McCollum Statement on the Impact of President Trump’s Disastrous Tariffs on Canada

Mr. Speaker, in the last election, then-candidate Trump ran on lowering costs for American families. He owned the issue on the campaign trail, and he won. I had hoped that he would follow through on his promise to “lower costs on day one.” But instead of working to lower costs, the President has waged an unprompted trade war with Canada that will cost Americans when they heat their homes, feed their families, run their small businesses, or tend to their farm. 

It’s been one week since President Trump imposed twenty-five percent tariffs on Canada. In retaliation, Ontario imposed a twenty-five percent surcharge on electricity exported to Minnesota, Michigan, and New York. This will directly impact Minnesotans’ energy bills. Minnesotans and consumers across this country will feel the impact of Trump’s tariffs at the grocery stores when they buy products like pork, produce, or eggs 

With the uncertainty of Trump’s tariffs, small business owners aren’t able to plan ahead for their businesses. Trump has small business owners on a rollercoaster, trying to predict the extra costs they will pay in this escalating trade war. Last week, my office met with Traci Tapani, a Co-President of Wyoming Machine, a small family-owned sheet metal fabricator in Stacy, MN who relies on Canadian aluminum for their operations. The past few weeks have been filled with uncertainty for their business, not knowing if Trump would roll back or increase the tariffs. And just today, Trump imposed additional tariffs imported aluminum, bringing the total tariffs on Canadian aluminum up to fifty percent. This will force small businesses like Wyoming Machine to adjust their operations once again. Trump isn’t hurting the Canada or Ontario with this trade war. He is hurting small business owners. 

Trump’s tariffs are also hurting farmers across this country who will incur greater costs when purchasing potash, a soil fertilizer often imported from Canada. And by inciting these trade wars, Trump is cutting off essential export markets for our farmers.

Americans know these tariffs are going to hit us hard. Our financial markets are in free fall because Americans fear this trade war will push us into a recession. Dr. John Spry, an economist at the University of St. Thomas, has estimated that as long as the Trump tariffs are in place, Americans will spend one-hundred dollars more on everyday goods each month. In my district, I’m hearing that working families and seniors on fixed incomes need relief from the high cost of living. They can’t afford to add money for tariffs to their already tight monthly budgets. 

Not only are the President’s tariffs hurting my constituents, but he is also damaging our relationship with Canada: an ally, a partner, and for many—a good neighbor. Other than oil and electricity, Canada imports more goods from the United States than we import from Canada. They are our best customer and we should not alienate our best customer. I’m a former social studies teacher. I know that tariffs can be a useful tool. But these tariffs on Canada are unprompted, unnecessary, and make no sense at all. 

As a Minnesotan, the only thing I want to fight with Canadians about is who has the better hockey team and who can catch the most fish in the others’ waters. 

Mr. Speaker, I yield back.