‘Last person’ to rely on

Dear Editor:

RE: ‘Get with the program,’ Dec. 12.

Regarding president-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats, Arlene Callaghan states “Trudeau and the Liberal party managed Trump’s agenda in 2018 and, using that experience, will stand in good stead to protect our national interests now.” Really?

In 2018, as in 2024, Trump said he was bringing in tariffs for a specific reason. He warned the Trudeau government as far back as 2017 that he had an issue with Chinese steel and aluminum being dumped into Canada at cheap prices and then shipped south to the U.S. as Canadian product. 

After the tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum were put into place the Trudeau government, not wanting to offend their friends in Beijing, responded by putting in counter tariffs on American products such as bourbon and ketchup.

It wasn’t until May 2019 that both countries lifted their tariffs after an official joint statement from both governments made it clear that the issue was resolved by Canada agreeing to deal with China’s dumping of steel and aluminum products.

Trump has legitimate reasons to be concerned about the border, as illegal crossings from Canada to the U.S. have increased by 82% over two years, and 87% of terror suspects caught trying to enter the U.S. cross at the Canadian border.

Trudeau’s response this time appears to be to insult Trump and those who voted for him, as he has done on at least two recent occasions. He likely did this to try to boost his low poll numbers, knowing Trump’s unpopularity in Canada. 

Trudeau is the last person I would rely on to protect our national interests.

Henry Brunsveld,
Puslinch