So,I hate to admit it, but let me go against the pack here. Tariffs unfortunately work as Trump is claiming they work, but not for the reason he thinks. You see, while the US customers are the ones that will fit the bill, this isn’t the whole story.
Canadian businesses will try to lower their prices to stay competitive. And our governments (federal and provincials) have already stated that they will help businesses and workers as much as they can, probably with subsidies.
Every time a Canadian businesses lower it’s price to stay competitive with the tariffs and every time our governments pay subsidies to help with that, Canadians are effectively paying for Trump’s tariffs. (Note that this will have been 100% true with a small tariff, but 25% is too much to absorb, so part of the cost will go towards US customers).
With that in mind, counter-tarrifs makes perfect sense, but the assumption here is that US and states governments will help US businesses hit by the tariffs. We may be wrong on this part
Tariffs obviously have their place. They have to be appropriately used. Using them just after coming out of record inflation is not the appropriate time.
So,I hate to admit it, but let me go against the pack here. Tariffs unfortunately work as Trump is claiming they work, but not for the reason he thinks. You see, while the US customers are the ones that will fit the bill, this isn’t the whole story.
Canadian businesses will try to lower their prices to stay competitive. And our governments (federal and provincials) have already stated that they will help businesses and workers as much as they can, probably with subsidies.
Every time a Canadian businesses lower it’s price to stay competitive with the tariffs and every time our governments pay subsidies to help with that, Canadians are effectively paying for Trump’s tariffs. (Note that this will have been 100% true with a small tariff, but 25% is too much to absorb, so part of the cost will go towards US customers).
With that in mind, counter-tarrifs makes perfect sense, but the assumption here is that US and states governments will help US businesses hit by the tariffs. We may be wrong on this part
Tariffs obviously have their place. They have to be appropriately used. Using them just after coming out of record inflation is not the appropriate time.