Trumps neuer 50-prozentiger Zoll auf kanadische Waren ist eigentlich ein Eingeständnis, dass Handelskriege nicht funktionieren
https://reason.com/2026/07/21/trumps-new-50-tariff-on-canadian-goods-is-actually-an-admission-that-trade-wars-dont-work/
Trumps neuer 50-prozentiger Zoll auf kanadische Waren ist eigentlich ein Eingeständnis, dass Handelskriege nicht funktionieren
https://reason.com/2026/07/21/trumps-new-50-tariff-on-canadian-goods-is-actually-an-admission-that-trade-wars-dont-work/
6 Kommentare
„It turns out that pissing off the people who live in a neighboring country—a country that’s full of customers for American businesses—is a shortsighted strategy for economic growth.“
That’s a nicely elegant line.
>In a [series of posts on Monday](https://x.com/USTradeRep/status/2079323968364859888), the USTR highlighted how Canada has purchased less alcohol and fewer cars from the U.S. in recent years. This is taken to be evidence of „discrimination“ against American commerce, thus triggering the tariffs.
When I saw this argument I was struck with the question: would it continue to be discrimination if the Provincial liquor boards halted their refusal to purchase American product, but purchased *very little* as a response to catastrophically diminished consumer interest in American products? My bet is yes, they would call it discrimination and demand that the liquor boards effectively *subsidize* American product by over supplying it to Canadians.
>The Trump administration promised that its more bellicose approach to trade would pay dividends for American businesses, but now it is pointing to declining overseas sales as justification for an *even more bellicose approach to trade.*
*I believe* that Trump and his supporters *genuinely believe in American exceptionalism* and so did not consider diminished international demand for American product to be a meaningful concern. If anything, they probably thought that there was unmet demand for *superior* American products, and that repatriating production into their country would allow them to experience a windfall when satisfying that demand.
They *clearly* did not anticipate that there would be a determined effort by their trading partners to seek new trade relationships.
No doubt when the next Democratic President is elected they will make Canada their first stop on the apology tour for the damage Trump has done.
Trunp absolutely does not believe in American Exceptionalism. He’s a pathological narcissist, he wholeheartedly believes in his exceptionalism.
If his beliefs tie into Americanism, it’s only in the context that he now sits in what,he views as the most powerful position on the planet.
Seems like it’s my patriotic duty as a proud Canadian to drink more beer and play more hockey. Damn you Trump, damn you & your tariff madn…*hick*…ess.
Name me one business where actively antagonizing your customers is an effective long-term strategy.
You can get away with being shit to your customers if you’ve got a monopoly or participate in an oligopoly (as Canadians are keenly aware) but if people can get the same shit from one of your competitors, they will. If they can cut back, they will.
Doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out.