Oh, Canada ...
... I apologize to thee.
I cannot fathom that I would ever have to write this post today.
For those who have been hiding under a rock, the President announced, without provocation, trade tariffs against Canada. In response, the Canadian government had no choice but to announce retaliatory tariffs. Last night, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, addressed his Nation, and attempted to speak directly to the American People:
For over two centuries, the United States and Canada have shared one of the most stable and cooperative relationships in the world. Bound by geography, culture, and economic interdependence, the two nations have built a partnership rooted in mutual respect and shared democratic values.
The United States has no better ally than Canada. None. Since Canada was self-governed in 1867, and the United States was an independent nation in 1776, these two nations have been allied. Canadians have fought, and died, in every conflict the United States has faced. They have been our steadfast partner in war and in peace.
The world's longest undefended border is more than just a symbol; it reflects a deep trust forged through history. The U.S. and Canada have continuously strengthened their ties, from fighting side by side in global conflicts to collaborating on trade, security, and environmental initiatives. Their economic relationship is one of the most extensive on the planet, with over $2 billion in goods and services crossing the border daily. Agreements like NAFTA—now the USMCA—have further integrated their markets, ensuring prosperity on both sides.
Beyond commerce, the nations have a robust security alliance through NATO and NORAD, working together to safeguard North America. Their cooperation extends into intelligence sharing, counterterrorism, and even disaster response, demonstrating a level of partnership rare among sovereign nations.
Culturally, the U.S. and Canada influence each other profoundly, whether in entertainment, sports, or social trends. Canadians and Americans live, work, and travel across the border with ease, reinforcing the personal and familial ties that make this relationship unique.
This enduring alliance, built on shared interests and common values, remains a cornerstone of North American stability and prosperity.
John F. Kennedy Addressing the Canadian Parliament, May 17, 1961
(The part of the speech the Prime Minister refers to occurs at 2:15.)
The President’s actions severely damaged this relationship with Canada. It is the most shameful, embarrassing action we have ever undertaken towards an ally. It is tantamount to an attack on an ally.
America now finds itself in a trade war.
I’m going to build a wall, and Mexico ain’t going to pay for it.
Just like all the other nonsense the President spouts out, Canada, Mexico, and Timbuktu, aren’t going to pay for anything.
The President has long praised tariffs as an effective economic policy. The President has called “tariff” the fourth-most beautiful word in the dictionary, behind “God,” “love” and “religion.”
And the President has repeatedly (and incorrectly) said that “the tariff sheriff,” former President William McKinley, ushered in an era of American prosperity at the end of the 19th century by going all-in on tariffs (though the US economy was growing strong in the 1890s, that was largely on the back of practically unrestricted immigration, among other factors.)
Still, President Trump has used and promised to employ tariffs for three primary purposes: to raise revenue, to bring trade into balance and to bring rival countries to the negotiating table. Here’s how the President thinks tariffs work.
Here’s the problem: This plan is idiotic.
Three obvious reasons:
Countries don’t pay tariffs.
Companies and consumers do—meaning they have less money to spend elsewhere.
Companies don’t just up and move their factories to the U.S. because that’s not how a globalized economy works.
The President believes in an economic system that simply does not exist.
Listening to him talk about trade, it’s like he thinks it’s still 1950. And I mean that sincerely.
I have to conclude that:
He has no real understanding of how global trade works.
He has no concept of how globalized labor works.
He has no grasp of how global supply chains function.
At best, as a “real estate developer,” he never needed to understand these things. At worst, he’s willfully ignorant because much of his financial success has been built on manipulation and fraud.
Whatever story you want to tell yourself, the reality remains: Tariffs aren’t an effective way to raise national revenue. And anyone who says otherwise either doesn’t know what they’re talking about—or doesn’t care.
The Broad Cost of "America First" Tariffs
During the 2024 campaign, President Trump and Vice President Vance stood before cheering crowds and made a simple promise: tariffs would "bring American jobs back", "level the playing field", and "force foreign nations to respect America again."
They assured workers in Michigan and Ohio that tariffs on Canadian imports would "end the era of American manufacturing being sold out." Trump, in a rally in Wisconsin, declared:
"We’re done getting ripped off by Canada. We’re done with unfair trade. When I put tariffs on their goods, guess what? They’re gonna come back to us. The factories are gonna come back. The jobs are gonna come back. And it’s going to be beautiful."
