Some Canadian politicians have been caught flat-footed in responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda.

For a year and a half, Canada’s political leaders have known that Trump’s protectionist trade agenda was on its way.

JAY GOLDBERG: Canadian politicians knew Trump’s tariffs were coming but failed to prepare Back to video

“Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens,” said Trump in his second inaugural address.

Of course, that’s not how tariffs work. Tariffs are taxes on imports, which are paid by residents, not foreign nations. But Trump wasn’t about to let economics get in the way of his protectionist agenda.

Just months later, on April 2, 2025, on what he termed “Liberation Day,” Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries. While he suspended most of those tariffs until the summer of 2025, countries that failed to reach deals with the administration, including Canada, saw increased tariffs take effect.

Although Trump’s tariffs have escalated in recent weeks, the key point is that Canada’s politicians have known about his tariff plans for well over a year. He has made no secret of it.

As a response, Canada’s politicians have talked a........

© Edmonton Sun