To The Moon

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The trade conflict between the United States and Canada has erupted into a full-blown political crisis, revealing the hypocrisy, mismanagement, and greed of leaders on both sides. Canada Steel stock had drop over 50%.

Leaders' Hypocrisy and Reckless Decisions

Donald Trump, who claims to champion American workers, has once again resorted to impulsive tariff policies that resemble economic blackmail. Meanwhile, Canadian officials, led by Doug Ford and Mark Carney, have responded with indignant outrage—conveniently ignoring their own role in escalating tensions by implementing an electricity surcharge targeting U.S. states.

A Dangerous Game of Political Theater

What’s unfolding is political theater at its worst, a high-stakes game where millions of jobs and livelihoods are being gambled away by leaders who remain insulated from the consequences of their reckless decisions. True to form, Trump has escalated the conflict, branding Canada as a trade cheat draining America's wealth. His provocative rhetoric—including the absurd fantasy of annexing Canada as the 51st state—seems designed to stir his most radical supporters, turning a trade dispute into a nationalist crusade.

Canada's Hollow Nationalism

On the other side, Canada’s response has been equally self-righteous, with Ford and Carney suddenly casting themselves as defenders of sovereignty. Yet, their newfound nationalism rings hollow given their history of prioritizing globalist trade deals over protecting domestic industries.

The Economic Fallout

The economic fallout has been swift and severe. Markets are in turmoil, businesses are bracing for impact, and ordinary citizens—workers, small business owners, and consumers—are left watching helplessly as their futures hang in the balance. Steel prices are soaring, automaker stocks are tumbling, and inflation is set to rise further. Yet, those in power remain untouched by the turmoil they’ve created.

Media’s Role in the Crisis

Meanwhile, the media has played its part in fueling the crisis, focusing on Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric rather than addressing the decades of systemic failures that led to this moment. What was once one of the strongest alliances in the Western Hemisphere is now unraveling in a battle driven more by political ambition than economic necessity.

An Uncertain Future

The outcome of this escalating trade war could redefine North America's economic landscape—or send it into an irreversible downturn. Will Canada give in to U.S. pressure? Will Trump push too far and provoke a retaliation that extends beyond trade? And most importantly, how much longer will ordinary people tolerate leaders who sacrifice their livelihoods for political gain?

Trump’s claim that Canada is a “trade parasite”

His remarks carried an unmistakable undertone of a veiled threat that extended beyond tariffs, subtly alluding to an even more extreme possibility—the annexation of Canada itself. The situation escalated further when Ontario Premier Doug Ford swiftly reversed course within hours of Trump’s announcement. Following a behind-closed-doors discussion with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Ford agreed to suspend the electricity surcharge on Michigan, New York, and Minnesota. In exchange, Lutnick vaguely pledged to reconsider existing trade agreements—a gesture widely dismissed by analysts as little more than political posturing.

Trump defended the steep new tariffs with a well-worn argument from his first term, insisting that Canada was among the most protectionist nations in the world. Conveniently, he ignored the reality that the U.S. has historically imposed more trade barriers than its northern neighbor. However, his next warning was even more severe—if Canada refused to comply, he threatened to escalate the economic confrontation further by slapping even harsher tariffs on the automotive sector.

Ford Bows to U.S. Pressure, Suspends Energy Surcharge

By April 2, the escalating trade war threatened to cripple Canada’s automotive sector, potentially forcing thousands of workers into unemployment. The economic fallout was swift and severe. Within hours of the announcement, automaker stocks plummeted—Ford Motor fell nearly 4%, General Motors slipped 1.3%, and Stellantis, which operates multiple plants in Canada, suffered a staggering 5% drop. Meanwhile, aluminum prices in the U.S. surged past $990 per metric ton, a record high that would inevitably lead to higher consumer costs.

As the crisis deepened, Trump intensified his rhetoric, questioning why the U.S. should rely on foreign electricity at all. “Why is the United States buying energy from another country? We don’t need them. This is about the American people—people who have been taken advantage of for far too long,” he declared during a press conference. He went on to accuse Canada of leveraging its energy exports as a geopolitical weapon, calling it a “bargaining chip” that was holding innocent people hostage. In a dramatic flourish, Trump warned that Canada would face a financial penalty “so massive, it will be written about in history books for years to come.”