That was the promise.
Now, let’s talk about the reality.
Who Pays? You Do.
Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, and those taxes are paid by American importers, American businesses, and ultimately, American consumers.
The price of Canadian lumber goes up? That cost gets passed along to U.S. homebuilders, which means higher housing prices. Tariffs on Canadian auto parts? That means more expensive cars, higher costs for manufacturers, and fewer jobs in U.S. auto plants. Tariffs on Canadian food products? That’s more expensive groceries for American families.
This isn’t speculation—it’s exactly what happened during Trump’s first round of tariffs. Between 2018 and 2019, his tariffs on steel and aluminum raised manufacturing costs, leading to job losses in the auto sector, despite his claims that it would create a "manufacturing boom."
Now, he and Vance are doubling down on the same failed policy, only this time, the stakes are even higher.
Killing American Jobs, One Tariff at a Time
Trump promised that tariffs would "bring American jobs back." But tariffs don’t operate in a vacuum. The U.S. and Canada have one of the most deeply integrated economic relationships in the world. Disrupting that supply chain doesn’t bring jobs back—it destroys them.
Consider the auto industry. U.S. and Canadian factories don’t just sell finished cars to each other—they share parts and components, often shipping them across the border multiple times during production. A car built in Detroit today likely contains steel made in Ontario, engines assembled in Windsor, and electronic components from Quebec.
Trump’s tariffs don’t "protect" these jobs; they increase production costs, making American cars more expensive and less competitive. U.S. automakers have two choices:
Eat the higher costs and lose profitability.
Pass those costs to consumers, which means fewer sales and, ultimately, job cuts.
Trump and Vance insist that "companies will just build their factories here instead." That’s fantasy. Manufacturing doesn’t move overnight, and when companies do relocate, they don’t necessarily pick the U.S.—they go where it’s cheapest. If Trump makes it too expensive to do business with Canada, automakers won’t suddenly start building factories in Michigan; they’ll move operations to Mexico, China, or Southeast Asia instead.
Farmers Betrayed Again
On the campaign trail, Trump and Vance told America’s farmers they’d be "protected like never before." They pointed to Trump’s past trade war with China and insisted that he had "won" by standing up to unfair practices.
But American farmers know better. The last time Trump imposed tariffs, retaliatory tariffs hit American agriculture hard. China, Canada, and the EU all responded by slapping tariffs on U.S. farm exports, devastating soybean, pork, and dairy farmers. The federal government had to spend billions in emergency bailouts just to keep family farms afloat.
Now, Trump is picking another fight with Canada, and farmers will suffer the consequences. Canada is one of the largest buyers of American agricultural products—and they won’t hesitate to retaliate. When Trump imposes tariffs on Canadian dairy or beef, Canada will respond by slapping tariffs on American soybeans, corn, and poultry. And just like before, American farmers will pay the price.
Meanwhile, Trump will go to another rally and promise that he’s "saving American agriculture," all while standing on the wreckage of another self-inflicted economic disaster.
America’s Inflation Bomb
Trump and Vance have spent months hammering inflation as a key campaign issue, claiming that they will "bring prices down" and "save Americans money." But tariffs do the exact opposite.
When you tax imports, everything from groceries to home goods to appliances becomes more expensive. Companies have to either absorb the costs or pass them along to customers. The result? Higher prices, less spending power, and a weaker economy.
The irony is staggering: Trump and Vance campaign on fighting inflation while pushing a tariff policy that directly causes inflation.
The Trump-Vance Trade Fantasy vs. Reality
The Bottom Line
Trump and Vance are selling a vision of America that doesn’t exist—one where tariffs are a magic tool to force other countries into submission while creating jobs and lowering prices.
The reality is that tariffs on Canada will hurt American businesses, kill American jobs, increase inflation, and provoke retaliatory trade wars that will hammer U.S. farmers and manufacturers.
Trump and Vance can keep making promises. But the American economy runs on reality, not campaign slogans. And in reality, tariffs on Canada are an economic disaster waiting to happen.
