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Special Report: Tariff Wars-America's Economic Chess Game

• Ranting Politics • Season 1 • Episode 130

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Special Report: Tariff Wars-America's Economic Chess Game

In Depth You Need to Know Report on Tariffs highlighting the Winners and Losers.   Special Thank you for the in-depth reporting provided by The NY Post. Link below for their coverage. 

The global economic landscape is shifting dramatically as President Trump imposes sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, and the European Union, creating clear winners and losers across multiple sectors. These aggressive trade measures are designed to bring trading partners to the negotiating table while boosting domestic manufacturing, despite causing significant market volatility and industry disruption.

• 25% tariffs on most imports from Canada and Mexico, with 10% on energy and fertilizer products
• China facing a flat 20% tariff across all imported goods
• European wines and spirits hit with a potential 200% tariff in response to EU's 50% tax on American whiskey
• Domestic steel and aluminum sector seeing record price increases and production growth
• Companies with American-centric supply chains thriving amid the trade uncertainty
• Precious metals reaching historic highs with gold breaking $3,000 per ounce
• Automotive and tech sectors suffering significant losses with Tesla down 36%
• Administration viewing market volatility as necessary for long-term economic gains
• Stock market experiencing substantial drops with Nasdaq down nearly 12% in a month 


Source Credits:


 

https://nypost.com/2025/03/14/business/trump-tariff-battle-with-canada-mexico-china-and-europe-points-to-early-winners-losers/ 

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Speaker 1:

Hello America, this is JOC and you're locked into a special weekend edition of Ranting Politics Headline Updates where today we're diving deep into the tariff throwdown that's got everyone from Wall Street to Main Street talking. President Trump has just unleashed a massive economic chess game, slapping tariffs on pretty much everyone—Canada, mexico, china and the European Union. We're talking steel, aluminum, wine and everything in between. Some folks are popping champagne while others are watching their profits disappear faster than a politician's promises Coming up. We'll break down who's winning, who's losing and why you might want to stock up on that fancy French wine before prices go through the roof. Stay with us as we untangle this global economic cage match on this special weekend edition right here on Ranting Politics.

Speaker 1:

In what's shaping up to be the biggest trade shakeup since the 1980s, president Trump has unleashed a sweeping array of tariffs that's fundamentally reshaping global trade dynamics. Let's break down exactly what we're dealing with here, because these numbers are pretty jaw-dropping. First up, most imports from our neighbors Canada and Mexico are getting slapped with a hefty 25% tariff, though there's a bit of wiggle room with a lower 10% rate for energy and fertilizer products. And get this. There's actually a grace period for items that play nice with the USMCA trade treaty, so at least there's that silver lining. When it comes to China, trump's gone with a flat 20% levy across the board on imported goods. Now, according to sources at the New York Post, this isn't just about numbers on a spreadsheet. It's basically forcing everyone to come back to the negotiating table. But here's where things get really spicy. The European Union is facing what could be a whopping 200% tariff on wines, champagne and other alcoholic beverages. Why such a massive number? Well, it's actually a response to the EU's own 50% tariff on American whiskey. Talk about escalation.

Speaker 1:

The scale of these tariffs is already sending shockwaves through the global economy. We're seeing retaliatory measures pop up faster than political scandals in an election year. Measures pop up faster than political scandals in an election year. Canada, for instance, has already fired back with their own tariffs on $21 billion worth of American goods, and they're not pulling any punches. Everything from farm products to good old American whiskey is in their crosshairs. When you look at the big picture, what we're really seeing is a massive restructuring of global trade relationships with the US, basically forcing everyone to rethink their trading positions. Whether this high-stakes game of economic chicken will pay off, well, that's what we're all waiting to find out.

