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Trump's Shameful Tariffs Betray Canada and Mexico

February 1, 2025

This is one of the darkest and most shameful days in modern American history.

By unilaterally imposing 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico in violation of a trade agreement he himself signed in 2018, President Trump has betrayed our closest friends, allies and trading partners. Instead of working hand-in-hand with our North American neighbors to address the continuing challenges of undocumented immigration and fentanyl addiction, Trump has instead turned to confrontation and extortion.

The supposed national security emergency the President has cited as a justification for his draconian actions is a myth and sham. Apprehensions at the Mexican border are lower now than when Trump left the White House in January 2021. That steep drop-off is due in part to President Biden's cap on in-person asylum claims, but even more so to major new Mexican efforts to intercept migrant flows there. (Just as important, Panama’s success in curbing migrant crossings of the Darien Gap and repatriating the travelers to their home countries has helped drive the down the numbers arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border.) Meanwhile, migrant and fentanyl traffic across Canada's border is infinitesimal.

What the Wall Street Journal today dubbed "The Dumbest Trade War in History" is completely unnecessary. Trump has left Ottawa and Mexico no recourse but to retaliate. But it will be painful for citizens of all three countries. Americans, Canadians and Mexicans alike will needlessly pay higher prices, lose jobs, and see their incomes and national GDP decline. It will be a bitter harvest that will poison relations between countries who have enjoyed decades of mutual prosperity. Our Canadian and Mexican friends can be forgiven their anxiety and animosity in response to a United States of America which cannot now be trusted to keep its word and keep faith with its closest partners.

All Americans should be embarrassed, saddened, outraged and appalled by what we have done today. We will soon rue the day we allowed President Trump to put this tragedy in motion.


About

Jon Perr
Jon Perr is a technology marketing consultant and product strategist who writes about American politics and public policy.

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