How Trump’s Tariffs Will Raise Gas and Heating Prices for Americans
Further, while the administration claims these tariffs will “protect American workers,” they will actually drive up fuel prices, disrupt supply chains, and force Americans to pay more for basic energy needs.
The U.S. and Canada: A Deeply Connected Energy Economy
What Trump and Vance don’t seem to understand—or simply refuse to acknowledge—is that Canada is America’s largest energy trading partner. The U.S. imports more oil from Canada than from any other country, and this crude oil is vital to our energy infrastructure.
Canada supplies nearly 60% of all U.S. crude oil imports.
Many U.S. refineries—especially in the Midwest—depend on Canadian oil to function.
Natural gas and electricity also flow across the border, helping power American homes and businesses.
Slapping tariffs on Canadian energy products doesn’t punish Canada—it disrupts U.S. refineries, raises costs for American energy producers, and forces higher prices on consumers.
How Tariffs Will Increase Gas Prices
The Trump-Vance campaign promised to lower costs for working Americans, but their tariffs on Canadian energy will do the exact opposite by making gas more expensive. Here’s how:
Tariffs on Canadian crude oil raise costs for U.S. refineries.
U.S. refineries rely on Canadian crude to blend with domestic oil for gasoline production.
A tariff means refineries must pay more for the same raw material.
Those costs get passed on to you at the pump.
Refinery Disruptions Could Lead to Shortages.
Many U.S. refineries, particularly in the Midwest and Gulf Coast, are optimized to process Canadian heavy crude.
If costs go up or supply chains get disrupted, refineries slow down production, leading to higher prices and possible fuel shortages.
Canada Retaliates by Redirecting Its Oil Exports Elsewhere.
If tariffs make selling oil to the U.S. more expensive, Canada will simply sell more to China, India, and Europe.
That means less supply for the U.S., tightening the market and pushing gas prices even higher.
Trump loves to claim that he’ll "bring down gas prices," but his tariff plan will add costs at every stage of the energy supply chain, forcing millions of Americans to pay more to fill their tanks.
How Tariffs Will Make Heating More Expensive in the North
While many Americans think of energy in terms of gasoline, millions in northern states depend on heating oil, natural gas, and electricity imports from Canada to survive the winter.
Tariffs on Canadian Natural Gas Will Increase Heating Costs.
The Northeast imports a significant amount of natural gas from Canada, especially during the winter when demand spikes.
A tariff means utilities have to pay more for gas, and those costs will hit households in the form of higher heating bills.
Tariffs on Canadian Electricity Will Raise Prices for Homes and Businesses.
Many northern states—New York, Vermont, Maine, and Michigan—import hydroelectric power from Canada to keep costs down.
A tariff on imported electricity will force utilities to raise prices on consumers.
If utilities turn to domestic fossil fuels instead, that drives up emissions and costs even more.
Retaliation from Canada Could Cut Off Supply.
Canada doesn’t have to sell its energy to the U.S.—it can simply redirect electricity exports to domestic use or sell oil and gas elsewhere.
That means even tighter energy markets and higher prices for American households.
For people living in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Maine, and other cold-weather states, this isn’t just an economic issue—it’s a quality of life issue. Families will be forced to pay significantly more just to keep their homes warm in the winter, all because of Trump’s reckless trade war.
Trump-Vance Promises vs. Reality
The Bottom Line: Higher Prices, More Pain for Americans
Trump and Vance claim to be fighting for the American worker, but their tariffs on Canadian energy will do the exact opposite:
Raising gas prices at the pump.
Driving up heating bills for millions of Americans.
Hurting U.S. refineries and energy companies.
Forcing Canada to sell its resources elsewhere, reducing U.S. energy security.
This is a self-inflicted economic wound that American families will be forced to pay for—all so Trump and Vance can stand on a debate stage and pretend they’re “tough on trade.”
Tariffs on Canadian energy will not strengthen America. They will make everyday life more expensive for millions of Americans, proving once again that Trump’s trade policies are more about political theater than economic reality.
How Trump’s Trade War Will Drive Up Labor Costs and Hurt American Workers
President Trump and Vice President Vance campaigned on a promise to "bring back American jobs," claiming that tariffs would protect industries and force companies to hire more U.S. workers. However, the reality is precisely the opposite: their tariffs on Canada will drive up labor costs across the entire economy, making it harder for businesses to hire and forcing American workers to pay the price.
