Canadians drop their politeness after Trump's tariffs
President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods are eroding the inherent politeness of Americans’ northern neighbors and rallying them around their own flag.
TORONTO — President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods, coming on the heels of his taunting threats to make the country the 51st U.S. state, are eroding the inherent politeness of Americans’ northern neighbors and rallying them around their own flag.
Canadians are removing American liquor and California wines from their store shelves. They’re pulling back on future visits to the U.S. They’re pushing “Buy Canadian” to counter higher costs and spite Trump. And they are uncharacteristically brandishing unvarnished anger over what they see as a betrayal of a longtime friend.
“I will never visit America again,” Angela Qin, a university student told NBC News as she exited an ice rink in downtown Toronto. “You don’t stab the back of your friend.”
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Trump announced 25% tariffs this week on most Canadian imports. His decision a couple of days later to exempt from tariffs about 38% of Canadian goods that comply with the North American trade deal negotiated during his first term sparked more confusion and did little to tamp down contempt for him across the country. His suggestion on Friday that he might hit Canada with new tariffs on lumber and dairy products only fueled the fury.
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