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Posted

Saudi Arabia is a bit different than the average country, obviously.  But the issue I have with extractive industries is that they are dirty, dangerous, and large diversified powers take advantage of smaller countries to extract their resources.  "Free Trade" for a small country with little development and natural resource wealth basically just means extracting out its resources in a neo colonial fashion to send them abroad.  Because of free trade, these smaller countries constantly get swamped by cheap imports too.  So they never have the opportunity to diversify and become client states of larger countries.

The "Banana Republics" of Central America are good examples.   They were basically owned by the USA and their corporations.   You wonder why they have continued problems today?  The USA creating wars in these regions to extract their resources was good for business.  Look at United Fruit Co.

Canada is a big country but relying on sending natural resources to the USA while it gets swamped by US and Mexican imports can be a bit dangerous for its sovereignty.   Right now it is basically operating at the whims of US billionaires and private interests. 

Posted

Costa Rica has a LOT of import duties.  But I can kind of see why they do it now.  If they didn't they would probably have zero agriculture, farming, and government revenues.  Small countries really cannot exist in a totally free trade world like the USA...unless they want to be completely dependent.

The reality is if we are talking about the theory of comparative advantage.  Small countries only comparative advantage is resource extraction when comparing against a country like the USA.  That is kind of neo colonialism.

Posted

Saudi Arabia has a plan for their post oil future.

https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/saudi-arabias-renewable-energy-initiatives-and-their-geopolitical-implications/

Saudi Arabia is experiencing a significant economic transformation under its Vision 2030 plan to reduce the country’s dependence on oil revenues by diversifying its economy. The Saudi government’s introduction of a value-added tax (VAT) and successful debt issuances have already diversified revenue sources, lowering oil’s share of total revenue to below 70 percent, even during periods of high oil prices.[1] But challenges remain. Saudi Arabia’s fiscal break-even oil price—the price per barrel needed to balance the budget—has risen, indicating continued sensitivity to oil price fluctuations. Its external break-even oil price has also increased, reflecting ongoing reliance on oil exports to finance imports. These challenges underscore the need for policies that enhance fiscal resilience, particularly in the face of potential future oil shocks.[2]

One approach Saudi Arabia has adopted is investing heavily in renewable energy, particularly through partnerships with China. This has had the effect of accelerating the country’s progress in renewable energy, with far-reaching implications for global geopolitics and energy markets. Specifically, Saudi Arabia is increasingly becoming aligned with China while China is gaining greater access to Middle Eastern markets and greater regional influence.

Posted
On 2/4/2025 at 4:29 AM, happycamper said:

no, canada is stuck. mexico has been doing a great job of extending free trade to the whole developed world, but they're still going to have to deal with us too. europe? we have both built our industries and transportation infrastructure around each other.

but the TPP? something similar to the TPP in about to explode economically Africa? south and central asia? South America outside of Chile?

it is going to be much more difficult to have a counter to the belt and road initiatives now. 

Particularly if the Agency for International Development is eliminated. 

  • Like 1
Posted
On 2/3/2025 at 4:01 PM, Akkula said:

After his crypto ripoff, I am sure he and his cronies shorted the maket when tariffs were announced then went long on the bottom right before he "resolved" the tariffs.  But we have stupid people who keep buying the snake oil.

If the tariffs wer announced on a Monday hours after the market had opened you might have a point. But there's a specific reason these kind of announcement are made on Fridays, toward the end of the business day.

Posted
On 2/4/2025 at 11:24 AM, SalinasSpartan said:

I’m too lazy to post the link, but apparently the U.S. made some concessions to Mexico as well to resolve the tariff situation. I guess Trump just forgot to mention them, innocent oversight.

Yup - involves gun smuggling across the border to Mexico.  And yes, Trump neglected to bring that up.

  • Cheers 1
Posted
On 2/4/2025 at 9:01 AM, NVGiant Waste of Time said:

Trump just might embarrass Trudeau so much that he saves the Liberal Party

The NDP is not going to save them from a no confidence vote any longer when they want to become the opposition party. Parliament can’t be called back into session to fund the border deal Trudeau just broadcasted with the Conservatives striking a no confidence vote. Why would any of the parties in question, the conservatives, the NDP, Canadian voters want to save a lame duck liberal government to negotiate with Trump when they all want them out of there?

Posted
On 2/4/2025 at 11:24 AM, SalinasSpartan said:

I’m too lazy to post the link, but apparently the U.S. made some concessions to Mexico as well to resolve the tariff situation. I guess Trump just forgot to mention them, innocent oversight.

Didn't Biden get the 10k troops from Mexico in December?  He didn't have to give any concessions to Mexico on guns either.  Does that meet Trump is a worse negotiator if he got a worse deal than Biden?  Did he get played by the woman?

Posted
On 2/4/2025 at 2:37 PM, Akkula said:

Didn't Biden get the 10k troops from Mexico in December?  He didn't have to give any concessions to Mexico on guns either. 

No, it was in 2021.  And yes he (Trump) did agree to crack down on gun smuggling into Mexico..

Posted
On 2/4/2025 at 11:39 AM, thelawlorfaithful said:

The NDP is not going to save them from a no confidence vote any longer when they want to become the opposition party. Parliament can’t be called back into session to fund the border deal Trudeau just broadcasted with the Conservatives striking a no confidence vote. Why would any of the parties in question, the conservatives, the NDP, Canadian voters want to save a lame duck liberal government to negotiate with Trump when they all want them out of there?

I haven’t seen anything to suggest that the currently pledged C$1.3B border plan is any different than the C$1.3B border announced in December. The Canadian Ambassador said as much the night before last.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czx5p41696po

Posted
On 2/4/2025 at 1:15 PM, Old_SD_Dude said:

I haven’t seen anything to suggest that the currently pledged C$1.3B border plan is any different than the C$1.3B border announced in December. The Canadian Ambassador said as much the night before last.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czx5p41696po

It’s pledged but there is no money allocated to fund any of it just like back in December. It can’t be funded because Trudeau prrrrrooorrrrooogued err, just shut down Parliament to avoid a no confidence vote that would oust the liberals. Canada made a promise with their lame duck government that they can’t live up to and nobody else can negotiate with Trump because they’re all locked out until after the 30 day hold on tariffs expires.

  • Like 2
Posted
On 2/4/2025 at 12:37 PM, Akkula said:

Didn't Biden get the 10k troops from Mexico in December?  He didn't have to give any concessions to Mexico on guns either.  Does that meet Trump is a worse negotiator if he got a worse deal than Biden?  Did he get played by the woman?

I swear you guys were really upset at the idea of potentially not aiding foreign countries less. Now your making fun of the guy for aiding foreign countries. Maybe decide whose side you're, then come back to the subject.

  • Idiot 1
Posted
On 2/4/2025 at 3:40 PM, CoachKenFTW said:

I swear you guys were really upset at the idea of potentially not aiding foreign countries less. Now your making fun of the guy for aiding foreign countries. Maybe decide whose side you're, then come back to the subject.

What?  Ever heard of the Marshall plan?  How do you think the USA became the most powerful in the world?  We bought most of our friends!  Penny wise and pound foolish!

Imagine an alternative reality where we dropped a bomb on Japan and then went home to let them and Europe fend for themselves.  Foreign aid has been VERY good for the USA.

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