Political Backlash in Canada

The response from Canadian officials was immediate and forceful. Mark Carney, Canada’s incoming prime minister, condemned Trump’s actions as an outright attack on Canadian workers, families, and businesses. He vowed to maintain retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods until Washington showed a willingness to negotiate in good faith. Carney, a former Bank of England governor, has positioned himself as a staunch opponent of Trump’s aggressive trade policies, drawing strong support for his firm stance on defending Canadian sovereignty. However, tensions between the two nations continued to escalate, with no resolution in sight.

Carney Denounces U.S. Policies, Pledges Retaliation

Beyond trade disputes, tensions escalated further as reports emerged that the Trump administration was considering new travel restrictions for Canadians. Under the proposed policy, any Canadian staying in the U.S. for more than 30 days would be required to undergo fingerprinting and registration—fundamentally altering decades of seamless cross-border travel. The timing of this proposal, coming just hours after Trump’s tariff announcement, signaled a deliberate move to pressure Canada into compliance.

Trump's Annexation Rhetoric Gains Traction

The conflict has taken on a more ominous tone as Trump increasingly frames the dispute as more than just an economic battle—it’s now a question of national destiny. In a chilling turn, he has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, dismissing the border as nothing more than an artificial line drawn long ago. During a speech that sent shockwaves through Ottawa, Trump mockingly proposed that Canada replace its national anthem, O Canada, with an American state song. Once brushed off as a bizarre campaign quirk, his annexation rhetoric has now become part of official White House messaging.

For the first time, Canadian politicians across party lines have united against Trump, with Carney making a bold declaration: “Canada will never, ever be part of America.”

White House Tries to Downplay Crisis

As markets tumbled, the White House scrambled to contain the fallout. Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt attempted to frame the tariff hike as a measured response to Canada’s electricity policy, insisting it was a retaliatory statement rather than an act of economic aggression. However, her reassurances did little to calm investors or ease tensions.

Ford’s Ultimatum: Energy as a Bargaining Chip

Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, a longtime supporter of Trump’s economic policies, found himself in a difficult position. Having previously aligned with Trump's America First ideology, Ford now faced mounting pressure from his own base as Ontario’s steel industry reeled from the new tariffs. In a dramatic shift, Ford issued a warning to Washington: if the tariffs were not lifted, Ontario would consider cutting off energy exports to the U.S.

"That’s the last thing I want to do," Ford admitted. "I want to send more electricity to the U.S.—to our closest allies, our best neighbors in the world. But is it a tool in our toolkit? One hundred percent. And if Trump continues to hurt Canadian families, Ontario families, I won’t hesitate to use it."

Ford’s ultimatum marked a stark departure from his usual pro-business stance, sending a clear message to Washington: Canada was prepared to weaponize its energy exports if the U.S. refused to back down.

Business Leaders Caught in the Crossfire

The uncertainty surrounding the trade war has also placed American CEOs in an increasingly difficult position. While the Business Roundtable—a powerful lobbying group representing major U.S. corporations—has remained largely silent to avoid provoking the White House, executives privately expressed deep concerns about the economic fallout.

On Tuesday, Trump was set to meet with top business leaders, including the CEOs of Google, Amazon, and Ford, urging them to take a stand. In a fiery address, he called out corporate America for its inaction: “We need these CEOs to grow a backbone, to stand up to Trump, and tell him this is going to be a disaster. It’s mass chaos right now.”

What’s Next?

For now, the White House remains defiant. Trump has refused to rule out additional tariffs and continues to push his narrative of Canada’s economic dependence on the U.S. As he prepares for yet another rally—where his annexation rhetoric is expected to escalate—the world watches uneasily, bracing for what comes next.

Disclaimer: I want to make it clear that I am not a financial advisor, and nothing I say is intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument. Additionally, it's important to remember that there are no guarantees or certainties in trading or investing, and you should never invest money that you can't afford to lose.

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