How Tariffs Increase Labor Costs Across the Board
Tariffs don’t just tax goods—they tax the entire economy. When the cost of raw materials, energy, and transportation goes up, businesses are forced to adjust. That means:
Rising wages in some sectors due to inflationary pressures.
Job losses or hiring freezes in industries hit hardest by cost increases.
Reduced business investment, leading to fewer opportunities for workers.
This isn’t just speculation—it’s exactly what happened the last time Trump imposed tariffs. During his first term, businesses saw rising labor costs due to supply chain disruptions, and instead of expanding, many cut jobs or raised prices to compensate. Now, with even more aggressive tariffs on Canadian imports, the economic strain will be even worse.
1. Manufacturing: Higher Costs, Fewer Jobs
One of the most significant selling points of Trump and Vance’s trade policies is that tariffs will "bring back manufacturing." However, manufacturing depends on affordable materials and energy, and tariffs drive up those costs, making it more expensive to employ workers.
Tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum mean U.S. manufacturers pay more for raw materials.
Higher material costs force factories to cut jobs, freeze hiring, or outsource labor elsewhere.
The auto industry—which relies on Canadian parts and supply chains—will face major slowdowns, leading to layoffs in Michigan, Ohio, and other industrial states.
Despite the campaign rhetoric, tariffs don’t bring back factories—they make it more expensive to operate them.
2. Construction: Higher Wages = Fewer Projects
Tariffs on Canadian lumber, steel, and other building materials will skyrocket construction costs, forcing companies to scale back projects, reduce hiring, or raise prices on homes and infrastructure.
Residential construction will slow down because homebuilders will struggle to afford materials.
Public works projects (roads, bridges, and infrastructure) will stall as local governments face budget constraints.
Workers in skilled trades (electricians, plumbers, carpenters) will see fewer opportunities as construction firms reduce hiring.
The Trump-Vance campaign promised a "blue-collar boom," but these policies will slow down hiring in one of the most labor-intensive industries in the country.
3. Trucking and Logistics: A Fuel Price Nightmare
The trucking industry already faces a labor shortage, and now, with fuel prices set to rise due to tariffs on Canadian oil, it will be even harder to attract and retain drivers.
Diesel costs will increase, meaning trucking companies will have to pay more just to keep their fleets running.
Shipping rates will rise, increasing the cost of goods across the country.
Owner-operators and small trucking firms will struggle to stay afloat, leading to more consolidation and job losses.
Instead of helping the industry, Trump’s tariffs will make it more expensive to transport goods, driving inflation and reducing hiring.
4. Retail, Restaurants, and Small Businesses: The Hiring Freeze
Tariffs create inflationary pressure across the economy, requiring businesses to pay more for goods, rent, and labor. This results in fewer job opportunities.
Big retailers (Walmart, Target, grocery chains) will see higher supply chain costs, leading to higher prices and fewer hours for workers.
Small businesses that rely on imported goods will face rising costs, forcing them to either raise prices or cut staff.
Restaurants will struggle with increased food costs, meaning fewer new hires and tighter margins.
The net effect? A slower job market, fewer raises, and fewer opportunities for workers across the board.
Trump-Vance Promises vs. Reality: Labor Costs and the American Worker
The Bottom Line: The American Worker Gets Squeezed
Instead of protecting American jobs, Trump’s tariffs will:
Make it more expensive for businesses to hire workers.
Drive up inflation, reducing real wages for millions of Americans.
Slow down manufacturing, construction, and trucking—three industries they promised to help.
Lead to higher unemployment and job stagnation.
Trump and Vance love to talk about bringing back jobs, but their economic policies are designed for a world that doesn’t exist anymore. In the real world, tariffs don’t protect workers—they make their lives harder.
For the average American, that means higher prices, fewer job opportunities, and an economy that works against them, not for them.
Betraying Our Best Friend
For more than a century, Canada has stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States—in war, in peace, in crisis, and in prosperity. It is a friendship built not just on geography, but on shared values, mutual trust, and deep economic ties that have benefited both nations.
