Trade (and Tariffs)
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
An XKCD comic uses a body-part metaphor to critique trade tariffs.
XKCD comic #3290, titled "Trade," depicts a figure (likely representing a country) cutting off a limb (representing trade partners) with a saw, with blood implied to be flowing from the severed limb. The comic's imagery is a metaphor for the self-destructive nature of imposing tariffs, suggesting that harming trade partners ultimately harms oneself. The comic's page also lists other comics.
What commenters are saying
Commenters largely saw the comic as a critique of the 2026 US tariff threats against Canada, using the fable of the belly and the members. A debate emerged between those arguing tariffs can protect workers from unfair competition (citing longer Chinese work hours) and those countering that efficiency, not just hours, matters, and that tariffs are blunt tools. Some noted the feedback loop from tariffs can be slower than bodily harm, allowing blame to shift.