Tariff Fever 2: Electric Screw-You-Too!

It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it...and I feel fine

R.E.M. - It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)

I woke up this morning, at the end of our long Labour Day Weekend (yes, with a 'u'). I did some laundry, awaited information on a new class and then made the mistake of listening to CBC Radio (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, for those of you who care). It is apparent to us all that the war continues, since my prime minister has decided to carry out a threat that could have been avoided: he has put forward counter tariffs to the threat that we have already faced from...him. No, I will not make a point of mentioning his name. Not many Canadians want to even think about his presence. We simply want this to be over.

But, as I stated earlier, we all love a war:

I went into this with a lot of ego and love of country in my sails. Now, I feel like I am just standing at the gates of an amusement park that has seen better days. I can remember all of the rides I once enjoyed. I can remember all of the things I tasted, saw, felt and even smelled. But that was then... We have to face our memories of what once was and no one likes having to deal with the aftermath.

From the Government of Canada web site:

As a result of the U.S.'s decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on $27.6 billion of Canadian goods effective August 22, 2026, the Prime Minister announced that Canada will match the incoming U.S. Section 338 tariffs – dollar for dollar.

These new countermeasures on $27.6 billion in products imported from the U.S. will be effective as of 12:01 a.m., September 8, 2026. 

The new targeted counter tariffs are concentrated in sectors such as steel and aluminum, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, plastics, and electronics. In certain sectors, such as steel and aluminum, existing counter-tariffs will increase from 25 per cent to 50 per cent to match U.S. rates.

Other existing counter-tariffs, including against U.S. autos, will also continue to apply.

Government of Canada

And I read the list...again, this time from our side of the border. It seems like the list is far more comprehensive and wide-ranging here, so much more that I cannot write out the entire list here (the page above has thirteen separate tabs and begins with milk and cream products, and ends with fishing gear).

So, how do I feel this time, another governmental pissing contest that we did not start, but certainly need to finish?

Life will go on.

Listen, it is not the first time that this country has faced difficult economic times, whether due to a weak dollar, stubborn unemployment rates, inflation, or loss of sectors of the business community that have now gone overseas. And it is definitely not the first time that we have faced an American leader who thought that he could push us around and get away with it.

From the moment this country was founded, and even earlier, there was a fear that the Americans would eventually push north after they manifested their destiny in every other direction. Our first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, was warned to not get any funny ideas about invading during the American Civil War, something that tickled him and his government (he had a nation to unite in a few years). And as someone once said, yes, you could take Canada...but could you keep it? There are ties beyond economies that bind us and we should be able to look past the stupidities emanating from the Oval Office (or Mar-A-Lago?) and realize this.

But we are not quite there yet.

Already, we have learned that Sapporo is moving their beer production south, and that our beloved Bombardier is now be threatened with a black out from the US government (watch those private jet parts, folks). And it will go on.

As will Canada...

Stay tuned.

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You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.

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