Tod Maffin reacts to Canada eliminating most tariffs on American goods starting September 1, citing the 1965 Auto Pact and 1854 Reciprocity Treaty as evidence tariff cuts can spur growth. He warns that corporate pricing, not just tariffs, drives consumer costs, and urges Canadians to buy local while waiting to see results.
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Yeah, I know. Prime Minister announced today that as of September 1st, Canada will drop all tariffs on American goods covered under the Canada-Mexico-US trade agreement, except for aluminum and steel and cars. And yeah, it felt great when we slapped counter-terrors on, and it feels bad when we take them away. But remember, the counter-terrors were a tax on us. Canadian importers paid that extra fee and passed it along to people like you and me. So in theory, The prices should come back down a little, and orange juice won't cost the same as a pint of craft beer in Yaletown. Whenever I feel unmoored by some news, and lately that has been a lot of time, I look back into history to see if we have been here before. And we have. And it worked out just fine for us. Back in 1965, we signed the Auto Pact with the US, killed off tariffs on cars and parts, and boom! Ontario turned into Detroit North. Jobs and factories and pretty much everyone around there was in the industry. Before that, in 1854, we had the Reciprocity Treaty. We dropped tariffs on wheat and timber. Trade doubled. Suddenly Nova Scotia wasn't just exporting fishermen and fiddle players. History shows that when tariffs are dropped in a trade war, Canada often comes out ahead. I am not saying that this was this was the right call. I'm saying that I do not have the information nor the expertise to know whether or not this was the right call. I'm not in the negotiating rooms. I do not have a PhD in economics. The way I treat things like this is the way I treat hemorrhoids. I ask myself, "Am I a colorectal surgeon?" I am not. So I'll listen to the advice of the doctor who has 20 years experience up there. If my dog's vet says she needs medication, I don't ask, "But did you consider what this wellness influencer with a ring light thinks?" At some point, we have to trust the people we've entrusted. That doesn't mean we can't be mad. I'm mad. But I'm willing to see how this plays out before I dust off the pitchfork. And I don't know, maybe this was the wrong call. We won't know that today, or next week, so sure, go to the comments, rail against the good-for-nothing bleeding-heart liberals, get it out of your system, and then, if you're here to help our country, double down on buying Canadian. Look at labels. Support our local farmers. Keep jobs here. All of this sucks. But if history is any guide, we'll be okay. All that said, on September 1st, you'll probably still walk into Loblaws and pay $16 for lettuce, but at least it won't be because of the tariffs. It'll be because Galen Weston Jr. really, really wants a new yacht.
