My Response to Trump's Tariffs (and Trudeau's Retaliatory Tariffs)

Day 14 of Trump 2.0. The tariffs have been imposed. All the big politicians north of the border -- Ford, Poilievre and yes, Danielle Smith -- are united in retaliatory measures.

As for us citizens? Nobody knows what to believe anymore.

The prices of goods are going to go up on BOTH sides of the border. Biden and Trudeau didn't help with inflation -- but I think things are starting to get more than a little crazy.

Where America needs Canada, the tariffs are either small or gradual; for instance, our metals & energy (and Canada has plenty of its own oil).

Where they don't -- BOOM -- the tariffs come down fast & hard.

House of Cards premiered on Netflix 12 years ago yesterday. Watching it again with new eyes (and truly watching it for the first time), tons of things start to make sense. We're not going to get something possibly this candid out of Hollywood post-2020, or not likely if at all, because Hollywood has been far too politicized for just about anybody to tell the truth.

Media headlines aren't objective or fact-based...they are crafted by journalists (in concert with career politicans) for shock value. To play on people's emotions. I should know, I've been working with small businesses for a decade. Now, here comes a flurry of Canadians left and right 'voting with their wallet' by boycotting American goods, American vacations and American services -- even though the hurting is on both sides. Where the fuck were these people before February 1!? Surely, they can't come out of nowhere!? Why are our complaints about Canadian politics being erased!?

It makes my blood boil, because up to a few days ago, sensible Canadians were very vocal about the real problem in this country (the same root cause of the skyrocketing violent crime rates in and around Toronto over the past 3 years). It's been suggested Trudeau is taking advantage of this move as a Hail Mary to seek re-election after dwindling support. A doppelganger after he tricked the Canadian public by 'announcing his resignation', which really was 'intent to resign upon selection of the next Liberal leader', which really was...you know where this slippery slope is going. A red herring. A smokescreen. Whatever you want to call it.

I hate it when my fellow citizens are gaslit. Good, well-meaning people whose emotions are preyed on and snapped in half like a vampire kinking someone's veins and arteries with telekinesis.

While millions are distracted with the Zoe Barnes style of reporting (again -- something that IRKS ME that people are so hijacked), entrepreneurs have always overpowered the distraction. After all, time and time again, those who've risen above have survived economic disaster.

Here's my hypothesis. People on both sides of the border going to buy used goods like CRAZY. FB Marketplace, Kijiji and Craigslist sales are going to go UP. As a side effect, the physical media cult following is going to explode, as more people are going to take solace from this possible economic bloodbath. Where else could people source cheaper goods?

Yes, many people will be affected, including businesses that are dependent on imported and exported goods. Realistically, only a minority of businesses sell domestically sourced tangible goods. For example, yes, there exists a Made in America store next to the border in Niagara Falls, New York. But does it have anything people survive on? Like, essential goods and food?

Americans voted for cheaper groceries and a better cost of living, and look what Trump's actions are making Trudeau do, at least in the short term...

We have no control over what's going to happen. I've already accepted it. So instead of bitching and whining and complaining about the inevitable without a solution...we've gotta make the best of what's coming.

I am going to participate in the coming rise of used goods, and help small businesses whose goods and services can overpower the tariffs.

This is going to be a rough patch in the road to both countries putting their own interests first. But American entrepreneurs have proven time & time again to be myself & my dad's greatest ally. A lot of the influencers are silent in the face of this insanity, and I don't blame them for it. What they are teaching could become 10X more effective, massively amplified by our efforts to RIDE THE WAVE.

Small businesses in Canada can market themselves, seek attention, get customers, and overpower the tariffs.

Small businesses in America can market themselves, seek attention, get customers, and overpower the retaliatory tariffs.

If import/export's gonna be a lot more difficult, so be it. We small businesses will focus on serving our local customers first. Attention-seeking is usually used as a slur against the traumatized, but it could actually be their greatest strength.

I'm tired of standing on the sidelines. This is not about siding with one side or the other, politically speaking. This is about proving that we can endure tough times.

Over and out,

Ryan A.

P.S. China is growing in power with DeepSeek. I'm not surprised if 'cheaper goods' will mean a rise in Temu sales. But the secondhand underground is also going to grow. Mark my words.

P.P.S. This too shall pass. We are only 14 days into 4 more years of Donald Trump. Americans voted for him because of inflation and the economy. I hope and pray those promises will come true...because when he was last President, times were good, goods were cheap, and business was booming.