State Department estimates around 72% of all vessels that travel
through the Panama Canal are coming from or going to a US port

That's a big deal.

No.

Forcing a sovereign nation to cease growing its economy with China due to the jealously of the US empire is a much evil bigger deal.

So much for America preserving other nations' freedom to choose their future economy destiny from tyranny...

Reports are that Elon and his team are locking staff out from their computers. And saving data to prevent it from being deleted.  How else did DOGE find billions of wasted funds in 10 days?

Of course the TDS'er are complaining about how they're storing the data like it's a regular person with a thumb drive who isn't allowed to do so.  They also have teams of security there escorting DOGE workers.  1 thing DOGE found is that government procurement departments never deny or question funds, even though they're going to a known terrorist org.

Zelinski also said that Ukraine has only received half of the billions that was said to have gone to them.  I wonder why he's speaking up now that DOGE is auditing?

This tells me that DOGE planned this weeks in advance and was ready to go once Trump gave the go-ahead.

No.

Forcing a sovereign nation to cease growing its economy with China due to the jealously of the US empire is a much evil bigger deal.

So much for America preserving other nations' freedom to choose their future economy destiny from tyranny...

Countries 1st priority are their self interest. Once that's at an acceptable amount, then they "spread the wealth".

Countries 1st priority are their self interest. Once that's at an acceptable amount, then they "spread the wealth".

I agree, but it was apparent that it was in Panama's as well as a great number of other nations' interest to join China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The US empire forcing Panama to change its course is not what a nation's freedom is all about.

I agree, but it was apparent that it was in Panama's as well as a great number of other nations' interest to join China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The US empire forcing Panama to change its course is not what a nation's freedom is all about.

So you rather have it run by China than the US (you're own country that you live in)?

Past administrations believe that since we are the leading country in the world, that we should take care of others as well.  Global kumbaya doctrine.

Some administrations (and I believe this current one as well,) believe we should take care of our country first.  It's people first.  It's economy, wealth, and security first.

It's nice to think and take care of other people.  We do it all the time, but the bottom line is this:

When push comes to shove, we will always take care of our family and friends first.

Mexico tarriffs on 30 day pause as Mexico is now working with us.

Canada tariffs on 30 day pause as Canada will help with the fentyl coming into the US from their side.  Also name cartels as a terrorist org as well and combat them and money laundering for drugs.

Only took a few days.  What has Brandon been doing for 4 years?

I agree, but it was apparent that it was in Panama's as well as a great number of other nations' interest to join China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The US empire forcing Panama to change its course is not what a nation's freedom is all about.

Exactly what kind of "force" did Rubio use?

When "around 72%" of your customers are going to/from US ports, maybe the only "force" used was Panama wanting to cater to their best customers and not risk China rocking the boat? [pun intended]

Mexico tarriffs on 30 day pause as Mexico is now working with us.

Canada tariffs on 30 day pause as Canada will help with the fentyl coming into the US from their side.  Also name cartels as a terrorist org as well and combat them and money laundering for drugs.

Only took a few days.  What has Brandon been doing for 4 years?

More fentanyl goes from the USA into Canada than from Canada to the USA so it is rather hypocritical to be applying pressure to Canada over fentanyl moving across the border.

Plus much of the fentanyl originates from China so they are the ones we really need to hit with tariffs to stop the fentanyl.

Ultimately I don't blame other countries for sending us drugs, I blame ourselves. It isn't Mexico's fault we have so many degenerate drug users, they are just supplying the economic demand we have created. The drug problem will never be solved with a more secure border, it will only be solved when we get our own house in order.

More fentanyl goes from the USA into Canada than from Canada to the USA so it is rather hypocritical to be applying pressure to Canada over fentanyl moving across the border.

Plus much of the fentanyl originates from China so they are the ones we really need to hit with tariffs to stop the fentanyl.

Ultimately I don't blame other countries for sending us drugs, I blame ourselves. It isn't Mexico's fault we have so many degenerate drug users, they are just supplying the economic demand we have created. The drug problem will never be solved with a more secure border, it will only be solved when we get our own house in order.

How come Canada isn't asking for the same then?  Either they want drugs to get in, they didn't know that they're coming in, or don't care.

China is part of the tariffs. Not everything is 25% tariffed, but only certain items. So now 10% for everything and those already hit at 25% will go up to 35%.

How come Canada isn't asking for the same then?  Either they want drugs to get in, they didn't know that they're coming in, or don't care.

China is part of the tariffs. Not everything is 25% tariffed, but only certain items. So now 10% for everything and those already hit at 25% will go up to 35%.

I don't know what sort of concessions were made on the USA side with Canada so I don't know if they asked for something similar.

I did see it reported that the USA agreed to help restrict the number of firearms that were crossing the border into Mexico in exchange for the Mexican military being used to restrict fentanyl from going north.

