Trump to Canada & Mexico: I Tariff You; I Tariff You Not

Less than 48 hours after President Trump imposed sweeping tariffs against Canada and Mexico, he has now partially halted the tariffs. 

The exemptions apply to approximately half of all good coming into U.S. from Mexico and approximately 38% of goods coming in from Canada.

However, this is in effect until April 2nd. 

Or perhaps April 1st because, well, you know....

So long as Trump remains President of the United States, he is going to continue this behavior towards Canada, Mexico and other allies. 

As I pointed out a little over a month ago when Trump delayed implementing tariffs against Canada and Mexico for the first time:

The point here is that while Trump might not impose tariffs against Canada and Mexico now or ever, he will continue to belittle and bully Canada and Mexico. In Canada’s case, it will be the 51st state and why America doesn’t need Canada for anything. In which case, Canada and Mexico will respond in kind - again. 

The question is how much the American voter likes it. Well, perhaps not so much if Elon Musk withholds Social Security and Medicare payments. But if one is not directly affected one might think, “Better that Trump punish Canada and Mexico as long as he doesn’t come after me,” even if it results in higher prices and fewer jobs.

I tariff you; I tariff you not.

In Canada's case, Trump will continue this behavior until it is annexed into the United States. 

How else does one explain the behavior of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem at the Haskell Library and Opera House which sits on the Canada-U.S. border between Quebec and Vermont. Noem jumped back and forth between the Canada-U.S. borderline. When on the U.S. side she said, "U.S.A. No. 1." and when she jumped to the Canadian side she said, "51st state."

I wish some Canadian official, to quote a line from Raymond Smith in the Guy Ritchie film The Gentlemen, would tell Trump to his face (and for that matter to Noem), "Stop fucking around, cunt!!!"

But that is what Trump does, and he doesn't care who he hurts in the process. He's been doing it for decades whether denying African Americans access to housing on his properties or refusing to pay contractors for services rendered. 

The hallmark of a successful American economy and a successful global economy is stability. Trump's 'I tariff you; I tariff you not' policy is unstable and therefore unsustainable. But so long as Trump is insulated from the real world and its consequences, he does not care. This instability is going to hurt Trump's supporters. But Trump is counting on them blaming someone else. Unfortunately, more often than not they do.