In July, amid the ongoing conflict in Iran and rising gasoline prices affecting Americans, Donald Trump unexpectedly declared a new 50% tariff on Canadian imports.
Politically, this move appeared to be an attempt by Trump to secure an easy victory, but it has become another potential setback.
The tariffs imposed by Trump are not well-received in the United States. They are perceived, along with the Iran conflict, as contributing to inflation.
The conservative think tank Advancing American Freedom, founded by Mike Pence, commented on Trump’s tariffs in a recent policy memo:
American families, rather than foreign nations, are shouldering the costs of the administration’s tariff policies. Congress needs to assert its authority to ensure there is “no taxation without representation.”
These comments do not suggest the policy is popular.
Trump is entering a trade conflict with Canada from a position of significant political weakness.
David Frum encapsulated the Trump administration’s perspective on Canada:
The Trump administration has one principal belief about Canada: The U.S. is larger, more powerful, and wealthier than Canada, so Canada will eventually yield to Trump’s demands. This belief is misguided.
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Indeed, Trump can inflict more harm on Canada than vice versa. That part of Trump’s reasoning holds. However, conflicts are not resolved solely by who can cause more damage. They are also resolved by who can withstand more suffering. Trump’s inability to grasp this reality contributed to his loss in the Iran conflict—and is why he is faltering in his trade wars.
Trump is on track for another defeat, and observing Canada’s response to this trade dispute highlights the reasons why.
