US President Donald Trump pulled out of trade talks with Canada due to a TV ad from Ontario’s government that quoted former US President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. But did the ad get it wrong? Let’s examine the facts.
Reagan did criticize tariffs in a 1987 radio address, but he didn’t love them like Trump does. In fact, Reagan argued that high tariffs lead to retaliation and trade wars, harming American workers and consumers. He also used tariffs to protect industries like Harley-Davidson and encouraged Japanese automakers to set up factories in the US.
Trump’s use of tariffs is different from Reagan’s. While Reagan imposed tariffs to address issues with Japan, Trump has slapped double-digit tariffs on almost every country, targeting specific products like autos and steel. The average effective US tariff rate has risen to 18%, highest since 1934.
The Canadian ad wasn’t entirely wrong about Reagan’s views on tariffs. However, it lacked context, showing Reagan speaking out against high tariffs that harm American workers. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation criticized the ad, saying it misrepresented Reagan’s views.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/trump-canada-ad-tariff-reagan-trade-talks-f711559b0084b377d82d964893c67c78