It’s so predictable. In fact, I predicted * this would happen a year ago when Trump, after resuming office, went on his first tarrif spree. It is all so stupid. Not only were the reasons for the tarrifs nonsense, the outcome was easy to predict. Ooh, you’re going to make us pay absurd amounts of tarrifs on importing our goods? Fine, we’ll do business elsewhere.

The world is a big place, and major forces like China don’t just role over for the whims of someone like Trump. They quickly focused their attention and trade efforts on other countries, and solidified their position as leader of trade in the pacific, a position the US foolishly gave up in Trump 1 when they withdrew from TPP.

It’s so mindblowing. You want to be the world’s number one trade partner, but actively burn bridges and relationships with virtually all your allies, and on top give China and other adversaries the opportunity to agressively expand. Judging by the fact that Canada is now renewing or expanding their trade-relationships with China, it seems no one is intimidated by Trump’s agressive intimidation tactics anymore.

* that is no way a flex, because it is an easy prediction