Biggest US trading allies brace for a ‘game of chicken’ with Trump’s tariffs
GuardianJAN 21
Trump Temporarily Pausing Tariffs on Canada
Above: US Pres. Donald Trump at the White House on Jan. 30, 2025. Image copyright: Chen Mengtong/Contributor/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Mexico and Canada's rapid backing down in these negotiations shows that Trump's hawkish use of tariffs in foreign policy is already working. The president has managed to better protect US citizens from the flow of illegal immigration and fentanyl across the US border with just mild instability caused to the markets. The US is strong again.
Democratic narrative
Trump's volatile approach to economic diplomacy has earned the US little that wasn't already promised or was being done by Canada and Mexico. Trudeau's border plan was previously announced in December, but after realizing he'd spooked the markets and was going to hurt the US economy, Trump backed down while lying about a great victory.