Trump Admin Lists Fictional Country Of Wakanda As A Free Trade Partner In a bizarre twist of political events, a recent YouTube video highlights the Trump administration's shocking oversight of listing the fictional African nation of Wakanda—famed from Marvel's "Black Panther"—as an actual free trade partner on the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) website. This revelation sparked laughter and disbelief, but it also raised serious concerns about administrative competence.
Details from the Video
The video details how Wakanda was featured on the USDA site with comprehensive dropdown menus indicating various trade goods between the U.S. and the fictional nation. Commodities included everything from fresh vegetables to essential oils and even specific tariffs for importing goods like yellow potatoes and frozen water chestnuts. In fact, an impressive range of data inputs had been recorded for Wakanda, suggesting either a massive oversight or a misguided attempt to inflate the number of U.S. trade partners amidst ongoing trade wars with real countries. According to reports, the listing had been live since June but only came to public attention in December, leading to further questions about the administration's vetting processes. It was claimed that the information remained due to testing files that should have been expunged post-verification—a typical protocol in web management that was clearly neglected here.
Implications and Reactions
This incident underscores a larger narrative regarding the Trump administration's record on trade relationships. As the video emphasizes, amidst tariffs and trade disputes, the list of actual trading partners has dwindled significantly. With only about 20 legitimate partners remaining, the inclusion of a fictional country highlights what some believe to be an attempt to market a semblance of success in international trade. Reaction to the video has ranged from humorous disbelief to serious critiques of government efficiency. The depiction of such incompetence serves as a reminder of the broader flaws in government processes, particularly within the USDA, that seemingly lead to such a glaring error.
Community Engagement
What are your thoughts on this incident? Do you think it's indicative of a broader trend of incompetence in the government? Have you encountered any similar absurdities during your experience with governmental departments? Share your insights below! For further discussion related to trade and economic policies, check out other threads in the Water Cooler section.
