TRUMP and CANADA

 So Donald Trump has gone ahead, made good on his promises and imposed tariffs on imports from, amongst other counties, Canada who has retaliated by imposing tariffs of 25% on 155 billion dollars worth of American exports.

 

The Canadian Prime Minister made a noteworthy speech in response noting that these Trump imposed tariffs are a violation of a previously agreed free trade agreement and quoted JFK when he said "geography has made us neighbours, history has made us friends, economics has made us partners and necessity has made us allies".

 

Trump has gone into meltdown on his Truth Social network effectively threatening Canada with a trade war unless it accedes to his demands and agrees to relinquish its sovereignty and become the 51st state of the USA claiming that without American subsidies Canada is not a viable country and should "become our cherished 51st State".

This action by Trump is no way to treat your friends and allies, a nation which sent its young men to fight and die alongside Americans on D Day and if he thinks Canada will roll over and become the 51st state, well he doesn't know the Canadians.

The consequences of a trade war were illuminated by President Ronald Reagan in his radio address to the nation on international free trade of 20th November 1982:

read it here:

 https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/radio-address-nation-international-free-trade

Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat its mistakes.