OPINION — The hostility of Donald Trump and his administration toward Canada and Europe is a destructive head-scratcher. These are the countries with which the United States has the deepest shared heritage and the broadest shared values.
Pace Trump and pre-Trump, these are also the countries with which the U.S. has had the most productive, freest and fairest economic relationships. There was robust trade in all directions, with average tariffs of less than 3% in all directions. There were trade irritations, but nothing of significant or serious consequence.
Trump is a mercantilist and views trade balances as a scorecard. So, he regards our trade deficits with Canada and Europe as evidence of unfair trade practices. In reality, they are a reflection of the United States being richer and having a more consumerist culture than other developed Western democracies.
