Trump's tariff playbook

August 23, 2026

Key points from this story:

• Trump uses rolling tariff threats
• Threats often rescinded or delayed
• Psychological warfare against others
• Trade deal outcomes remain uncertain
• Canada relies on US export market
• US regulatory changes raise safety concerns

Trump does the same trick with his rolling barrage of tariff threats both real and imaginary. One day it's 'Do as I want or I'll impose 50 per cent tariffs'. The next the threat is on hold leaving you with hope. It's psychological warfare by Trump, and while the man is deeply flawed he has the mind set to threaten and bully with ease.

Of course if a new trade deal is hammered out between Canada and the United States what will it mean. Sadly, as long as the erratic Trump is in office - and you don't need to be too great a conspiracy theorist to fear he will entrench himself in the White House past the end of the current term no matter the vote or the laws in the US - deals don't seem worth the paper he signs his name too. Trump changes his mind on things based on whims and tantrums and it seems highly unlikely a trade deal will be safe from the mood swings. What Trump wants one day, is lost as he veers off on a new tangent the next, and uncertainty and upheaval lie in his wake.

And, of course depending on the details of any trade deal done, and those could take weeks if not longer to come fully to light, one wonders what it may actually mean for Canadians. Of course, we covet freer access to the huge US market because we easily produce more of everything than we can domestically consume, so we must export. That's good for Canadian business and frankly good for American consumers in terms of competition holding prices in check. That would seem to be reciprocal in terms of being good for Canadian consumers.

However, one might want to slap a caveat of warning on the positive side for Canadian consumers. The current Trump administration has been making significant changes to how systems work in the United States and that includes areas of good science, inspection services and even worker regulations. From afar it has taken on a bit of a 'wild west' feel, where businesses are operating with fewer checks and balances, and that seems to be having food safety issues with recalls on the upswing. Is that a situation where Canadian consumers will feel safe if greater access to this market is part of a trade deal - a most likely scenario?

We need a deal with the US, but whether one that is anything but a mirage can happen with Trump in office seems sadly unlikely.