Today, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to put a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada, except for Canadian energy which will have a rate of 10% instead. He also put a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico. And he put a 10% tariff on all imports from China (ref. 1). Not sure why China's is only 10%, whereas Canada and Mexico get 25%. I thought China is America's strategic competitor, and Canada is America's ally.
Anyway, almost immediately, Canada responded in kind, putting a 25% tariff on 155 billion dollars worth of US goods (ref. 2).
No doubt, Mexico and China will also retaliate, which is how these things tend to go.
The White House also declared that America would escalate and increase the tariffs further, should any of these three countries retaliate to Trump's executive order (ref. 1).
The Canadian government and some commentators are scratching their heads and talking about the issue of fentanyl, as if that was the thing that prompted this trade war. But weeks ago, Trump declared that he wanted Canada to become the 51st state of the USA, and he warned that unless this were to happen, there would be tariffs (ref. 3).
This trade war will mean higher prices in the countries affected, but especially in the USA. The hike in the price of oil will make things worse because truck drivers that transport goods from a warehouse to a retailer must pay higher fuel costs. For sure, these increases will be passed on to consumers. Then, price rises left unchecked will inevitably spiral into hyperinflation.
It has been very obvious to me that for some time now, America has been seeking to set up things so that the US dollar can be destroyed through hyperinflation. It is this objective that explains why the US government has been acquiring debt through the bond market with no apparent intention of paying any of it back - basically printing money out of thin air. In economics, the textbook solution to hyperinflation is the introduction of a new currency. Because America is Mystery Babylon, and because this is the time of the end, the new currency, when it comes, will be the prophesied mark of the beast.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Revelation 13:16-17
But of course, before there can be a mark of the beast, there must be a beast.
Now, this emerging rift between the USA and Canada is also interesting in the sense that Canada might be one of "the young lions of Tarshish" in Ezekiel 38:13, a nation that peacefully spawned from an empire of England (Tarshish).
Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
Ezekiel 38:13
If Canada is to be a nation over 1000 years from now, at some point in these last days Canada must break away from the USA geopolitically and survive WW3.
As I read Isaiah 14, on the day and hour of her fiery end, Babylon is to be without allies: "he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth".
That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.
Isaiah 14:4-7
References
1. ABC (2 February 2025), "Donald Trump signs executive order to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China", abc.net.au
2. "Trudeau: Canada will retaliate with 25% tariffs on $155B of U.S. goods", youtube.com/watch?v=xiaACQpFUfE
3. Stephanie Weaver (23 January 2025), "Trump says Canada can become a US state to avoid tariffs", livenowfox.com