Remember we are imposing the tariffs on an emergency basis because of fentanyl crossing the border. Even though everyone, even our mastermind president can't even play along with his own rouse; saying things like he wants manufacturing to move to the US or Canada becoming state 51 to avoid tariffs. There are no more rules anymore.
Tru dat. When Canada gloriously becomes the 51st, hell, maybe even 52nd state, there will be no fentanyl smuggling, or any other smuggling, across the border. Because no border. Genius!
The legal justification is the story about the border. From an explainer article:
> Part of the reason Trump could impose the tariffs so quickly is because the White House is invoking a sweeping national security law to justify the new levies.
> Until now, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, IEEPA, had been used mainly to impose emergency sanctions on foreign dictators or suspected terrorist groups.
> But the Trump administration argues that the illicit global fentanyl trade and immigrants at the Mexican border both qualify as "unusual and extraordinary" foreign threats to American national security, justifying Trump's use of emergency powers under IEEPA.
I'm not canadian, but my understanding is that this is beyond just the tariff. It is in addition of the general attitude and (lack of) diplomacy from the US government towards Canada for the past few weeks.
White House Press Secretary said the quiet part loud when she announced that Canada can stop this tariff business by agreeing to become the 51st state.
Which would most likely lead to blue Congress and Executive, which is why they will first play shenanigans to ensure no more elections like we have known them.
This is an important part of the article: "Canada accounted for only 1% of the company's total sales, Whiting said, so the company can withstand the hit."
If you're going to play the trade war game for equal damages then neither side should play. Trade wars should be about disproportionate damage until the other side quits.
On a percentage basis, it's merely a finite response to an infinite action. That doesn't seem unfair to me.
Don't expect your enemy to play by your rules when you're the one who made them an enemy.