And now, Trump and Vance are putting that relationship in jeopardy.
With their reckless tariffs on Canadian goods—on oil, steel, agriculture, and energy—they are undermining one of our most reliable allies, harming American workers, and shattering a trust that has endured generations.
Canada: More Than Just a Neighbor
Canada is not just another country we trade with. It is our closest ally, our largest trading partner, and our most dependable friend on the world stage.
Canada was there when we needed them. On September 11, 2001, when U.S. airspace was closed, Canada opened its doors to thousands of stranded Americans, offering them shelter, food, and kindness in a time of crisis.
Canada has fought alongside us in every major war of the 20th and 21st centuries. They bled with us on the beaches of Normandy, in Korea, in Afghanistan.
Canada is our largest energy supplier, helping fuel the American economy while ensuring we have access to affordable, reliable resources.
Canada supports American jobs. Trade with Canada directly supports over 9 million U.S. jobs across every state in the union.
This is not a country we should be treating as an enemy.
This is not a country we should be slapping with reckless tariffs that will damage both economies, raise prices on American families, and fracture a relationship that has taken generations to build.
Trump’s Tariffs Are a Betrayal of a Loyal Ally
Trump and Vance claim that these tariffs are about “fair trade.” But what’s fair about punishing a country that has always played by the rules?
What’s fair about driving up the cost of Canadian imports, knowing that it will make life more expensive for American consumers and workers?
What’s fair about forcing Canada into a trade war it never asked for—one that will result in retaliatory tariffs that harm U.S. farmers, manufacturers, and businesses?
This isn’t about fairness. This is economic nationalism masquerading as strategy. It’s a policy rooted in ignorance, not reality. And it is a deliberate insult to a country that has done nothing but stand by our side.
The Consequences of Turning Our Back on Canada
The damage won’t just be economic. The political and diplomatic costs will be far worse.
Canada Will Look Elsewhere
If the U.S. slaps heavy tariffs on Canadian energy, lumber, and goods, Canada won’t beg for a seat at our table—they will find other partners.
China, the European Union, and other global markets will gladly take what we reject, deepening Canada’s economic ties with competitors who don’t share our values.
We will lose influence, while other nations gain a foothold.
A Strained Security Partnership
Canada and the U.S. share military intelligence, NORAD, and border security responsibilities.
If we treat them like an adversary in trade, how long before that mistrust spills into security cooperation?
Why should Canada prioritize U.S. interests when we are actively harming theirs?
Damage That Won’t Be Easily Repaired
Relationships like this don’t heal overnight.
Once you break trust with an ally, it takes decades to rebuild.
Every American president for the last century has understood this—until now.
This Is Not How You Treat a Friend
America has had its share of disputes with Canada before. We have fought over trade deals, border policies, and resource management. But those disagreements have always been handled with diplomacy, respect, and mutual understanding.
Trump and Vance are throwing all of that away.
They are treating Canada like an enemy, punishing them for doing what any sovereign nation would do—defending their economic interests against an unfair and unnecessary assault.
The cost of these tariffs will fall on American consumers, American businesses, and American workers.
But the more profound cost—the moral cost—will be the damage we inflict on a friend who has never turned their back on us.
A Call to Leadership
Real leadership is not about bullying allies.
Real leadership is not about using economic weapons to punish friends.
Real leadership is about strengthening partnerships, not destroying them.
If Trump and Vance cared about American prosperity, they would invest in our alliance with Canada, not tear it apart.
If they cared about putting America first, they would protect the trade relationships that support millions of American jobs, not sabotage them.
Canada has been our ally through war, recession, terrorist attacks, and global crises.
And now, because of political posturing and economic ignorance, we are repaying that loyalty with unprovoked hostility.
This is not leadership.
This is not strategy.
This is a betrayal of our closest ally.
And history will not look kindly on those who let it happen.
I leave readers with this:
On November 18, 2014, The Canadian Maple Leafs were playing against the Nashville Predators. The mic cut out partway through the performance of US national anthem during the display of the US Flag and the Canadian fans enthusiastically finished signing the Star Spangled Banner.
That’s the nation our President has betrayed with an unprovoked trade war.
I have never been so disgusted and ashamed.