[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 18, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E220-E221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IMPACT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DISASTEROUS TARIFFS ON CANADA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 2025

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, in the last election, then-candidate Trump 
ran on lowering costs for American families. He owned the issue on the 
campaign trail, and he won. I had hoped that he would follow through on 
his promise to ``lower costs on day one.'' But instead of working to 
lower costs, the President has waged an unprompted trade war with 
Canada that will cost Americans when they heat their homes, feed their 
families, run their small businesses, or tend to their farm.
  It's been one week since President Trump imposed twenty-five percent 
tariffs on Canada. In retaliation, Ontario imposed a twenty-five 
percent surcharge on electricity exported to Minnesota, Michigan, and 
New York. This will directly impact Minnesotans' energy bills. 
Minnesotans and consumers across this country will feel the impact of 
Trump's tariffs at the grocery stores when they buy products like pork, 
produce, or eggs.
  With the uncertainty of Trump's tariffs, small business owners aren't 
able to plan ahead for their businesses. Trump has small business 
owners on a rollercoaster, trying to predict the extra costs they will 
pay in this escalating trade war. Last week, my office met with Traci 
Tapani, a Co-President of Wyoming Machine, a small family-owned sheet 
metal fabricator in Stacy, MN who relies on Canadian aluminum for their 
operations. The past few weeks have been filled with uncertainty for 
their business, not knowing if Trump would roll back or increase the 
tariffs. And just today, Trump imposed additional tariffs imported 
aluminum, bringing the total tariffs on Canadian aluminum up to fifty 
percent. This will force small businesses like Wyoming Machine to 
adjust their operations once again. Trump isn't hurting Canada or 
Ontario with this trade war He is hurting small business owners.
  Trump's tariffs are also hurting farmers across this country who will 
incur greater costs when purchasing potash, a soil fertilizer often 
imported from Canada. And by inciting these trade wars, Trump is 
cutting off essential export markets for our farmers.
  Americans know these tariffs are going to hit us hard. Our financial 
markets are in free fall because Americans fear this trade war will 
push us into a recession. Dr. John Spry, an economist at the University 
of St Thomas, has estimated that as long as the Trump tariffs are in 
place, Americans will spend one-hundred dollars more on everyday goods 
each month. In my district, I'm hearing that working families and 
seniors on fixed incomes need relief from the high cost of living. They 
can't afford to add money for tariffs to their already tight monthly 
budgets.

[[Page E221]]

  Not only are the President's tariffs hurting my constituents, but he 
is also damaging our relationship with Canada: an ally, a partner, and 
for many--a good neighbor. Other than oil and electricity, Canada 
imports more goods from the United States than we import from Canada. 
They are our best customer, and we should not alienate our best 
customer. I'm a former social studies teacher. I know that tariffs can 
be a useful tool. But these tariffs on Canada are unprompted, 
unnecessary, and make no sense at all.
  As a Minnesotan, the only thing I want to fight with Canadians about 
is who has the better hockey team and who can catch the most fish in 
the others' waters.

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