extension, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is kicked into the long grass. Unless his plan is always to profit from the fluctuations of the markets will be created by his actions.
IT feels like very soon it will be Trump and Putin Vs the World.
I've not watched the Simpsons for a while but it feels like the sort of thing they would have predicted 20 years ago
Meanwhile, I've just bought some stuff from Vorsprung and am about the buy a spoke tool from Macedonia rather than from USA.
Work are about to juggle some cars around an I've expressed a string preference for staying with my EV6 rather than being up in a Swasticar
We have friends in the US who are now being referred to a south Canadian which helps spare their blushes.
It's "War Plan Red" innit
I reckon Canada should annex Alaska and declare it the 11th Canadian province.
Can't sort out the links right now but it amused me to find out that:
There is an official petition for California to secede the union and become an independent country.
Following that, some Danes set up a petition for Denmark to buy California.
Following that, some Canadians set up a petition for Canada to buy California.
So if you want to support Canada, throw some votes their way 😀
I am being careful what I buy, and where from. Argos instead of Amazon, buying from European brands rather than USA brand (being sure to check who the parent company is first).
It won't be possible to completely cut off all spending to US based companies, but I am doing my damndest to avoid spending with US companies.
Trump and his supporters don't care for anything but money, so hit them where it hurts.
I was reading an article yesterday about Canadian stores pulling US alcohol of the shelves with some real potential to harm US companies. The makers of Jack Daniels, for one, aren't happy.
As the governor of Ontario said, he can turn off the power to quite a chunk of the north eastern US if Trump wants to be a dick.
I suspect Canada doesn't need any help from us yet. They can stand up to Trump economically, unless he goes completely batshit and invades then we're into Article 5 territory.
Canada always makes me think of the phrase "speak softly but carry a big stick". They come across as kind, polite, considerate, thoughtful and restrained. Just don't cross them!
Perhaps the Last Leg can reinstate Click for a Brick but make it real this time? I'd quite happily by a couple of bricks for Canada to build a wall.
unless he goes completely batshit and invades then we're into Article 5 territory.
Oddly enough we were discussing that last night, but in the context of Greenland. There is no provision in Article 5, or indeed elsewhere in the NATO treaty, about how to deal with one member attacking another.
There was an interesting programme on radio 4 about it a while ago, although they were working on the premise that the most likely scenario was a conflict between Greece and Turkey.
.
Anyway, like most above I am switching away from US products wherever possible. Minimal impact in my personal life, but also at work, very, very slightly higher impact as the company spends more than I do. Drops in the ocean but it all helps I guess.
Worst case scenario, and hopefully unlikely, but who here would be prepared to fight if the poo gets into the fan? I'm older than the current maximum age for joining up, not by much, but like to think I'd have the guts to do it if required. Who knows if that would be the case?
what can we do to help our friends and relatives in Canada?
This isn't a flippant reply, but I honestly think don't give him the oxygen of publicity.
who here would be prepared to fight if the poo gets into the fan? I'm older than the current maximum age for joining up, not by much, but like to think I'd have the guts to do it if required.
Rad dads' army.
I'm not in favour of him having actual oxygen TBH
When it comes to Mountain Biking, it’s relatively easy to stop buying USA made or USA brand kit. In the tech field, be it tools for work or entertainment, it’s much, much harder. And those are the companies most in bed with this regime. Canadian bike brands are out there… support them.
Canada needs an lpg terminal on the east coast for export to Europe and a refinery to turn the oil they produce into petrol rather than selling cheap energy to the USA. That would take longer than 4 years, but it will reduce the reliance on the US for trade.
in the mean time, hike the price of all energy, metal and mineral exports to the US by 25% and charge any US transport travelling to or from Alaska 25% of the value of their cargo.
as a consumer, don’t buy American if you can help it. Don’t visit the US (border crossings are down by 40%). Dont subscribe to any US streaming services. Don’t use Amazon (if you still do) and dont go to Starbucks (if you still do).
My next bike will be 100% not american, thats my completely pointless 2 fingers to the orange sleazy weirdo
Rocky Mountain on my list!
Will we see an increase in Shimano and a drop in SRAM?
Fewer Fix and Rockshox and more Ohlins and Formula?
