Trump’s tariffs and Canada

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/02/2025 (297 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What about the Trump tariffs, eh? There is a silver lining here. But our leaders are mistaken in their responses. One relates to fentanyl. The other has to do with misunderstanding the game Trump is playing. These are complex matters. But seeing what’s happening is a good start.

First, let’s acknowledge the opportunity the tariffs have opened up for us. Five years ago, I noted that the Trump era has a silver lining. The vital role of citizenship is put into keen focus. We citizens are challenged to step up our game: to be more engaged, more informed and more critical in our thinking.

The same is now the case for our whole country. Canadians are challenged to step up our collective game. We need to increase our defence spending to meet our NATO commitment, for example, and end interprovincial trade barriers. Additionally, we need to take a hard look at government spending, economic productivity and fairness, and big issues like climate change and technologies like AI.

These challenges come within a general theme of celebrating what is good about Canada and how we can become even better. As I wrote several years ago in a Canada Day column, let’s awaken our inner patriot.

Now, let’s look at the response from our leaders, which include the prime minister, premiers and opposition parties alike.

The first is answering Trump’s comments about fentanyl crossing the Canadian border into the U.S. This is one reason to punish us with tariffs. In response, our leaders have replied with a new crackdown on fentanyl trafficking.

But this is simply more of the “War on Drugs,’ which has failed for 50 years. More than ever, drugs are plentiful, affordable and deadly.

We are in the midst of a tariff imbroglio. Is this really the right time to admit that the War on Drugs has failed and that we need a rethink? But if this is not the right time, when is the right time? For too many years, we have let our leaders dole out simplistic slogans about the drug crisis.

We are already cracking down on fentanyl at the border. To mollify Trump, we are going to spend $1 billion on a show of cracking down more. Instead, let’s spend $1 billion to address the real issues. Why do some people become addicted to drugs? What programs best help folks get off drugs? (And if you believe Trump will be mollified by The Great Canadian Crackdown Show, I have a bridge in Queens to sell to you).

As for Canada’s reactions to the tariffs, they miss why Trump is threatening tariffs. He was clear in his election campaign about two big goals: disrupting the status quo and generating attention.

Disruption is obvious to see. Tariffs are a disruption of international trade, norms and relationships. But retaliating with more tariffs and a boycott of American products will play into Trump’s hands. That’s because we are just adding to the disruption.

Attention is harder to grasp. But we live in an attention economy. And Trump is the master at garnering attention.

We must recognize how attention is engineered in the American media environment. For one thing, the mainstream media — like the major TV broadcasters and legacy newspapers — have for years puffed up Trump. They cater to his whims, publicize his conspiracy theories and defer to him more than other presidents. When Trump says incomprehensible things, media like the New York Times massage his ramblings into sensible sounding quotes. It’s called “sane washing.”

Meanwhile, in another information bubble, media sources like Fox News deliver to the public an even more positive view of Trump.

Tariffs will hurt American businesses, workers and consumers. But many citizens in the U.S. will be unaware of this reality. Their perspective will be coloured by a sanitized and distorted view of Trump. They may believe that the economy is fine. Or they may blame problems on factors like former president Biden, diversity initiatives or Canada. Yes: blame Canada! They might even sing the old song: “It seems that everything’s gone wrong since Canada came along!”

Where does all this leave us? Recognize what games are being played. In the games of disruption and attention, Canada will lose to Trump. No matter what happens with tariffs, we will lose because Trump has caused more disruption and created more attention. We can’t trump Trump!

So, let’s get going on those big initiatives to make Canada the best country we can be. Confronting Trump’s tariffs must go beyond traditional thinking. We need to play the best hand we can. What hand that should be is to be determined.

Good luck, everyone.