Tariff TACO

As you know, it was TACO Tuesday again. Less than two hours before his threatened 50% tariff bash on Canada was to take effect, Trump retreated.

As with Iran, he claimed victory, or at least hinted of one. For his part, Mark Carney said only that trade talk progress had happened. Details to come. The next Trumpian drama happens Saturday. Another deadline. This is all so stupid…

Did Carney cave? Dunno.

But the stakes are high. He was elected on an Elbows-Up platform. The provinces (except you-know-who) stood up for Canada and stripped away the US booze. Citizens stood up and stopped going to Vegas, Florida and Maine. Stores stood up and asked us to buy Canadian. We did.

Since Trump came back and began to taunt, insult and inflict damage upon Canada, people here have acted with honour and strength. We’re patriotic but not jingoistic. We don’t dislike Americans and understand the long-standing bond between nations. But poll after poll finds we abhor Trump, disparage this White House and have lost faith in the US government.

The American president could not accept Mark Carney’s speech in Davos saying the time had come for middle powers like Canada to stop being vassals of the big guys – America, China or Russia. Since then Ottawa has been forging new trading relationships, building out our infrastructure and plotting an independent path,

That’s the right one to be on. But it takes time. Meanwhile we are still lashed to the US juggernaut, and the feds have to try and lessen the damage Trump is inflicting.

So did he cave? Put the bourbon back? Sell out the dairy guys? Agree to buy F-35s? Be part of the defence golden dome? And, if concessions were made, did we get some back – like lower tariffs on cars, steel and lumber? Or a commitment to renew the CUSMA deal? Will they give Shania back?

We’ll see. But there’s one thing you can be sure of. Carney will be attacked for whatever the deal is. That will add to Trump’s leverage, just like Danielle Smith’s decision to restock US spirits in Alberta, her refusal to consider fighting back with energy restrictions and her insane referendum in October giving voice and credibility to secessionists who want to join Montana.

Even the dreamers in Quebec have said no vote on that province’s future will be held while Trump is around. These are the days we stand together, not on stage.

Our sovereignty remains under attack, whatever the outcome of last night’s frenzied talks. We said so here on Sunday with the dump-Pete petition. The American president, his party and his administration wants a weaker, divided, economically wounded Canada that can be exploited, perhaps absorbed. We have the critical minerals, the oil, the electricity, the uranium, the forests, the fertilizer and (above all) the rivers, lakes and water that America needs.

That’s leverage. We’ll possess it long after Trump is gone.

About the picture: “Another photogenic visage of SkipTheWonderDog as he channels his ” Patience Is A Virtue ” look whilst giving us the silent begging routine that tends to guilt us into a 1) walk  2) treat  3) soft pat on the head  4) or any number of attention seeking requests,” write Kris and Colleen of Praireland. “Always a reminder that there are more pleasant things to consider rather than the daily deluge of worrisome news. You are welcome to consider Skip for any upcoming banners that may suit your pithy and welcome advice on things financial.

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Source: https://www.greaterfool.ca/2026/08/19/tariff-taco/