Obama: Canada Tariffs Inflate Costs and Threaten GOP Midterm Odds
The former president mocked the tariff war in Ohio while Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said no deal is expected before the November 3 vote.
By Daniela Vargas ·
Former U.S. President Barack Obama targeted the administration's trade policy during a campaign stop in Cleveland on Saturday. Speaking to a crowd supporting Democratic candidates in Ohio, he ridiculed the ongoing conflict with Canada, a long-standing ally. Obama referred to the country as a "well-known evil empire." He added that these are the people who provided maple syrup and the comedian Martin Short, calling them the nicest people.
The former president questioned why Donald Trump would pick a fight with friendly neighbors to the north. Obama argued that the tariffs have produced the negative effects many predicted. He stated that American consumers are currently bearing the brunt of rising costs. These higher expenses have weighed on Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm elections, particularly in border states.
The tariff dispute has intensified since Trump launched his levy campaign last year. The measures were originally justified by alleged fentanyl trafficking and trade imbalances. Negotiations between the two sides broke down in August. The two countries have since exchanged retaliatory tariffs.
On Friday, Trump announced plans to lift tariffs on some Canadian products. However, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc told CBC's Power & Politics that Ottawa does not expect a finalized deal before the November 3 vote. LeBlanc indicated that the current timeline makes a pre-election agreement unlikely despite the recent policy signal.
Trump has frequently used Canada as a target in his own campaign speeches. At a rally in Highland Heights, Kentucky, on October 17, he promised an amazing deal. He claimed the United States lost billions of dollars over the years and that Canada felt emboldened. The crowd cheered when he called former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a loser.
Trump then addressed Prime Minister Mark Carney, noting that he is a nice guy but not nice when it comes to trade. He asserted that the Canadians are learning and suffering. Obama's comments in Ohio serve as a direct counter to these assertions as the election cycle accelerates.
Source: CBC News
