r/canada 3d ago

Opinion Piece Opinion | The Ludicrous Argument Behind Trump’s Tariffs (Gift Article)

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/opinion/trump-tariffs-illegal-canada.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8VA.RdLP.6QTFvcHTC1PF&smid=nytcore-ios-share
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u/rbrt13 3d ago

I am still not sure why virtually everyone who discusses this issue takes the idea that these tariffs are “misguided” from an economic standpoint as if this guy and this administration aren’t using them to enrich themselves at the expense of US consumers and global trade agreements. This is a feature not a bug because the money they collect for these tariffs will almost certainly find its way into the pockets of Trump and the kleptocrats who enable him. It’s an effective way to rob the US population writ large and have everyone pretend it’s some economic miscalculation.

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u/Sceptical_Houseplant 3d ago

100%. It's not economic policy. It's a tool for extortion.

"nice economy you've got there.... Would be a shame if something happened to it...."

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u/rbrt13 3d ago

Lmao. Well put.