Showing once again he has more in common with a petulant child than he does with someone with the mantle of world leader US president Donald Trump is again threatening more tariffs on Canada.
Trump intensified his criticism of Canada recently after terminating trade talks over a Canadian political advertisement that was used from Republican president Ronald Reagan, suggesting another 10 per cent will be added to what Canada already pays.
In the clip Reagan is seen saying tariffs cause trade wars and economic disaster.
Trump is in a tizzy suggesting the ad is fraudulent in taking Reagan’s broader presentation out of context – a position that seems a bit like crying wolf from a guy whose daily press conferences rarely pass the scrutiny of even a rudimentary fact check.
It’s rather obvious Trump simply sees the Ontario-launched ad as a personal affront and he cannot deal with even the idea that someone might not simply kneel and agree with his every word.
And so he turns to his favoured hammer – at least in terms of international affronts to his leadership with another tariff.
The move of course shows that Trump tariffs are not about serving the United States in a positive way, and have instead simply become a tool of retribution for the president and if that hurts Americans it matters not at all.
The situation also again shows that no deal made with Trump is seen as binding by the president. He is only too willing to change course on a whim, and is prone to lash put at all who oppose his vision – although defining that vision is impossible as there seems not to be one regarding the future of the US, and that country’s place in the world.
The situation for Canada as a result remains tenuous at best.
It is clear that no matter how much Canada concedes it will only be enough until Trump has another mood swing regarding trade and relations with the United States long-term trade partner to the north.
Even if a deal is one day made – there is little to suggest it would survive for long amid Trump’s rants and raves.
That puts the onus back on Canada continuing to find other trade partners in the world.
And that has to send Canadian officials back to the table to figure out some way to bridge the gap with China and its massive population.
Those talks clearly hinge on Canada doing something about the 100 per cent tariff it imposed on EVs from China – a measure largely undertaken to protect American automakers as China-upped EV exports.
That seems like a poor reason given how Trump now treats Canada, but how you manage changes will take some tact to not sent the US into a major trade meltdown.
Where once free trade seemed a goal for all, a mine field exists that must be manoeuvred to achieve even the simplest deal. •
— By Calvin Daniels