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A former U.S. ambassador to Canada calls potential tariffs against our country “a bad step.” But he also doesn’t think they’ll ultimately happen.
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Gordon Giffin served as the U.S. ambassador to Canada from 1997 to 2001 under presidents Bill Clinton and (briefly) George W. Bush. In an interview this week on The Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) he was asked for his thoughts on the current U.S. president’s proposed 25-per-cent tariff on Canadian goods, on hold until March 6.
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“I can’t get in Donald Trump’s mind and wouldn’t want to live there, but I seriously doubt that there’ll be any effective tariffs that go into place because there’s a significant impact on the United States of employing those tariffs,” he told host Michael Serapio.
“And hopefully there are some advisers around President Trump that talk to him about whether or not it’s appropriate to use tariffs, whether under the terms of the new USMCA or just based on bilateral relations with Canada, it’s a bad step.”
He added: “If there are issues about immigration, migration, drug flow, the concern that some say — I have no idea whether it’s true — that there are people in the illicit drug business that are now migrating into Canada. If that’s a legitimate concern let’s talk to Canada about it and put away the tariff club.”
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Giffin noted that the U.S. has always had differences with its northern neighbour. “But you work them through and you collaborate and you cooperate and you get to a common understanding of how to proceed. So I think that’s where we’ll end up on the border management question, and I think (Trump) will turn his attention elsewhere.”
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Giffin, who was born in Massachusetts but grew up in Montreal before moving back to America, noted that some sectors of the U.S. and Canadian economies are so closely linked as to make tariffs unworkable.
“Automobile manufacturing is so integrated between the two countries,” he said. “You can’t separate it. You can’t tariff … a carburetor as it crosses the Ambassador Bridge four times. So there’s some silliness to what’s being articulated in Washington.”
Asked about the president’s continued comments about Canada becoming the 51st state, Giffin was equally unequivocal.
“Well, there’s a long list of things that he talks about that we won’t do,” he said. “We won’t take back the Panama Canal. We won’t buy Greenland. We’re not going to occupy the Gaza Strip. And Canada’s not going to become assimilated into the United States.”
He added: “Canada is a long-standing historic, independent, sovereign country. So it’s just not going to happen, and it is disrespectful to Canada, and I think it needs to stop.”
He suggested that Canada is doing a good job of pushing back.
“I think so far that Canada and the Canadian government have done a good job. I think leaders, whether they’re in the opposition or seeking the Liberal leadership, are doing a good job of being resolute in their Canadian perspective. One: sovereign country; don’t tell us what to do. Two: we will cooperate with the United States where it’s in our interest and where it makes sense. We’re not here to somehow be at your beck and call.”
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He added: “And keep in mind … Canada has some important cards in their hand. There are a number of assets on Canada’s side of the ledger that are of value to the United States in our trading relationship. Many of them are natural resources, and the United States has to be cognizant of that.”
Taking the long view, he remarked: “My hope is that this is not something that permeates the relationship for the long run. I do fear that President Trump’s attitude has negatively affected our dynamic in the short run, but I hope and trust that over time the great weight of history of our relationship will resume and we’ll live through it.”
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