I think tariffs against China make a lot of sense but I think this trade war we are risking with Mexico and Canada are not smart moves. Trump called NAFTA 2, which he negotiated, the best agreement ever and now he is shaking things up again complaining about the old deal. Maybe we will get something out of it in some areas but we are going to suffer in other areas. I haven't even seen any good reasons to put tariffs on Canada, the argument can be made to do it to Mexico but not Canada. We import so much fuel from them, a 25% tariff is just going to mean Americans are paying more for gas (before taxes).

I don't know what sort of concessions were made on the USA side with Canada so I don't know if they asked for something similar.

I did see it reported that the USA agreed to help restrict the number of firearms that were crossing the border into Mexico in exchange for the Mexican military being used to restrict fentanyl from going north.

I think tariffs against China make a lot of sense but I think this trade war we are risking with Mexico and Canada are not smart moves. Trump called NAFTA 2, which he negotiated, the best agreement ever and now he is shaking things up again complaining about the old deal. Maybe we will get something out of it in some areas but we are going to suffer in other areas. I haven't even seen any good reasons to put tariffs on Canada, the argument can be made to do it to Mexico but not Canada. We import so much fuel from them, a 25% tariff is just going to mean Americans are paying more for gas (before taxes).

Someone missed econ class and what was going on. I remember when they said we would have a trade war in 2016-2020, then Trump ended up selling rice and soy to China.

Look into how much oil the US has and if not for regulatons, how much would we need to buy from outside the US. Then come back here and review your fuel statement.

Someone missed econ class and what was going on. I remember when they said we would have a trade war in 2016-2020, then Trump ended up selling rice and soy to China.

Look into how much oil the US has and if not for regulatons, how much would we need to buy from outside the US. Then come back here and review your fuel statement.

Even if Trump managed to change the whole picture of oil in the USA that would take a long time to have any effect on gas prices which means in the mean time a tariff on Canada is going to cost us more. Anyone who doesn't understand that we pay the cost of tariffs missed econ class.

canada will never sanction us via oil
their oil is very dirty and they do not have the ability to refine it
guess who does?
we hold the "trump" card on oil...

Even if Trump managed to change the whole picture of oil in the USA that would take a long time to have any effect on gas prices which means in the mean time a tariff on Canada is going to cost us more. Anyone who doesn't understand that we pay the cost of tariffs missed econ class.

Even if Trump managed to change the whole picture of oil in the USA that would take a long time to have any effect on gas prices which means in the mean time a tariff on Canada is going to cost us more. Anyone who doesn't understand that we pay the cost of tariffs missed econ class.

Bidens XO's caused our gas to jump big time in about a year.  I'll guess any reversal would take about the same.  Like his recent XO he signed just before leaving office about drilling. Luckily, Trump undid it before it had any impacts on the US.

Read Macs post, he put it in before I could.  Thanks for playing. Or will u be back to move goal post?

Exactly what kind of "force" did Rubio use?

Force not like actual military invasion, but how about the classic color revolution, classic assassination by paid off radical Islamist and/or communists, or suicided as possibilities which the US empire has employed in the past to achieve its foreign policy.

When "around 72%" of your customers are going to/from US ports, maybe the only "force" used was Panama wanting to cater to their best customers and not risk China rocking the boat? [pun intended]

Well, China never had control of the Panama Canal and it now clearly appears that ensuring Panama remains as one of the US empire's vassal states was the true goal by having Panama separate itself from China's Belt and Road Initiative and allowing US imperial vessels use the canal for free.

Feel sorry for the Panamanians as they will lose potential trade benefits from China and less canal transit revenue now not being able to charge passage by US imperial vessels.  That's the cost of being a vassal state of the US empire.

So you rather have it run by China than the US (you're own country that you live in)?

My opinion on who the Panamanians choose to run their canal ports is irrelevant as any other person who is not a Panamanian national.

The Panamanians own and control their canal and have the right to subcontract the actual running of their canal ports to who they choose.  That kind of self-determination is what America stands for; doesn't it?

My opinion on who the Panamanians choose to run their canal ports is irrelevant as any other person who is not a Panamanian national.

The Panamanians own and control their canal and have the right to subcontract the actual running of their canal ports to who they choose.  That kind of self-determination is what America stands for; doesn't it?

How, exactly, has Panama been forced to make any decisions and not allowed to determine "the actual running of their canal ports?"

Seems your arguments are based on facts not in evidence.

How, exactly, has Panama been forced to make any decisions and not allowed to determine "the actual running of their canal ports?"

Seems your arguments are based on facts not in evidence.

So are you saying Panama did not want to be part of China's Belt and Road Initiative and have Chinese companies run their canal ports because my facts say they did.

Here's "my facts"