Following the collapse of U.S.-Canada trade talks in August, Canada quietly initiated a plan aimed at inflicting maximum political damage on Donald Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the midterm elections. Canadian officials recognized that delivering targeted economic pain to Republican-leaning states and districts might be the only viable means to prompt reconsideration of acceptance of Trump’s trade policies. As the election date approached and rising living costs emerged as voters’ primary concern, this leverage only intensified. Rather than targeting goods with the highest political salience—those likely to draw Trump’s ire and dominate headlines—Canada focused on products capable of generating the most significant economic impact in the United States, particularly construction materials that contribute to higher housing costs. The selected subcategories included plywood, bleached paper, and corrugated board—sectors where domestic U.S. production falls short. Canada’s new tariffs took effect on September 8, with immediate ripple effects across battleground districts in both chambers of Congress. In the final month before the midterms, several Republican candidates notably adjusted their rhetoric, distancing themselves from Trump’s hardline trade stance and calling for an end to the ongoing conflict with Canada.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1881350937252939/
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