Harboring Dangers

Fig. 1 Harboring Dangers

There are ocean dangers and political dangers casting shadows on the path ahead for many of the world's seaports.

Dredd Blog has continually kept readers aware of the sea level rise and fall dangers to the world's seaports (Seaports With Sea Level Change, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35; Calculating Port Dangers, 2, 3).

The political dangers however have not reached the point where international trade war is being discussed really seriously.

But, things have changed:

"President-elect Donald Trump on Monday promised massive hikes in tariffs on goods coming from Mexico, Canada and China starting on the first day of his administration, a policy that could sharply increase costs for American businesses and consumers.

The move, Trump said, will be in retaliation for illegal immigration and “crime and drugs” coming across the border.

'On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,' Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. 'This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!'

Trump said America’s neighbors can 'easily solve this long simmering problem.'

Similarly, Trump said that China will face higher tariffs on its goods – by 10% above any existing tariffs – until it prevents the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.

'I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

The president-elect claimed in the post that Chinese officials promised him the country would execute drug dealers caught funneling drugs into the United States but 'never followed through.'

Responding to Trump’s announcement, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said his country has been in communication with the US about counter narcotics operations and that 'the idea of China knowingly allowing fentanyl precursors to flow into the United States runs completely counter to facts and reality.'

'About the issue of US tariffs on China, China believes that China-Us economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature. No one will win a trade war or a tariff war,' Liu said in a statement to CNN.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded Tuesday, warning the president-elect that 'neither threats nor tariffs will solve the issue of migration or drug consumption.'

'Imposing one tariff would mean another comes in response, continuing like this until we put shared companies at risk,' she said, reading from a letter addressed to Trump.

Canadian officials responded to the announcement in a statement posted to X on Monday night, saying that their country 'places the highest priority on border security and the integrity of our shared border' and is 'essential to US domestic energy supply.'

'We will of course continue to discuss these issues with the incoming administration,' Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in the statement.'

The drums of political wars and infighting are a danger to the economy which is already way out of whack:

"According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 report Poverty in the United States: 2023, 41% of this country’s population has a household income either under the poverty threshold or just above it, precariously living one emergency away from financial ruin." 

(Lifting from the Bottom).  We really don't need to put more pressure on the millions of people below or too close to below the poverty level.

Politicians grow up and help the citizens.