Can Donald Trump afford a trade war with Canada?

Americast

BBC

Politics, Government, News

4.2 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 12 March 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The world is bracing itself as Donald Trump enacts his global tariffs. As the president begins to enforce them upon the rest of the world, the Americast team assemble to ask whether Trump’s bet on tariffs might be a bad deal for the US. How have the markets reacted, and does Trump actually care?

Plus, why has Donald Trump bought a Tesla even though he isn’t allowed to drive it?

HOSTS:

- Justin Webb, Radio 4 Presenter - Sarah Smith, North America Editor - Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

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This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.
0:04.8	The President of the United States makes a purchase in front of the cameras, and it's not
0:09.7	just any old purchase.
0:11.2	It's a car, and it's not just any old car.
0:14.0	It's a Tesla.
0:15.0	Hello, President Trump.
0:16.0	Are you looking to buy or lease today?
0:17.5	Well, I'm going to buy, and I'm going to buy because, number one, it because number one is a great product as good as it gets
0:23.7	and number two because this man has devoted his energy and his life to doing this and I think he's been treated very unfairly by a very small group of people.
0:33.8	That's a fast one.
0:34.7	Just to be clear, sir, the 50% is that going to go into effect on Canada or not?
0:38.5	Which one? The 50% tariffs? I'll let you know about it. Okay. This is beautiful. Whoa.
0:46.4	Can I get in? Get it? Okay. Okay, two facts. Now, the first important one is that the President of the United States is not allowed to drive. The Secret Service don't let him. And indeed, former presidents aren't either. So he will never drive again, at least on a public road. But here's the second thing. The buying of the Tesla is an important moment because it comes as Tesla's stock price falls. it comes as Elon Musk's stock price is perhaps falling
1:14.2	and amid considerable economic chaos. Welcome to AmeriCast. Americaast. Americaast from BBC News.
1:24.4	You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War III.
1:29.3	President Trump's message is very simple. We are done being taken advantage of.
1:33.3	Mr. President, in the name of our God, have mercy upon the people. We're scared now.
1:38.3	Are you supportive of these onesies?
1:40.3	I'm supportive of vaccines.
1:42.3	What is happening? Like, this is not America. This is a terrible
1:46.1	nightmare. This is what victory feels like. Yeah. Hello, it's Sarah here in the BBC's Bureau in Washington. And it's Anthony next to Sarah,
2:04.5	also here in Washington. And it's Justin at home in London, England, at quarter past two in the
	...

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