Following the imposition of sweeping tariffs over the weekend, President Trump also went on social media to claim that Canada is only viable through U.S. subsidies, and that country should become the 51st state in order to get lower tax rates.
Jon Parmenter, a professor of North American history at Cornell University, says these collective actions have needlessly harmed a long-cherished and close relationship.
Parmenter says: “Few American citizens realize the extent to which these actions, and the tough talk accompanying them, have affected Canadians’ perceptions of their southern neighbor.
“A great deal of good will between these two nations has been lost even before the tariffs began, not only because of what they represent, but also because of how the Trump administration chose to conduct itself in their implementation. Canadians feel disrespected (receiving more punitive tariffs than those assigned to China), dishonored, and disregarded.
“They may be prepared to undergo a trade war for much longer than the Trump administration has anticipated. Whatever happens, we are witnessing the opening of a sad chapter in the history of what has otherwise been a productive and mutually beneficial partnership between the two nations created by the American Revolution.”
For interviews contact Adam Allington: cell (231) 620-7180, adam.allington@cornell.edu.
