Another Trump Trade Tantrum
Seven years ago, I spent a month holed up in a cramped campaign office with two other writers. The three of us served as the first-pen speechwriting team for then-Premier Kathleen Wynne during her final political campaign. That’s where I was when news came in that Donald Trump was instituting 25% tariffs against Canada’s steel industry and 10% tariffs against our aluminum sector.
The Premier’s schedule for the next day was scrapped. She would instead be heading to Stelco in Hamilton to defend Ontario’s steel-making industry. I had just half an hour to pull together draft “back pocket” remarks — brief, bulleted speaking notes — for her to deliver once she got there.
By this point in her career, the premier would only read her back pocket remarks as part of her briefing package. Once she got to the podium, she would ditch whatever we had written and speak off the cuff. She was always smart, prepared, and eloquent. And on that day, she was much tougher than the remarks I prepared for her.
With Trump-instigated tariffs back in the news, I thought I’d take a look back at that rushed first draft. They are a reminder that we’ve survived Trump’s tantrums before and will do so again. Here they are as written:
You know, this is the second time I’ve visited Hamilton this week and that’s because this place and its people are so important to our success as a province.
There are long-standing industries here in Hamilton, like steel and aluminum, that have been the backbone of the local economy for decades. Generations of hardworking families have built those industries into success stories that have helped drive our entire province forward. And even those who haven’t worked directly in these sectors have benefited greatly from their strength and growth.
But all of that is now at risk.
The economic progress being delivered by Ontario’s steel and aluminum businesses and workers is under attack.
Yesterday the Trump administration signalled its decision to lift the exemption on trade tariffs for Canadian streel and aluminum. That reckless decision came into effect at midnight last night.
With 70 per cent of Canada’s steel production capacity in Ontario, these actions are a direct attack on families across this province and right here in Hamilton. And they are the mark of a bully who has turned his back on a mutually beneficial Canadian-American relationship with no regard for who gets left behind.
Throughout the ongoing NAFTA talks, we have stood up for Ontario’s steel and aluminum workers and fought for every single job.
I have spent much of my time as Premier building strong cross-border relationships to help protect our workers and businesses from increasing American protectionism. Over the last year, I’ve worked with 37 U.S. Governors to bolster jobs, trade and cooperation between our economies. I’ve also met with Members of the House of Representatives as well as the Senate.
In every one of those conversations we have driven home the importance of our economic partnership with the United States. And stood up for the hardworking people in our own country who make that partnership possible. Despite all of this, Donald Trump has taken short-sighted, bullying action that will destroy jobs and put families at risk on both sides of the border.
Today, I’m reiterating my call to our federal government to deliver a swift and sharp response to the Trump administration’s ridiculous actions.
First, we’re asking Ottawa to prepare the toughest set of retaliatory measures possible to defend our workers and businesses. Second, we’re asking Ottawa to join with Ontario in putting together a package to protect, support and sustain steel-making jobs in Ontario until these ridiculous and unwarranted trade actions are repealed.
I’m also calling on Doug Ford and Andrea Horwath to join me in putting on a united front in calling for both of these actions. I know it would require Doug to move beyond his admiration of Donald Trump in order to fight for Ontario jobs and the people who depend on them. And I know it would require Andrea to abandon her rigid, ideological opposition to trade negotiations that benefit business alongside workers. But I hope they can see just how important this fight, these jobs, these families, are to the success of our province.
Because that’s precisely what the job of Premier requires.
Under my leadership, Ontario will never be Mr. Trump’s doormat. I will continue to fight every day to get Ontario workers and businesses their fair share.
Our vision for Ontario, as I have said so many times, is about fairness and opportunity. And that’s exactly what this fight against these tariffs, and our work towards a better NAFTA deal, are all about. It’s why we will create a package to protect, support and sustain the steel-making jobs in Ontario until these ridiculous and unwarranted trade actions are repealed. And it’s why we will push back against Mr. Trump and any bully that threatens the success of our businesses and the security of our workers.
Everyone here on the Liberal team in Hamilton, and around the province, will continue to stand up for Ontario’s workers. Because Ontario Liberals know that better never stops and we will never stop fighting for the people of this province.
The May 2018 tariffs were eventually removed in May 2019 as part of the updated trilateral trade agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the US. Despite his complaints today, Trump praised the deal at the time, crowing that he got a better deal for Americans than had been the case under NAFTA.
The tariffs he used to get that deal did little to increase US steel and aluminum production in the US while also spiking the cost of these materials for US manufacturers. Then, like now, he hurt workers and businesses on both sides of the border. It would seem the only thing his dealmaking achieves is keeping him in the news.
It remains to be seen how this latest round of tariffs will play out or how long they will last. One thing I do know for sure, though, is that much like during the last Trump trade tantrum, Canadians will always be ready to stand up to a bully powered by our deep love for and pride in our country.
Perhaps Lester Pearson said it best:
“I believe in my country. I honour its past and have faith in its future. I reject the views of those men of little faith and mean spirit who, by their pessimism about our future, diminish our present and betray our past. No country in the world is more envied, and with such good reason, as Canada. No country has a greater destiny ahead of it if we wish to make it so. Other countries would be very happy if they had not only the reality of our present but the promise of our future.”
Theresa has served as the Communications Coordinator for the Ontario Liberal Party, the Director of Communications to Ontario Deputy Premier Deb Matthews, and an election speechwriter for former Premier Kathleen Wynne. She owns a communications company operating out of Toronto.