Speaker 1:

Let's dive into who's coming out ahead in this economic shakeup and folks. There are some clear winners emerging from the chaos. The domestic steel and aluminum sector is absolutely crushing it right now. The domestic steel and aluminum sector is absolutely crushing it right now. Hot-rolled coil steel prices have shot up to $945 per short ton. That's the highest we've seen since early 2024. And aluminum, we're talking about a record surge of 45 cents per pound, pushing prices north of $990 per metric ton. Us steel and Cleveland cliffs are riding this wave like pros and Century Aluminum. America's biggest primary aluminum producer is practically doing backflips over these tariffs. They're calling it a renaissance for domestic aluminum production and, looking at these numbers, it's hard to disagree.

Speaker 1:

But here's where it gets interesting. The beer industry of all places is showing us how to play this game smart. Take Anheuser-Busch, for instance. Their stock has rocketed up 24% this year alone, and there's a good reason why They've got 99% of their beer brewed right here in the States using ingredients from American farmers. Talk about having your supply chain ducks in a row. Now let me tell you about an unexpected winner Warehouse space owners. Scott Lincecum, over at the Cato Institute, points out that everyone from builders to automakers is stockpiling like they're preparing for the apocalypse, making warehouse space more valuable than beachfront property in Miami. The tech sector's got some winners, too. Companies like IBM, oracle, microsoft, salesforce and especially Palantir are sitting pretty because they're largely insulated from these tariffs.

Speaker 1:

And speaking of winning streaks, precious metals are having a moment. Gold just broke $3,000 per ounce for the first time ever. That's a 13% jump since January. Silver's not far behind, up 14% to $34 per ounce. This reshuffling of the economic deck is creating some fascinating opportunities for companies that were already positioning themselves for a more America-first market. It's like watching a high-stakes poker game where having the right cards, or, in this case, the right business model, makes all the difference. Coming up, we'll toast to those California Cabernets. Hey, it's the weekend, what can we say? So stay with us as we take a quick break to hear from our lead sponsor, whose support helps make this show possible.

Speaker 2:

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Speaker 1:

Now let's talk about what's happening with European wines, because this might be the most dramatic episode in our ongoing tariff saga. Trump's threatening to slap a whopping 200% tariff on European wines and spirits and let me tell you, it's causing absolute chaos in the wine world. This isn't just about your average bottle of table wine. We're talking champagne, bordeaux, burgundy, the whole nine yards. The response from wine lovers pure panic. Just ask Daniel Posner from Grapes, the Wine Company in White Plains. As reported by the New York Post, he's watching his inventory fly off the shelves faster than free samples at Costco. His daily email blasts are causing a feeding frenzy. Everything's selling out within an hour. Let me put these price hikes in perspective for you. That lovely 2016 Chateau Rosan, segla, margot, sitting at $109 today. Get ready to shell out $375 after these tariffs hit. And if you're eyeing that 2022 Chateau Smith, haute Lafite, pessac, leonien at $159, you might want to sit down. It's going to jump to $447. These aren't typos, folks. This is what a 200% tariff looks like in your wine. Cellar. Posner's seeing order numbers that are blowing past his wildest expectations. He planned for 30 to 40 bottles of that 2022 vintage to move, but got swamped with 60 orders instead His team's scrambling like they're on a reality show, trying to track down more bottles. This is what happens when you tell wine enthusiasts their favorite Bordeaux is about to triple in price. They don't walk to the wine shop, they run. And just to add some context here, this whole wine war kicked off because the EU slapped a 50% tariff on American whiskey, so naturally the response was to go nuclear with a 200% counter tariff. It's like bringing a howitzer to a knife fight, and the collateral damage is going to be felt in wine cellars across America. Let's dive into the real casualties of this trade war, and believe me, there are plenty.

Speaker 1:

The automotive sector is taking body blows from every direction. Tesla, america's electric vehicle darling, has already seen its stock nosedive by 36% since January. And it's not just Tesla feeling the pain. Gm, Ford and Stellantis are caught in what analysts are calling the eye of the storm, with tariffs hitting them from Canada, mexico and China all at once. Here's a sobering number for you. Barclays estimates these tariffs could add about $400 to the cost of manufacturing each vehicle. That's if these tariffs stick around. And right now there's no end in sight. Tesla's so concerned they've actually sent a letter to the US Trade Representative's office, basically begging them not to accidentally kneecap American companies while trying to protect them.

