Tariffs.... Wins/Losses
POSTED BY: 6ixStringJack
UPDATED: Sunday, August 30, 2026 17:02
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Trump's Dictator Protection Program
Using tariffs to fight democracy
By Paul Krugman | Jul 09, 2025
https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/trumps-dictator-protection-program
Trump’s latest letter, imposing a 50 percent tariff on Brazil, marks a new departure, and I think merits a special bulletin. After all, it’s both evil and megalomaniacal.
Here’s the first page:
Quote:Notice that 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.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
July 9, 2025
His Excellency
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
President of the Federative Republic of Brazil
Brasilia
Dear Mr. President:
I knew and dealt with former President Jair Bolsonaro, and respected him greatly, as did most other Leaders of Countries. The way that Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World during his Term, including by the United States, is an international disgrace. This Trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!
Due in part to Brazil's insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans (as lately illustrated by the Brazilian Supreme Court, which has issued hundreds of SECRET and UNLAWFUL Censorship Orders to U.S. Social Media platforms, threatening them with Millions of Dollars in Fines and Eviction from the Brazilian Social Media market), starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Brazil a Tariff of 50% on any and all Brazilian products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade this 50% Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff.
In addition, we have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Brazil, and have concluded that we must move away from the longstanding, and very unfair trade relationship engendered by Brazil’s Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal.
Please understand that the 50% number is far less than what is needed to have the Level Playing Field we must have with your Country. And it is necessary to have this to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime. As you are aware, there will be no Tariff if Brazil, or companies within your Country, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States and. in fact, we will do every thing possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely - in other words, in a matter of weeks.
Bolsonaro, as most readers probably know, is Brazil’s previous president, who lost the last election — but tried to stay in power through a coup overturning that election. Of course that sounds familiar.
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.
Why do I say that it’s megalomaniacal? Brazil has more than 200 million people. Here’s where its exports go:
Source: World Trade Organization
Those exports to the U.S. are less than 2 percent of Brazil’s GDP. Does Trump really imagine that he can use tariffs to bully a huge nation, which isn’t even very dependent on the U.S. market, into abandoning democracy?
So as I said, evil and megalomaniacal. If we still had a functioning democracy, th
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Thanks for continuing to keep a record of all the things that Paul Krugman gets wrong about everything.
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"I don't find this stuff amusing anymore." ~Paul Simon
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Donald Trump Vs BRICS: Trump Threatens 10% Tariff On BRICS Nations, Claims Group 'Set Up To Hurt' US
Trump Warns Of New Tariffs: 50% On Copper, 200% On Drugs, 10% On BRICS Nations
https://www.ndtv.com/video/trump-warns-of-new-tariffs-50-on-copper-200
-on-drugs-10-on-brics-nations-963891
Donald Trump threatens extra 10% tariff over ‘anti-American’ Brics policies
https://www.ft.com/content/93398b2a-fd6e-4389-b85b-74a709726738?sharet
ype=gift
Trump doubles down on 10 per cent tariff for BRICS; threatens 200 per cent tariff on pharma
https://www.ibtimes.co.in/trump-doubles-down-10-per-cent-tariff-brics-
threatens-200-per-cent-tariff-pharma-885104
Why is Trump slapping 50% tariffs and singling out Brazil over the Bolsonaro trial?
https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/trump-brazil-tariffs-bolsonaro-tr
ial-relationship-political-trade-explained-13904792.html
Trump Says BRICS Countries to Face 10% Tariff For 'Hurting' US, 'Degenerating' Dollar
https://www.outlookindia.com/international/us/trump-says-brics-countri
es-to-face-10-tariff-for-hurting-us-degenerating-dollar
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U.S. slaps 20.56% anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/us-hikes-softwood-lumb
er-duties-1.7594807
Lula says the US has ignored Brazil’s attempts to negotiate Trump's announced tariff
https://apnews.com/article/lula-brazil-trump-tariffs-bolsonaro-561abba
98f3a66ef2bfc36c7cb2034a4
Explaining the 1890 McKinley tariffs, and why Trump refers to them
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Trump sets 19% tariff rate on Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia; 10% global baseline rate
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/trump-sets-19-ta
riff-rate-malaysia-thailand-cambodia-10-global-baseline-rate
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India indicates it will keep buying Russian oil despite Trump's threats
https://apnews.com/article/india-russia-oil-trump-dca97e53ed2d6c9976b6
3b5a689de552
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Globalist Computer Companies, Land Of The Freedumbs, Incorporated. Blackmailed and cover ups, all those corrupt Police and spy groups and Masons, the Israeli Mossad, KGB, the European Royals
Endless War in the Middle East
...surveillance towers
Sex Offenders in the Admin?
Lawrence Taylor, once arrested in Rockland on sex charge, now on Trump youth fitness panel
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/lawrence-taylor-once-arrested-rock
land-175212448.html
Epstein Maxwell Hidden Documentary
'This is ridiculous. If a trade deal with Canada is beneficial to the American people then it should go forward regardless of Canada’s stance on Palestine. The benefit of the American people should be the guiding principle here.'
https://x.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1950920569462943804
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Sony announces PS5 price increase due to "challenging economic environment"
https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/sony-announces-ps5-price-increase-14
0842241.html
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Companies can't hold the line on prices much longer
https://www.axios.com/2025/08/20/trump-tariffs-inflation-home-depot
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Postal services in India, Europe. U.K. to suspend shipment of packages to U.S. over import tariffs
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/european-postal-services-suspend-us-packa
ges-shipment-tariffs/
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