The Art of the Raw Deal
Trump's Tariff Tantrum Truth
The curious thing about populists is their ability to chant “America First” while ensuring America is last in every economic metric that matters. One might liken it to a general marching his troops boldly into a swamp, only to drown them and declare victory because the enemy—also knee-deep in muck—is suffering too.
Donald Trump, the avatar of this strange strain of self-inflicted suffering, has once again taken to his social media platform to berate Canada—our largest trading partner—for the crime of daring to engage in reciprocal economic policy which he himself has called for and incited. I struggle to believe he understands the word reciprocal as he wields it with all the grace of a toddler discovering a new toy hammer, bashing everything in sight with no discernible plan.
So, here for my own benefit—and I guess for yours since you’ve decided to read this—I’ll examine his latest dispatch from the frontline of economic incoherence, a post which contains more errors than a Biden speech without a teleprompter.
The Myth of Canadian Tariff “Abuse”
Trump begins by claiming that Canada is imposing tariffs of 250% to 390% on "many of our farm products." This, I assume, is meant to stir outrage in his followers, as though Justin Trudeau were sitting atop a throne of stolen Wisconsin cheese, cackling maniacally.
Let me clarify what it is as I’ve heard many a Trump defender attempt to argue this is proof as a need for tariffs in the same way you might punch your own balls to intimidate someone who wants to fight you. Canada, in its infinite wisdom, does apply exorbitant tariffs on over-quota dairy, poultry, and eggs under its supply management system. But these tariffs don’t apply to all U.S. farm products—only to those exceeding predetermined limits. Everything within the agreed quota? Free trade. It’s an infinitely stupid policy that hurts Canadians at the grocery store more than it will ever hurt American farmers because the entire goal behind them is to protect their dairy and agriculture at the expense of it’s own citizens.
Now, before Trump's admirers reach for their keyboards as always to howl, “But, but, tariffs!”—allow me to remind them that the United States also imposes tariffs on Canadian goods. The U.S. has spent decades slapping countervailing duties on Canadian lumber under the pretense that Canadian forests are…. too well-managed. Moreover, Trump himself initiated tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel in 2018, while falsely invoking “national security” concerns, as if Canadian metal posed some existential threat to the Republic.
So when Trump screeches that Canada is a “tariff abuser,” he is engaging in profound projection—akin to a thief complaining that someone dared install a lock on their door. So as far as this claim is concerned it’s the same exaggerated nonsense, devoid of basic context we’ve become all too familiar with.
Ontario’s Electricity Surcharge: Who Started This War?
Trump then pivots to the real source of his ire: Ontario's 25% electricity surcharge on exports to New York, Michigan, and Minnesota. He presents this as an unprovoked act of economic aggression, which is a bit like complaining that one has been punched without mentioning that he threw the first punch.
Premier of Ontario Doug Ford and member of the center-right Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario has been explicit: Ontario imposed this surcharge in direct retaliation for Trump’s tariffs. The Trump administration, in its infinite wisdom, threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, including cars, lumber, and energy. This naturally provoked a measured counter-response from Ontario, designed to target key states dependent on Canadian energy.
To put it simply: Ontario didn’t start this economic war. It responded in kind, precisely as any nation or province would when facing economic hostilities from a trading partner. This is also the result of tariff’s to begin with as one can’t expect a nation being tariffed to not respond in-kind, even though it’s equally stupid. The goal is to pressure the rival nation (in this case closest ally) to change course.
And here is the truly hilarious irony: In this particular circumstance Ontario’s tariff retaliation will not hurt Canada—it will actually hurt U.S. consumers. New York, Michigan, and Minnesota depend on Canadian electricity. This surcharge will increase costs for American businesses and households, and yet, Trump presents this as some sort of patriotic maneuver. It’s a classic example of “play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
“We Don’t Need Your Cars, Your Lumber, Your Energy” – A Statement of Astounding Ignorance
This one annoyed me the most only because of how infinitely stupid it is. One imagines Trump’s advisors recoiling in horror as they read this line. “We don’t need your Cars, we don’t need your Lumber, we don’t need your Energy,” Trump proclaims, with all the bravado of a man who has never read an economic report in his life.
In this case I feel I need to take these one by one:
Cars – Canada is an integral part of the North American auto industry. Many American automakers rely on Canadian production for parts,