Trump’s Tariff War

 The leaders of Canada and Mexico are upset about Trump's decision to impose 25 percent tariffs on their exports. Most of the world is likely to support Canada and Mexico, and Trump may be seen as harsh and unpredictable. The Democrats are also expected to criticize Trump, which may not be a wise move for them.

The U. S. has faced numerous fentanyl deaths, and Trump’s actions might be the only way to make a real difference. Canada and Mexico have not shown good cooperation to address the issue, as Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum blamed the U. S. and announced her own retaliatory tariffs. She claimed that the U. S. could solve the fentanyl issue by fighting drug sales within its cities, which is a complicated problem that needs more cooperation from Mexico.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's response is similarly lacking. He has proposed tariffs on select U. S. products and downplayed the drug problem at the border, claiming it is not significant. Trudeau stated that Canada launched a $1. 3 billion border plan, but this amount is only $900 million in U. S. dollars. The plan was only announced recently, and its details are vague regarding whether the money will be used to hire more staff or for pension funds. Additionally, the budget spans six years, which is a very small amount annually.

Trudeau insists that the northern border is secure, but reports indicate otherwise. Canadian officials acknowledge ongoing problems. A university expert admitted that the U. S. should focus on the northern border and noted that Canada struggles with effective screening of individuals crossing the border. In recent months, there were nearly 20,000 migrant crossings into the U. S. from Canada, double from the previous year, suggesting significant issues.

There is a perception that it is easy to cross the U. S. -Canada border, which lacks fences and is very long. Criminals, including drug runners and terrorists, are exploiting this by crossing from Canada, making their numbers hard to track. An RCMP officer has reported daily illegal crossings, often involving individuals who fly into Canadian airports before trying to cross into the U. S.

Once migrants are caught crossing the border, Canadian authorities face challenges in dealing with them, as they lack the authority to act on individuals before they have committed an offense. These various challenges justify Trump’s strict approach. While it might raise prices for goods like avocados and cars, the potential benefit of saving lives may outweigh these costs.

The economic impact of Trump's tariffs will likely be felt more by Canada and Mexico than by the U. S. In the end, many Democrats may oppose Trump due to their ongoing issues with him, but he might ultimately succeed in this trade battle. If so, it could reduce fentanyl deaths, leaving Democrats regretting their opposition to an important effort.

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/02/trump_s_tariff_war.html