Stop buying from US companies. Particularly Meta, Tesla, Google and Amazon - all very easy to replace.
Sell any investments that you have in US markets. Probably the only thing that might give Trump pause for thought is seeing the SP500 drop 20%.
Flippant answer to a serious question: invite them to join Eurovision. First step to closer EU integration. If Australia are allowed then Canada should be too.
I suspect Canada doesn't need any help from us yet. They can stand up to Trump economically, unless he goes completely batshit and invades then we're into Article 5 territory.
Yup, having lived there for >10 years, this. If Canada really wants to, and gets its sh*t together (mainly getting the 10 provinces to stop being petulant children and behave like a single country) they are more than capable of repelling the US themselves, politically speaking. If it *doesn't* get its sh*t together (mainly because Trudeau has been a useless virtue-signalling nepo-baby for the last 10 years or so, and Quebec refuses to acknowledge it's actually in Canada), there's not much anyone else can do.
Flippant answer to a serious question: invite them to join Eurovision.
Do they really deserve that on top of everything else at the moment though?
Will we see an increase in Shimano and a drop in SRAM?
Fewer Fix and Rockshox and more Ohlins and Formula?
Hopefully in the aftermarket, OEM sales unlikely to change. And given the state of bike sales, not many bikes are being bought anyway! But, if you need a replacement sram cassette consider an alternative from a less hostile nation like China. Or Poland if you can afford it.
the downside of this is that retailers with stock need to shift the stock to stay in business. So though it was my suggestion, it’s not entirely wise…
every time trump mentions tariffs the stock market falls, then he back pedals and it rebounds. If I were cynical, I’d start thinking that he was manipulating the markets for his own gains.
As for the jokey talk of annexing US states, there is talk of the entire west coast wanting to join Canada. Not sure if the country needs the problems it would bring. The guns and social decay would take a lot of the shine off the Californian economy. The mountains would be good to have, though.
And as for who’d fight, Canada’s nato allies would be obliged to come to canadas aid if attacked. Dread to think what this would mean for Europe and their exposure to the Russians. Obviously hypothetical, but a war on 2 fronts would suit Putin
I think I prefer the idea of the Rad Dad army to realising that my kids are 18 and 21 and if it really goes tits up.....
I'm waiting for Trump to figure out how many electoral college votes Canada would have as a "state" and the penny dropping when he (or the GOP) realizes his slim majority would disappear and never come back again...
(Not that Canada is a socialist utopia, but it's definitely more left-leaning as a whole than the US, and definitely not MAGA enough...)
I applaud all those on here who are trying to avoid buying American products, and I like to think I am amongst you, but how many folk will stop paying for their streaming services.
What are you going to do without Netflix, Prime, Disney+, etc? I'm happy I've never used them, except for 1 month of Prime (which was free), so won't miss them, but I can imagine getting shot of them causing a lot of grief in some households.
but how many folk will stop paying for their streaming services.
Definitely me. Just as soon as S3 of Reacher is done.
What are you going to do without Netflix, Prime, Disney+, etc? I'm happy I've never used them,
Like you I have never used them.
The American product I am going to find it hardest to find an alternative for is probably What's App, but I don't pay for that (yes, I know, but I don't give them money)
I have never used Starbucks for instance, try to avoid all chains TBF and use little cafes, I've not used a Macdonald's other than their WiFi since I was about 8 and have only bought one or two things on Amazon.
Bike wise I have a lot of Thomson and Chris King bits some Manitou forks and two Salsa frames but all second hand, due to cost rather than avoiding American at the time, but a new Chris King hub purchase has recently been ditched in favour of a Hope. I drive a 12 year old Ford. I can't think of anything else American I have
At work out biggest American suppliers are Shopify, Microsoft and Google and Facebook for advertising. Shopify probably has the most competitors of those, but will require some web jiggery-pokery to remove, the others I have no idea about but I will raise the issue and see what everyone else says, hopefully get some change.
Is any of that going to make a difference? Who knows, but I see it as a bit like me being vegetarian. It gives me a clearer conscience, it might make a very, very small difference at the margins if I do it but if everyone does it it can make a big difference
I'm also doubtful of how much real difference it will make, but I'm still going to have a go at boycotting US products. If nothing else it makes me feel better, and ever so slightly less powerless against the Trump ****wittery onslaught.
