‘Canadians of all stripes were naturally upset with Trump and have struck back the best way they can — at the American bottom line,’ writes reporter Bob Bruton
I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel bad about the American economy being hurt by the boycott by Canadian tourists.
A U.S. Travel Association report is forecasting a 3.2 per cent decline in international tourism spending in the United States for 2025, a loss of $5.7 billion (USD) compared to the previous year.
This loss is attributed to a decline in the number of Canadian visitors to the United States — since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office in January, used tariffs to start a trade war with Canada and said American should annex Canada, making it the 51st state.
Canadians of all stripes were naturally upset with Trump and have struck back the best way they can — at the American bottom line.
Why should we put tourism dollars in American pockets if they’re taking it from ours in tariffs?
And this isn’t just a tourism boycott. Canadians are staying away, or at least trying to, from American produce, packaged groceries and other goods from south of the border.
Why should we buy American apples since, last time I looked, we grow apples in Ontario?
Trump is trying to ruin the Canadian economy with his tariffs, hurt our international reputation with his annexation talk, to ostensibly prop up the American economy, all at our expense.
When you’re one of the two largest economies on the planet (China?), you can do or at least try that sort of thing.
But for how long when it’s not really working?
Trump has said the Canadian tourism problem would get worked out and there’s still love between the two nations.
But after an anti-tariff commercial from Premier Doug Ford’s Ontario government, which ran during baseball’s World Series, Trump nixed trade talks with Canada, threatening to hit us with even more tariffs.
Who can tell what Trump would have done had Toronto’s Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers for the championship.
Trump has said the tariffs are necessary because Canada exports more to America than we import — a trade deficit, it’s called.
And there’s a travel trade deficit; more Americans are travelling abroad than international tourists are visiting the U.S., which usually enjoys a travel trade surplus.
For 2025, the travel association is forecasting a deficit of $70 billion (USD).
Hand me the Kleenex.
America elected Trump, or at least most voters did. Twice, in fact — the first time being 2017-2021.
An argument can be made that Trump is the worst president in American history just by his mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, costing tens of thousands of American lives.
What could have convinced anyone that Trump would be any better at handling the American economy?
So I don’t feel bad for America, not that Trump cares.
Bob Bruton covers city hall for BarrieToday. He has little patience for shortsighted political leaders, whether it’s here or south of the border.
