President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out again at Canada a day after America’s northern neighbor unveiled retaliatory tariffs to escalate the trade war he started months ago. In a phone interview with right-wing radio presenter Glenn Beck, Trump complained that Ottawa had “taken advantage of the United States for many decades.” “They are one of the worst countries in the world to deal with there, and this has gone on for many years,” he said. The president continued grousing about “unbelievable” tariffs which Canada has long imposed on certain American dairy products in a regime similar to what the United States does with imported beef and bragged about how he has upended the relationship between Washington and Ottawa with his trade war.
But I said we're going to take them on,” he said. He added that Canada simultaneously places tariffs on American goods and somehow “take[s] advantage of us as though they were a state” even though states are prohibited by imposing taxes on imports from other states under the U.S. And it's time to teach Canada you can't do this anymore.” The president’s outburst against the ally with which America shares the world’s largest unguarded border came less than a day after the Canadian government matched Trump’s most recent round of tariffs with a slate of retaliatory trade moves against the U.S.
Canada, which imports roughly $272 billion in U.S. goods every year, will double its existing counter-tariffs on American steel and aluminumproducts to 50 percent, while new tariffs of 15, 25 and 50 percent will be applied to more than $20 billion worth of about 700 U.S. goods, including clothing, furniture, video game consoles and other electronics, among other goods. Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said on Tuesday that his country “must respond” to Trump’s latest attacks. He added that the new taxes, which would take effect on September 8, are “proportionate, targeted and strategic,” designed to “match dollar for dollar, rate for rate” against Trump’s tariff agenda.
The Canadian federal government also plans to cushion the economic blow from the latest battle in the trade war with a $5.4 billion package to boost support for impacted workers and businesses. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
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