Jason Smith: Canada is choosing politics over people

(From Eighth District Congressman Jason Smith)

Farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers across Southeast and South Central Missouri have spent years on the losing end of a trade relationship that was stacked against us. For far too long, Canada has gotten the benefit of the doubt while our producers and businesses paid the price. 

And our farmers, in particular, have paid the price, as Canada has worked to protect its own domestic industries at our expense. That’s why I’m so supportive of President Trump working to level the playing field and return fairness to our trading relationships.

It’s worth noting how we got here. At the beginning of his administration, President Trump announced his intention to use all trade tools at his disposal, including tariffs, to achieve fair treatment for American businesses abroad. Most of our allies recognized that there were some trade imbalances, and set out to renegotiate. Only two countries retaliated against the U.S. with tariffs: Communist China and Canada.

One action that Canada took hit close to home for Missourians. Nearly every Canadian province blocked American beer, wine, and spirits from store shelves while leaving the door open to everyone else. One white oak barrel producer in Southeast Missouri, which produces whiskey and wine barrels, had to for the first time shut down one of their lines of production because of how dramatically this impacted American producers. Missouri’s dairy farmers are dealing with a similar problem with Canada’s dairy quota system, which favors European imports over ours and squeezes American producers. In response, on July 20, President Trump signed three proclamations imposing 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods in response to Canadian discrimination against American vehicles, alcohol, and dairy.

In an attempt to find a path forward, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and U.S. negotiators attempted to find a solution that would achieve the fair access for American business. They engaged in good faith, but Canada chose to blow up the deal for purely political reasons. How do we know it was political? Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the quiet part out loud, stating, “If I was allowed to, I’d be down there door-knocking [for Democrats].” The Canadians are engaging in shameful political behavior to try to manipulate the outcome of our elections. The American people won’t be fooled, however.

President Trump’s results speak for themselves. Time and time again, President Trump’s trade policies have led to better deals for both ends of the table. Cambodia eliminated tariffs on all American farm products, and in exchange saw its own tariff rate drop from 49 percent to 19 percent. Japan struck a deal that lowered its tariff rate on nearly all of its exports after committing to purchase $8 billion in American agriculture goods. And when we sat down with Taiwan officials, both sides walked away with dramatically lower tariff rates on exports. These aren’t one-sided arrangements. They’re deals that everyone benefits from because both sides negotiated sincerely. Canada also has the opportunity for a new mutually beneficial agreement if its leaders stopped playing politics.


President Trump has been clear: America will be treated fairly in trade, and we won’t let any country take advantage of us any longer. I’ll keep fighting for a fair trade deal. I am hopeful Canada will return to the negotiating table and take a fair deal that recognizes the need of the United States to achieve more fair and balanced trade relationships. Until then, I will keep standing with the farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers across Southeast and South Central Missouri who’ve waited long enough for a fair shake.