Speaker 1:

The tech sector isn't faring much better. Take Apple, for instance. They've got most of their manufacturing eggs in the China basket and their stock has already taken a 13% hit this year. According to industry expert Dan Ives, it would take Apple three to five years and a cool $20 billion just to move 15% of their production to the US. That's not exactly a quick fix. Construction companies are also feeling the squeeze, especially those dependent on materials like lumber, nails and sheet metal, and if you're watching the stock market well, it's not a pretty picture. The tech-heavy Nasdaq has taken a beating, dropping over 2,300 points. That's nearly 12% in just the last month. The S&P 500 is down about 250 points and the Dow has shed around 1,000 points. Now Treasury Secretary Scott Besson is playing it cool saying they're not worried about a little bit of volatility over three weeks, but when you're watching billions in market value evaporate, that kind of optimism might be a tough sell to investors watching their portfolios shrink. According to the New York Post's reporting, these aren't just temporary setbacks. We're looking at potentially long-term structural changes to how American companies do business. The question isn't just about who's losing money today, but how these companies will adapt to what could be the new normal in international trade.

Speaker 1:

Despite the market turbulence and industry pushback, the administration is standing firm on its tariff strategy. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson's message has been crystal clear they're playing the long game here. We're focused on the real economy, he stated on CNBC, emphasizing that their goal isn't to manage short-term market swings but to create an environment for lasting economic gains. The White House's position is that these temporary market disruptions are a necessary price to pay for what they see as a much-needed rebalancing of global trade relationships. They're betting that the short-term pain will lead to long-term gains in domestic manufacturing and more equitable trade relationships. They're betting that the short-term pain will lead to long-term gains in domestic manufacturing and more equitable trade deals.

Speaker 1:

The administration views these aggressive tariffs as leverage, not just punitive measures. According to Brandon Daniels, ceo of Exeger, these broad-based, significant tariffs are designed to bring all countries to the negotiating table. It's essentially a high-stakes game of economic chess, with the administration willing to weather immediate market volatility to achieve their broader strategic objectives. What's particularly interesting is how the administration is framing this as a comprehensive economic transformation rather than just a trade dispute. They're not just looking to adjust trade deficits. They're attempting to fundamentally reshape the US manufacturing base and supply chains. When you look at how domestic producers like Century Aluminum are already talking about a resurgence in American production, you can see the strategy starting to take shape.

Speaker 1:

Even amid the market turmoil, the administration's message remains consistent they're not measuring success by daily stock market fluctuations but by long-term structural changes to the American economy. Whether this gamble pays off remains to be seen, but they're clearly all in on this approach, regardless of the immediate market reaction and that wraps up our deep dive into the unfolding tariff war story for this special weekend edition of Ranting Politics Headline Updates We've seen how these trade measures are creating clear winners and losers across multiple sectors, from the surge in domestic steel prices to the champagne panic buying on the East Coast. While the stock market might be taking a hit, the administration is betting big that this short-term volatility will lead to long-term gains for American industry. This story continues to develop by the hour and we'll be tracking all the latest developments for you. Our thanks to the New York Post for their comprehensive reporting on this complex issue.

Speaker 1:

If you want to stay ahead of the curve on stories like this, make sure you're following us on X at Ranting RP. You can also catch our daily updates on YouTube, spotify, iheartradio and Apple Podcasts. For in-depth analysis and exclusive content, head over to RantingPoliticscom. This is JOC signing off and thank you, our loyal listeners, for choosing Ranting Politics Headline Updates. We'll be back soon with the updates you need to navigate these interesting times. Until then, stay tuned, stay informed and, as always, stay free.

Speaker 3:

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