Trump moves to lift some tariffs on Canadian goods after Obama rally in Cleveland
The president signaled relief on specific products one day after the former president mocked Canada as an 'evil empire' at a Democratic event.
By Malik Salazar ·
Barack Obama used a rally in Cleveland to mock the current administration's trade stance on Saturday. He pointed at the United States' northern neighbor during his speech for Democratic candidates in Ohio. The former president called Canada a 'well-known evil empire' while addressing the crowd.
Obama continued the joke by listing the country's contributions to American culture. He mentioned maple syrup and actor Martin Short as key exports. He described Canadians as 'friendly neighbours to the north' and questioned why Donald Trump would pick a fight with them.
The former president has been actively campaigning ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. He argued that the new tariffs have raised costs for American consumers. He said these higher prices have hurt Republican prospects in border states like Ohio.
Donald Trump announced his plan to lift tariffs on some Canadian products on Friday. This move came just before Obama's appearance in Cleveland. Trump has previously targeted Canada in his own speeches. At a stop in Highland Heights, Kentucky, on October 17, he said he was working toward a deal that would be amazing.
Trump also commented on Canadian leadership during that same rally. He called former prime minister Justin Trudeau a 'loser' to cheers from the crowd. He then addressed current Prime Minister Mark Carney, calling him a nice guy who becomes less nice during trade negotiations.
Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc spoke on CBC's Power & Politics on Saturday. He said Ottawa does not expect a final deal before the November 3 vote. The two countries have exchanged retaliatory tariffs since Trump launched his levy campaign last year. Officials initially cited fentanyl trafficking and trade imbalances for the measures. Negotiations between the two sides broke down in August.
The trade dispute has become a central theme in the midterm race. Obama's comments on Saturday highlighted the political friction between the two sides. The announcement of tariff cuts on Friday provides a new development in the ongoing negotiations.
