“Tariffs, Tantrums, and Trade Turmoil: Why America’s Bully Politics Are Breaking North America”

A fiery look at how sweeping U.S. tariffs are unraveling North American trade — and why bully politics are costing us trust, jobs, and stability

 By Simon Poirier

North America doesn’t need another tantrum disguised as policy.-Forget diplomatic finesse — the U.S. just slapped a 35% blanket tariff on Canadian imports with all the nuance of a wrecking ball. Framed as retaliation over alleged fentanyl flows and vague “national security” fears, this escalation is less strategy and more political theater — starring a president obsessed with power optics and tantrum economics.

This isn’t strength. It’s sabotage. While Congress shrugs, supply chains snap and trust collapses.We deserve smarter trade. Not louder threats

But the facts aren’t on President Trump’s side. Let’s break it down:

-Trade Reality: When services are included, the U.S. runs a consistent trade surplus with Canada. In 2024, if energy (oil, gas, and related products) is excluded, the US had a trade surplus with Canada of approximately US$63.2 billion—with a surplus of US$28.3 billion in goods and US$34.9 billion in services

That surplus dipped during recent spats, but the claim that a temporary imbalance jeopardizes national security? Not supported by facts and laughable. Most economists dismiss it as posturing.

-Economic Fallout: Consumers are paying the price. Polls show 66% +of Americans now worry tariffs will hurt their wallets. Canadian consumers and Provinces are boycotting U.S. goods & services.  Supply chains — once tightly knit — are unraveling under pressure.

-Diplomatic Damage: Canada, long a reliable ally, is diversifying trade away from the U.S. Can you blame them? Trust has eroded, and with the 2026 USMCA review looming, North American trade is on thin ice.

This isn’t leadership. It’s brinkmanship wrapped in populist bluster. Trump’s aggressive tariff regime may excite his base, but it alienates allies, destabilizes markets, and undermines the very economic foundation that keeps the continent afloat.

The real question is: how long will sensible Americans tolerate economic sabotage dressed as “strength”? While Congress fiddles, workers, farmers, and small businesses burn.

North America needs partnership, not provocation. The future of this continent depends on leaders who build bridges, not barriers—who get that prosperity is a shared project, not a zero-sum game. Until we ditch the tantrums and commit to real cooperation, workers, farmers, and small businesses will keep paying the price. It’s time to trade the wrecking ball for real leadership—before there’s nothing left to rebuild.

 

Enough is enough. North America and the World deserves smarter trade, not louder threats.

 

SP

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