I'm waiting for Trump to figure out how many electoral college votes Canada would have as a "state" and the penny dropping when he (or the GOP) realizes his slim majority would disappear and never come back again...
(Not that Canada is a socialist utopia, but it's definitely more left-leaning as a whole than the US, and definitely not MAGA enough...)
I suggested this somewhere else and it was pointed out that the MAGA plan was to annex Canada (so not make it a state) with the possible exception of Alberta.
The Canadians are taking all of this as well as you’d expect…
I'm boycotting McDonald's, KFC and taco bell.
Trump isn't serious about much except his ratings, which are boosted by his confrontational nonsense and lies.
What has become clear is just how reliant the world is on American tech. How do you replace (the useful bits of) Facebook?
As a start can we tweak the forum settings to a 24hr clock instead of what appears to be US am/pm time codes
(the useful bits of) Facebook?
The what now?
What are you going to do without Netflix, Prime, Disney+
I've cancelled Netflix and Disney+ in the last few days. Cancelled Prime a year ago (because it's garbage).
I have just subscribed to Channel 4's paid service, and also to Rakuten Viki (Japanese owned).
Trump isn't serious about much except his ratings
He's serious about plenty of things. He was serious about rolling back Roe-v-Wade, and succeeded, for example.
MAGA plan
There's a plan ?!?! Lol.
Trump just makes this shit up for the attention. He's probably just pissed at Trudeau but he's no longer leader...it remains to be seen how Carney or Freeland deal with him
There's a plan ?!?! Lol.
The plan is "Project 2025".
He was quite clear in 2024 in saying that he would introduce tariffs and use the money raised to eliminate income tax, which is one of their goals.
Does anyone in the US actually understand where the money comes from to pay tarrifs?
A note for Drumpf.
Does anyone in the US actually understand where the money comes from to pay tarrifs?
Poor people. You know, the ones that don't matter.
Imho, Trump is crazy about selling cars to the Russians in exchange for cheap energy. That way, he might get out of debt to the chinese.
To make that work, he’d need to raise global warming to make the arctic navigable and build a load of container ports along Canada’s arctic coast.
Trump is not blind to the amount of European cars that the Russians purchase.
But I suspect that he is blind to how much better European cars are compared to American cars. American cars are at Lear a decade behind the European equivalents in terms of rust proofing and interior materials. Possibly all the materials throughout the whole vehicle.
Can you give a case example on euro vs American cars?
I'll probably put some money into the S&P500 now it's tanked a bit.
We know damn well that what trump&co are doing... short the market, buy low, sell high etc. It's all they understand.
Anyone who can't see that, is barking up the wrong lamp post.
Just look at his various scams with crypto, 'luxury' watches, and basket ball boots with goldy looking plastic.
I've met traders in the grand bazzar in Isanbul, with more business acumen than him.
Can you give a case example on euro vs American cars?
Well, Cadillac have just been granted an entry to F1 so we'll have a definitive answer soon....
Does this mean that my "spare" Phil Wood b/bs and Chris King headsets are worthless?
Canada’s current reputation for niceness, for a long time the stereotype was ‘surly drunk who gets into fights’.
The interesting thing about Canadians is that they are polite helpful and friendly, but if you piss them off they will let you know and impolite behaviour isn’t tolerated (generalization)
Can you give a case example on euro vs American cars?
Ford escape vs the kuga. The us versions rust rapidly and the interior plastics (some, not all) are very low quality. I’ve also got experience of the fusion/mondeo.
Small US GM products (when they made them) were a poor comparison to the Europe GM cars.
the cars are, or were, cheaper, though. I don’t think any US manufacturers make a golf sized car anymore.
For me it’s not really about boycotting the US, but that when I buy things the money I spend will stay in Canada as opposed to going to a country with a leader who is trying to break the Canadian economy.
As nicko74 mentions, hopefully this situation will make the Provences start working together to make domestic trade simpler.
in truth it’s a bit futile, I only have one American thing on my bike, but I’m typing this on an iPhone. Canada couldn’t win a trade war with the USA, nor could any other country. As Kelvin pointed out above, the technology that the world runs on is American.
anyway, rambling.
