Harrop: Trump has no sense of damage from tariff threats
By Froma Harrop / Creators.com
Never mind how Donald Trump’s threatened trade war ultimately pans out. Though a 25 percent border tax would hurt the economies of Canada and Mexico more, Americans would also feel the ill-effects. But America is already suffering. Start with the shame of menacing and sliming our good neighbors with lies.
Even if it’s part of a twisted game of negotiation — Trump has already put off the war with Mexico and Canada by a month — the economic damage is lasting. (Trump’s game is to jump on some small concession to declare victory.) Meanwhile, Made-in-Trump’s-USA is becoming a toxic label.
Canadians recently booed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a hockey game in Ottawa. Something tells us they don’t want to become the 51st state.
Now Canada and Mexico could retaliate against American exports, starting with steel, pork and bourbon. They would focus on economic interests in Trump country, a reflection of their understanding that much of America shares their mystification, if not horror, at this sadistic show.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/harrop-trump-has-no-sense-of-damage-from-tariff-threats/