r/politics • u/sweatycat New York • 1d ago

California to Negotiate Trade With Other Countries to Bypass Trump Tariffs

https://www.newsweek.com/california-newsom-trade-trump-tariffs-2055414
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26.4k

u/Archer1407 1d ago

Trump is going to launch a trade war against California in the next few days.

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u/PNDMike 1d ago

Hey Californians - secede and come join us in Canada. We have healthcare and numerous trade deals with other countries/markets in place, tarriff free. We also have water, and Trump just dumped your water.

In exchange, we get to come hang out in the warm weather during the cold winter months.

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u/DrEvyl666 Washington 1d ago

Can you bring Washington and Oregon, too?  I swear I would memorize "O, Canada" overnight.

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u/PNDMike 1d ago edited 1d ago

It'd be nice to have a land passage to Mexico, without needing to go through the US at all. Sure buds, lace up your skates and join the team, eh?

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u/SeniorShanty 1d ago

That'd be great to build a high-speed rail from Vancouver to TJ and beyond!

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u/santaclaws_ 1d ago

Seriously, if I thought this could happen, I'd be on the west coast tomorrow.

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u/LadyKatieCat 1d ago

I've been looking for a reason to move westward, anyway!

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u/ariolander 1d ago

Headin’ out Californi’ way, lookin’ for some internet.

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u/Rough_Bread8329 Canada 1d ago

Fuckin eh rights bud

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u/Calypsosin I voted 1d ago

Pitter patter!

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u/like-in-the-deal 1d ago

Set the fuckin tone!

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u/morningsaystoidleon 1d ago

Take Illinois, and I will even learn French.

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u/Segsi_ 1d ago

Bonjour, bienvenue!

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u/Complete-Arm6658 1d ago

That's taking it too far!

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u/Alttabmatt California 1d ago

Being a hockey fan you get to learn real quick!

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u/Opeth296 1d ago

We Arizonans would like to join, seeing as how we also border another great nation to trade with and the Trump administration is seeking to deport so many of our citizens.

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u/firelight 1d ago

I'd go buy a Seattle Krakens hockey jersey today. Bust out that Canadian Special Reserve maple syrup that Costco was pushing last year.

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u/TheVoiceofReason6 1d ago

Let’s add Nevada too.

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u/-SexSandwich- 1d ago

Bring Michigan, I'd wager most of us know the anthem by heart already.

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u/BrutalWarPig 1d ago

Western Montana also wishes to join!! I make a mean bloody Cesar!!!

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u/ZombieJesus1987 Canada 1d ago

I welcome Washington and Oregon to join the great Kingdom of Canada

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u/dohrk Oregon 1d ago

I'm in!

The part of Oregon that wants to join Idaho can go ahead.

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u/DOG_DICK__ 1d ago

I already know the Canada national anthem because it's awesome.

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u/jovietjoe 1d ago

Which would cut the US off from access to the Pacific in the lower 48. Economically that is HUGE

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 1d ago

Good time to remind people the reason Putin wants Ukraine is because of its ports.

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u/InfamousWoodchuck 1d ago

As a BCian, all three West coast states are pretty rad and I'd be in favor.

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u/sw2de3fr4gt 1d ago

Both English and French versions?

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u/completelytrustworth 1d ago

You're probably already 90% of the way there but don't realize it yet

Canadians and Americans have both finished each other's anthems at sporting events when technical issues occur back when we liked each other. Now it's just boos

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u/thintoast 1d ago

I’m going to start learning it tonight and have it memorized by Monday. Just in case.

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u/flieger 1d ago

While I understand and appreciate this sentiment, the thought of millions of California Republicans joining Canada keeps me up at night. These morons voted for the orange turd and we can't let that stupidity be part of us.

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u/MC_White_Thunder 1d ago

Don't forget the tens of millions of guns that would be within our country.

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u/cats-n-cafe 1d ago

California has among the lowest rates of household gun ownership in the US. And it’s actually less than several provinces in Canada.

The red counties in CA are not highly populated, remember the reason California is Blue is because land area doesn’t vote, people do, and most live in concentrated civic centers. Liberal California’s could not care less about those who complain and want to move to Idaho, Texas, etc. those states can have them!

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u/MC_White_Thunder 7h ago

California may have a lower rate of gun ownership than some provinces in Canada, but their total population is close to Canada's itself. Even if it's only 10% ownership, that's 4 million Californian guns, compared to 20% ownership in a province of 1 million meaning 200k guns.

Plus, many guns allowed in the states are severely restricted in Canada, such as handguns.

And same deal with MAGA republicans— if we have millions of them now within our borders, high on conspiracy theories and refusing to give up their guns, it's an obvious security concern. They haven't chosen to move to Idaho or Texas yet, why would I trust they would do it in this case?

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u/SpottyNoonerism 1d ago

How about we relocate them to Alberta? They'd fit in great.

