Trump opened new ground in his tariff war yesterday, as the FT noted:
Donald Trump has threatened to hit Brazil with tariffs of 50 per cent and accused it of attacking free speech, in a significant escalation of tensions between the US and Latin America's biggest economy.
In a letter posted to Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump lashed out at the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva over the treatment of Brazil's former rightwing president Jair Bolsonaro.
Trump is now seemingly going to use tariffs to support far-right politicians who, when deposed from office in elections, try to stage coups to stay in post, as Bolsonaro did (sound familiar, anyone?)
As Paul Krugman has said on Substack overnight:
Trump barely even pretends that there's an economic justification for this action. This is all about punishing Brazil for putting Jair Bolsonaro on trial.
He added:
Now, this wouldn't be the first time America has used tariff policy for a political purpose. On the contrary, the international trading system we set up after World War II was in part motivated by the belief of U.S. officials that trade, in addition to being economically beneficial, was a force for peace and would strengthen democracy around the world. They were probably right, and in any case it was a noble goal.
Now Trump is trying to use tariffs to help another wannabe dictator. If you still thought America was one of the world's good guys, this should tell you whose side we're on these days.
I agree. As his actions on Francesca Albaese also show, intimidation and threats are the far-right way.
But let's also be clear, after Trump's apparent backtracking on tariffs in late April, they are very much back on his agenda. As the FT also noted:
The letter to Brazil was the eighth Trump posted on Wednesday and comes as part of a broader barrage against 22 countries in recent days as he ratchets up pressure on the US's trading partners to strike deals or face levies. He also confirmed that the 50 per cent tariff on copper would go into effect on August 1.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump imposed tariffs of between 25 per cent and 30 per cent on Algeria, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. The letters followed threats of 25 per cent tariffs on Japan and South Korea, among others, on Monday.
He deferred his madness soon after first announcing it in the spring. Now he is relying on the idea that the world has grown accustomed to the idea that this is going to happen, and is proceeding with it. The outcomes will be the same. Most especially:
- The cost of living in the US will rise.
- As will US inflation.
- The US economy may well enter a recession.
- US interest rates might well rise.
- The impacts will be felt in the wider world, being especially punishing through interest rates on developing countries, but we will not escape their impact.
Let's not beat about the bush here: fascists are a threat to the well-being of people right across the world now. It cannot be said otherwise. Sometimes, they will threaten individuals. Sometimes they threaten collectively, but they are always a threat. That is all they know how to do.
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Absurdity as foreign policy.
How touching seeing fascists looking after each other.
I wonder how Lula will deal with this, and the back stabbing Brazilian Congress behind his back – a bigger snake pit you could not imagine.
“the belief of U.S. officials that trade, in addition to being economically beneficial, was a force for peace and would strengthen democracy around the world. They were probably right, and in any case it was a noble goal.”
Krugman attemtping to massage the UST (United States of Trump) image. The UST has NEVER been interested in peace & democracy – only in control – in the 1940s – 1960s this control tended to be more subtle (& sometimes less – Iran 1950s?) – now it is more overt – that is all. Time for the Uk and EU to cut themselves off from the UST. Get independent on defense asap & then say goodbye.
Agreed Mike – my ‘go to’ about UST is good old Professor Michael Hudson who has written well about this on a number of occasions.
The last few minutes of the latest segment from Lawrence O’Donnell covers the Brazil tariff, as well as his mad use of capital letters. But it starts with a broader discussion of the fallout from not releasing the so called ‘client list’ of Jeffrey Epstein, and Trump’s efforts to distract from this by leaking details of new criminal investigation into James Comey and John Brennan over the Russia investigation, back in 2017.
Well worth watching this for the utter demolition of Trump and his stupidity. Also, worth watching the two previous segments as they all highlight how absolutely appallingly stupid Trump is, how his lakeys do anything – however stupid and demeaning – and how awful the White House Press Corp are in holding Trump to account – unlike their treatment of Biden.
https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/lawrence-today-trump-proved-there-is-no-way-he-can-fake-sounding-smart-about-anything-242979909523
I have listened
Very good
Thanks
Yesterday the BBC Scotland website had the headline “Police preparing for Donald Trump to visit Scotland”. For one glorious moment I thought it meant they were getting ready to arrest an alleged war criminal. Then I realised they were more likely to be gearing up to arrest any “terrorist” intent on painting Donald’s golf clubs red.
Your second option is undoubtedly more likely
Indeed. We live in a country now where the disabled are arrested under terrorism laws for protesting against cuts, where people trying to do something about climate change are given longer sentences than rapists and arsonists, and where protesting against genocide is reviled and politicians seek to ban it.
It’s also the place where the leader of the opposition is to finally outline the dreams of her right wing back benchers, by planning to remove all but the most serious mental health issues eligibility for benefits.
Ironic, given the leader she most worships in the World is half way round the bend and back again..
Well I do hope they are going to protect against drones – you know the sort – the ones that use fibre optic for control (immune from electronic warfare), have a range of 10 kms and carry a multi-kg payload. I am not convinced that the UST is up to speed on drones – took ’em 5 years to get a drone to drop a grenade. Just sayin, not advocatin.
This proposed visit to Scotland by Trump is getting the natives here quite angry: It’s not a state visit, it’s a private visit to his golf courses, so the natives are asking why the Scottish Police and by extension our government and, no doubt, the UK Secret Service are expected to pay for the colossal costs of protecting the Donald and his entourage? No estimated figures have emerged yet but there’s talk of multiple millions of pounds. There’s also the unresolved question of his own personal bodyguards and whether they are legally allowed to carry weapons during the visit. His last visit caused quite a stooshie with protesters, notably the late comedienne Janey Godley who had a memorable and prolonged discussion with a Scottish policemen about her rights to protest, all the while with the cameras rolling and her (uncensored) placard stating “Trump is a C**T” in full display. Suffice it to say that the Polisman had a hard job keeping his face straight.
That he is doing this is not a surprise but the acquiescence of so many western politicians and companies is really worrying.
Donald Trump has become a joke to all but his most staunch MAGA supporters.
The latest installment of Epstein saga has not set well with many MAGAts nor has the handling of the flooding disaster in Texas.
After reading this article I am quite optimistic on the shelf life of Trump & MAGA:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/08/record-us-bee-colony-dieoffs-climate-stress-pesticides-silent-spring-aoe
extract: “Due to government staffing cuts, the USDA team were unable to analyse pesticides in the hives and asked bee experts at Cornell University to carry out the research, with the results still to be published. Experts are concerned that successive loss of honeybee colonies could affect food security as the insects pollinate more than 100 commercial crops across North America. Reports of new losses this year came through before the California almond blossom season, which is the largest pollination event in the world, requiring the services of 70% of US honeybees.”
No bees, no food (it’s not just bloody nuts). I wonder how citizens of the UST will feel then? Harking back to the film V (entertainment or more Delphic Oracle?) The opening 2 minutes foretells of a USA that becomes an open-air leper colony (figuratively speaking). Due to the hard work by Trump and his acolytes, it would seem to be coming down the track. Moronism (the mental condition – not the religion) has its own reward – & citizens of the USA are about to discover this. I take my schadenfreude straight – no ice – how about you?
Call it extortion, not trade policy . I just wish our leaders would quit playing along . What’s the point of “negotiating a trade deal” when Orange man could change his mind next week? He needs to be isolated and ignored, we need to suck it up and sit on our exports especially the ones that the US needs. If MMT works ( which I believe it does) the government can keep the economy afloat until this man finds himself isolated and ridiculed. Consuming less would do us all good anyhow !