Aren’t Canadians (their soldiers anyway), one of the driving reasons the Geneva convention exists?
Not to be ****ed with.
Tl;Dr
Trump has stated that other NATO countries wouldn't help the US was attacked.
Erm well what did he think the 2nd Iraq war was about and Afghanistan. Complete twunt
Aren’t Canadians (their soldiers anyway), one of the driving reasons the Geneva convention exists?
Not to be ****ed with.
You might be right. Although looking at the reasons behind it, it does sound like a case of FAFO (**** about, find out)
I'm in Vancouver (ex pat), and it's all a bit odd. Had an American guy apologise to me on a ski lift last week.
I don't think anyone is seriously worried about being annexed, but the general attitude towards the states is very dark right now. Supermarkets are putting little flags on Canadian stuff and slowly edging out American. People are avoiding US petrol and attempting to buy Canadian. Everyone I actually talk to thinks Trump is a cretin, but better watch his back.
However, as always, the loud minority of Freedom Convoy/flag shagger types on social media are pushing the "well, we should just secure the borders like Papa Trump asks" side. Like it was ever about fentanyl. Pretty sure incoming border security is a US problem anyway.
Although there is little/no chance of Canada winning a full on trade war with the states, they rely on the north for more than they think. Crude oil, assorted ores, lumber, water, and power, to name a few. Hopefully it'll instigate Canadian producers to start processing more raw materials, rather than just exporting in the rawest form. Hopefully it'll also sort out the bizarre trans-provincial trade restrictions within Canada.
Currently, I'm not too worried. I've not noticed any increase in prices on stuff that I buy. Changed a few shopping habits. The CAD has dropped a bit, but it doesn't seem to mean much within the country. I'll not be going over the border for a while, but big whoop, it's expensive and scary down there anyway.
but I’m typing this on an iPhone
I have a Google Pixel 7a, so in the same situation.
However, if I was buying a phone today rather than a year ago, I would be thinking about a Fairphone, since it's manufactured in the Netherlands.
(And also because Google seem to have given up making good phones, at least the 7 is disappointing).
And I might see if I can make /e/OS work.
Got to start somewhere.
So Canada is engaging in its own trade war with China that predates Trump.
Thanks Beargrease, good to know. I must confess I hadn't checked when I wrote that, just assumed as they bill us in USD. That would be a pain to move away from.
So Canada is engaging in its own trade war with China that predates Trump.
Is this somehow relevant to the US threatening to annex Canada? Or are you suggesting that maybe China is/was intending on annexing Canada 'cos of their trade war? (In which case, maybe the EU needs to watch out as they also slapped tariffs on Chinese-made EV cars...)
🙄
Isn't there a world of difference between a trade war, and tariffs on particular items you wish to control
I didn't read the whole article but the headline mentions EVs.?
Europe, the US and Canada, to name but twenty-nine (if we're talking individual countries) have either had or increased tariffs on Chinese-built EVs since last summer/autumn
Countries like Australia that don't manufacture EVs don't tend to impose tariffs and the UK wasn't planning tariffs the last time I looked, although some industry leaders have asked for them
However, if I was buying a phone today rather than a year ago, I would be thinking about a Fairphone, since it's manufactured in the Netherlands.
Assembled maybe, but manufactured is a stretch. Qualcomm (US company) processor, running modified android OS, OLED screen will be LG display, probably made in china. Similar will apply to memory chips etc.
Global supply chains are so complex, if you are buying advanced electronics it is inevitable many parts will come from the same places regardless of branding.
Is this somehow relevant to the US threatening to annex Canada? Or are you suggesting that maybe China is/was intending on annexing Canada 'cos of their trade war? (In which case, maybe the EU needs to watch out as they also slapped tariffs on Chinese-made EV cars...)
🙄
Apologies, it seems to have got your back up.
I posted it because I wasn't aware that Canada is currently engaged in a tit-for-tat trade war with China in which China has just retaliated according to the latest news (I have no idea if China has also taken retaliatory action against the EU) I thought fighting trade wars on two fronts might increase the pressures on Canada. I also thought that it might be a reflection on how more generally the world is turning to protectionism.
Anyway it is obviously of no interest so apologies once again!
