US President Donald Trump has escalated the country’s trade stand-off with Canada, announcing plans to raise tariffs on a range of Canadian imports to 50 per cent from January 1, 2027. 

US political commentator Robert Reich explains why the move is “absurd”.

Not exactly a war, but a trade war – which will impose huge costs on both American consumers and on Canada.

As I said, Donald Trump is now completely and utterly out of his mind.

The very idea of a trade war with Canada – our neighbour, our ally, our closest friend, a nation that’s peaceful and whose people have a reputation for kindness – is absurd.

But Trump is doing it anyway. He’s imposing a 50 per cent tariff on goods coming from Canada – which, remember, is an import tax paid by you and me.

The tariffs account for US$20 billion ($A33 billion) of the US$382 billion ($A623 billion) worth of products Americans bought from Canada last year and cover a wide array of goods (the full list of more than 500 products can be........

© The New Daily