The following is presented as part of The Columbian’s Opinion content, which offers a point of view in order to provoke thought and debate of civic issues. Opinions represent the viewpoint of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of The Columbian’s editorial board, which operates independently of the news department.
Never mind how Donald Trump’s threatened trade war ultimately pans out. Though a 25 percent border tax would hurt the economies of Canada and Mexico more, Americans would also feel the ill-effects. But America is already suffering. Start with the shame of menacing and sliming our good neighbors with lies.
Even if it’s a twisted game of negotiation — Trump has already put off the war with Mexico and Canada by a month — the economic damage is lasting. (Trump’s game is to jump on some small concession to declare victory.) Meanwhile, Made-in-Trump’s-USA is becoming a toxic label.
Canadians recently booed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a hockey game in Ottawa. Something tells us they don’t want to become the 51st state.
Now Canada and Mexico could retaliate against American exports, starting with steel, pork and bourbon. They would focus on economic interests in Trump country, a reflection of their understanding that much of America shares their mystification, if not horror, at this sadistic show.
But these trading partners have more subtle weapons than slapping their own tariffs on American products. They can decide that the United States is an unreliable partner and look for replacements.
America’s Midwest refineries rely on crude from Alberta. Trump said Canadian energy would get a special deal, a tariff of only 10 percent. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said even 10 percent is not OK. For all of Trump’s sniveling about the price of oil, it would go higher if Canada, our largest foreign supplier, decided to sell it to someone else.
The bestselling beer in the U.S. is Modelo Especial from Mexico. It is made from barley harvested in places like Idaho, Montana and North Dakota. About 75 percent of U.S. barley exports go to Mexico. But Argentina, Chile and Brazil also grow barley and would probably be happy to take over those sales. And the loss of that business would hurt American farmers.
The North American economy has been integrated to our benefit as well as our neighbors. A “Made in America” vehicle, for example, crosses borders several times before the final product rolls to the showroom. This production sharing lets things get done in the most cost-efficient places. It is also done in Europe and Asia.
Contrary to Trump’s baloney excuse for making economic war against our neighbors, Canada is the source of almost no fentanyl entering this country. And the fentanyl that comes over the border from Mexico enters through legal ports of entry, hidden in truck tires and suitcases. If that’s the case, isn’t it the job of U.S. authorities to check those tires?
Same goes for undocumented migrants. Of course, the border was already peaceful by the time of Trump’s inauguration. Before the tariff standoff, Canada and Mexico had already stepped up helping control these migration flows on their sides of the border.
The usually Trump-friendly Wall Street Journal has called this “The Dumbest Trade War in History.” That it isn’t in our interests doesn’t even seem to matter. The crisis serves Trump’s unhinged need to be constantly at the center of attention and his sick pleasure in extracting pain. War or no war, he’s already achieved both.
But the pain felt by Americans trapped by a leadership in Washington, D.C., that has gone haywire endures. And when the cruelty gets dumped on our friends, the pain starts with shame.
Morning Briefing Newsletter
Get a rundown of the latest local and regional news every Mon-Fri morning.