Isn't there a world of difference between a trade war, and tariffs on particular items you wish to control
This isn't even about a trade war. We've had those in the past.
No, this is about the US wanting to do to Canada what Russia is currently trying to do to Ukraine. The trade war is just the opening gambit.
No, this is about the US wanting to do to Canada what Russia is currently trying to do to Ukraine. The trade war is just the opening gambit.
Don't conflate the US with Trump.
In the very unlikely event that he gave the order to invade what is in place to stop him? I think he probably has more power as Commander In Chief than, say, Kier Starmer has over the UK military, can congress refuse to authorise it for instance? There must be a significant portion of the top brass and probably quite a few of the rank and file who would just point blank refuse. Or is his plan much longer term and he needs to stir things up to a point where everyone thinks it's necessary? Or is it all just bovine colonic throughput?
There must be a significant portion of the top brass
He sacked the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff last week.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyr2xvn4dpo
In a lot of ways, it's very similar to what happened in Germany. If so, don't be surprised to see US officers swearing an oath of loyalty to the Fuehrer President.
can congress refuse to authorise
Congress right now appear to be rolling over and letting him do whatever he wants.
Re-reading German history, the next step would be martial law under some pretext ("the immigrants are eating our cats and dogs") and suspend Congress anyway for the safety of the Fatherland USA.
Equally shocked that the OP is self proclaimed old and passed it and used the term ‘reach out’ (in any context, nevermind that of invasion).
But yeah, batting for Canada on this one.
Not too sure I'm keen on the idea of boycotting bike brands. Boycotting in general I find a hard concept sometimes.
Let's say no one buys any US mtb stuff any more. Result:
SRAM, Santa Cruz, Trek, Specialized, ENVE, Yeti, Surly, Chris King, GT, Ibis, Marin, Lynskey... and many more get hurt hard.
USA GDP hardly notices the difference.
Things like Amazon, travelling to the US, companies ordering from there, etc, I can see the point a bit more.
Boycotting IMO is more about sending a message than financial impact so unless it's done on a large scale and/or in an obvious showy manner, all it does is harm the individual businesses.
Equally shocked that the OP is self proclaimed old and passed it and used the term ‘reach out’
You need more skibidi in your life 😉
I’ve just ordered some We Are One rims, over Enve, for my next bike. It will have a mostly SRAM mech (body bought second hand, and the cage and pulleys will be aftermarket, from Germany) Enve bars and cane creek cranks, but they were bought before it all went to shit.
#doingmybit
This isn't even about a trade war. We've had those in the past.
No, this is about the US wanting to do to Canada what Russia is currently trying to do to Ukraine. The trade war is just the opening gambit
Well it's widely seen as a trade war even if the aims are political as much as they are economical. There's even a Wikipedia page dedicated to it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_United_States_trade_war_with_Canada_and_Mexico
And China appears to be exploiting the situation by announcing massive tariffs on Canadian goods in retaliation for tariffs Canada imposed on Chinese goods in August last year. I guess it could just be a coincidence and the Chinese government needed 7 months to think about it but personally I feel that is probably unlikely.
Specialized
I do feel sorry for small mom and pop bike companies like this that will suffer 🤣
But if regular people in the USA start to see Trump's bullshoot as affecting them directly, maybe that's a good thing?
When its a choice between American products or European/other, I know where I'll be spending my money for the foreseeable future.
Re-reading German history, the next step would be martial law under some pretext ("the immigrants are eating our cats and dogs") and suspend Congress anyway for the safety of the Fatherland USA.
Maybe closer to the midterms, if the polls aren't going his way.
Re-reading German history, the next step would be martial law under some pretext ("the immigrants are eating our cats and dogs") and suspend Congress anyway for the safety of the Fatherland USA.
Good job they've got the 2nd Amendment, eh? 👍
I did see something a couple of weeks ago about the Canadians looking to join the EU, although personally I think that Canada is much closer politically to the US than the European standard.
How so? I'd say that Canada is closer politically to the 'European standard' than the UK is.
Does anyone in the US actually understand where the money comes from to pay tarrifs?
The intelligent (majority Democrat) half of the population do. The dumb Republican (and particularly MAGA part) don't. It's the same as remaining or leaving the EU.