Donald Trump's imposing of tariffs on Canada's aluminum and steel industries sparked a tit-for-tat tirade between him and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. But of the two, Trudeau was milder in his remarks.
Trudeau will retaliate on July 1st, imposing tariffs on the United States.
Joining in the tirade was Trump aide Larry Kudlow and Trump trade advisor Pete Navarro. Both made remarks that were reactionary and outrageous. For Kudlow, he said that Trudeau's retaliatory measures were a "betrayal" and that Trudeau "stabbed us in the back." Navarro went further, stating that "there's a special place in hell for Trudeau." Navarro later apologized, saying that his remark was a mistake and his language inappropriate. But too little too late. Trudeau had no comment on the matter as though not accepting his apology.
Trump wasn't any better, tweeting that Trudeau was "so meek and mild during the G7 meeting." In response to Trudeau stating that U.S. tariffs were kind of insulting and that Canada won't be pushed around, Trump called the prime minister "very dishonest and weak."
These are the remarks of bullies: provoke trouble and when challenged, try to play the victim. The hypocrisy is pathetic. This is what the Trump regime is all about. Might is right and it doesn't matter who gets in the way, allies and enemies alike. With that, the U.S. is alienating itself from the rest of the world.
Canada does have tariffs on its dairy industry. So, are Trump's tariffs an appropriate response? No. Canada protects its farmers from foreign monopoly. And rightfully so. Since Trump, and other U.S. leaders, want to dominate the world with cut throat capitalism, it's understandable and necessary that other countries use measures like tariffs to protect workers and sovereignty. This is something Trump may comprehend, but he doesn't give a damn because he is an ultra-nationalist and he is looking out only for Trump.
A tariff war will have a negative impact on both Canadians and U.S. citizens. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians and millions of U.S. citizens could be affected. As Eric Miller, economist and global fellow at the Canada Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center put it, "What you're essentially talking about is dropping a nuclear bomb in the middle of the North American industrial economy and waiting for the consequences to play out." Trump's initiation of imposing tariffs on Canada–and on other countries–will strain country-to-country relations.
As for Trump, Kudlow and Navarro–and the rest of the right–they represent what is wrong with the U.S. Their remarks, and actions, only make things worse.