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u/Crimson_Caelum 8h ago edited 8h ago

California actually has the most republican voters of any state but that’s mostly because it has about 10 million more people than any other state

The bigger problem is California would absolutely dominate Canadian provinces. It alone would be nearly as big as the rest of Canada combined by population and its economy is nearly twice the size. If it joined unless it was some kind of non represented vassal, Canadians would be under represented in their own country. Based on voter turn out by both California and Canadas last elections about 48% of Canada’s cast votes would be Californian. Any prime minister would have to spend a massive amount of time trying to win California. It would probably be better to start a trade organization lol

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u/ROBO--BONOBO 1d ago

We’d give you more left leaning people than right leaning though

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u/Cyouni 1d ago

Respectfully, your left leaning people are in our right.

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u/ROBO--BONOBO 1d ago

Good point, I forgot about that. Maybe because the circles I spend time in are much more progressive than run of the mill democrats

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u/seriouslees 1d ago

Barely. You voted 40% MAGA.

And California has a population of 40 million... that's 16 MILLION delusional cult member racist bigots championing fascism.

Fuck all the way off.

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u/WilliamPoole 1d ago

66% to 34% with a lot of idiots not voting because they knew Harris would win.

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u/seriouslees 1d ago

3% of 40 million is too many. Not a single bigot or fascist is welcome. You can all apply to immigrate individually.

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u/LusciousCabbage 1d ago

There would likely be an exodus into and out of California if this were ever actually on the table. A significant portion would leave.

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u/seriouslees 1d ago

It will be significant enough only when we would be importing less bigots than we already have. 16 million fascist bigots would increase our supply by like.. ten fold. When less than 5% of a state are red voters, we can talk.

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u/virtualRefrain 1d ago edited 1d ago

Man I get we're all hot about this stuff, but why are you telling that Democrat to fuck off? They weren't even talking to you and you just bitch them out in the rudest possible language? That's a crazy aggro place to go in an otherwise polite conversation. Like we're all on the same side here, that's why we're here lol. Save some for the bad guys

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u/seriouslees 1d ago

Individuals are welcome on a case by case basis. I'm not telling individual "democrats" to fuck off, I'm telling an entire state as a collective to fuck off. California, as it is, is NOT welcome.

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 1d ago

Man I get we're all hot about this stuff, but why are you telling that Democrat to fuck off? They weren't even talking to you and you just bitch them out in the rudest possible language?

Because we're Canadian, and we're on, like, month three of being threatened with violent annexation by Trump, while anti-Trump Americans shrug it off as a joke and get mad that we're booing the anthem in protest while they sit on their hands and do nothing to stop this bullshit. As someone else succinctly summarized, "He might not be your fault, but he's your responsibility."

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 1d ago

The handful of billionaires in the Bay Area who are helping to fund all this mess offsets what meagre Progressive bonafides you provide.

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u/Terrahawk76 1d ago

Excuse me, you already have Alberta don't you? You know what it's like.

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 1d ago

We do. So why do you think we'd want more of that?

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u/Terrahawk76 1d ago

Half a joke, half saying no place is monolith of belief.

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u/100Good 1d ago

California would take Oregon and Washington with it as well.

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u/Wait_for_BM 1d ago

California has similar population size as Canada and higher GDP, so they can implement their own state level "free" health care if they really wanted to. (There will be a lot of lobbying from the for profit insurance companies.)

I personally don't want California to join due to their size, crime rate, school shooting, political and security implication. Trump is very verdictive person and this will surely bring a war to the state(s) that leave AND whatever countries they try to join.

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u/Larie2 1d ago

Tbh most of those downsides to CA are caused by the federal government holding them back (both politically and economically)

If CA was not longer part of the US they could actually implement common sense gun control, implement health care for all, etc.

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 1d ago

If CA was not longer part of the US they could actually implement common sense gun control, implement health care for all, etc.

Feel free to start anytime, then.

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u/Larie2 1d ago

That's the whole point... They literally can't because the federal government is holding them back.

Unless I'm misinterpreting your comment 😅

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 1d ago

I'm saying stop being held back.

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u/Nihilistic_Mystics California 1d ago

We can't implement a statewide single payer system here in CA without the president signing off on vouchers for us to redirect medicaid funding. And it would need to be renewed often. All it would take for such a system to collapse is for a Republican to be elected president, since they'd never sign such a waiver. Republicans take pleasure in hurting California and would love nothing more than see the most vulnerable people suffer here.

Without redirecting the funding we can't afford it, it's that large of an amount. Unfortunately this is just how our system currently works, where the federal government takes the vast majority of tax dollars and hands them back to the states as they see fit.

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u/dickbutt4747 1d ago

as a native life-long californian (i've never lived anywhere else) who voted blue (and donated a lot of money to the campaign), nothing would make me happier than to develop strong and special relations with our wonderful northern neighbors, all of whom I've met (i've been to canada twice) have been absolutely lovely people.

though I have to say, having lived in the sierra much of my life, I know our winters are nothing like yours, but we can have some pretty harsh winters. As a skier I love it but don't think cali winters can't get nasty!

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u/Monkeymom 1d ago

You don’t have to ask me twice!

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u/giroml 1d ago

You had me at healthcare.

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u/odes1 1d ago

You had me at "hey".

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u/MindWhich1079 1d ago

native californian here.  all in on this plan.

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u/Piccolo60000 1d ago

And unlike the rest of the US, you guys actually like us.

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 1d ago

LOL yeah, about that...

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u/Burt_Worthy 1d ago

Don’t forget Cuban cigars!

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u/ObsidianOcelotl 1d ago

Sorry, Denmark's already got dibs

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u/-Agathia- 1d ago

I'd move to San Diego so fucking fast. I can't with the cold weather anymore :'(

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u/emuwar 1d ago

Or you can secede and become your own country and Canada's number 1 trading partner

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u/TiredEsq 1d ago

Can I get like 3 months advance notice so I can move to CA first?

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u/diamondpredator 1d ago

I'm all for this and bringing Washington and Oregon along.

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u/Lunaa_Rose 1d ago

Can you make space for a person who LOVES California but is currently stuck in Tx? Originally a Marylander. Working my way west but I may not make it in time.

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u/CyanConatus 1d ago

Wow did the numbers and combining California and Canada GPD. It would make it the third largest economy behind China and after Germany

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u/TonyWrocks America 1d ago

Sorry, but we don’t need you. But we will trade goods and services with you!

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u/Gowalkyourdogmods 1d ago

As a Californian, I'd say secede and ally with you. Especially if we got the rest of the West Coast we could be our own pretty awesome country.

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u/xylophone_37 21h ago

Do we have to say "eh"?

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u/Ancient_Sentence_628 1d ago

Can NYS come along too?

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u/seriouslees 1d ago

NY also voted over 40% MAGA... no thanks.

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u/jnet258 1d ago

It would be so funny if some or all of the US ended up becoming part of Canada, instead of Canada becoming the 51st state.

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u/PNDMike 1d ago

Trump wants to have a legacy of expanding the US so goddamn badly, can you imagine if his legacy was actually shrinking the USA?

Plus if CA is part of CA, this gives us another thing Kendrick can beat Drake in - amount of Juno awards and title of Canada's most successful rapper.

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 1d ago

Honestly both of those are nightmare scenarios to most of us. We're a different culture here. Sort your own mess out and let's trade as equals, not absorb each other into something new.

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u/Vegetable-Fan8429 1d ago

You might wanna look up what happened last time a state tried to secede from the union

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u/2peg2city 1d ago

Would make 0 sense for California, and if they DID somehow want to, their economy and population would make a merger not an acquisition

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u/i_love_rosin 1d ago

Hey Californians - secede and come join us in Canada

The fascists would love this

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u/Rinzack 15h ago

Get rid of the need to pledge allegiance to the King and allow us to keep our arms for the inevitable Red state invasion and I'm down

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u/seriouslees 1d ago

Canadian here... fuck no.

40% of California voted MAGA. California can stay with their sinking ship until they get rid of all their plague rats.

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u/CarFlipJudge 1d ago

Take New Orleans with you! We can be part of Quebec or something.

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 1d ago

You weren't even really part of Quebec back then. The Acadian peninsula is in New Brunswick.

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u/CarFlipJudge 1d ago

I guess if I become a Canadian citizen, I'll learn my Canadian geography better.

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 1d ago

Show us that you're interested; don't treat us as a fallback. Learn your geography now!

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u/CarFlipJudge 1d ago

Will do! I'll also teach anyone my gumbo recipe as a token of our friendship

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u/MC_White_Thunder 1d ago

No, stop this bullshit about redrawing the border. It just normalizes 51st state talk by treating it like a discussion.

Plus, it would be doubling Canada's population, permanently shifting our electorate and government much further to the right, AND add tens of millions of guns within our borders that we'll never be able to get rid of.

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u/TheSavageDonut 1d ago

Nevada would like to join. Well, Las Vegas would like to join.

You all would still love your gambling and illicit romance trips, no?

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u/CanadianTrashInspect 1d ago

We also have water

How exactly would we get our water to from the Great Lakes to California?

And if we're talking about California seceding, we can't really ignore other unprecedented actions like the USA taking control of those lakes.

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u/NHL95onSEGAgenesis 1d ago

Trump can drink the Great Lakes water all he wants. That’s a shared resource with the USA (every Great Lake has a US side, Lake Michigan is entirely in the USA). 

Canada’s vast water resources are elsewhere and so much cleaner than the Great Lakes.

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 1d ago

Stop boasting or they'll definitely want to annex us.

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 1d ago

Stop with this. For every San Francisco there's a Stockton or Bakersfield. And they outnumber us. Why would you offer Americans the right to dilute our vote and bring all their issues onto our doorstep?