Trade Policy: Obama Calls Canada 'Evil Empire' as Trump Prepares Tariff Cuts

Former President Barack Obama opened his Saturday evening address in Cleveland by citing a $100 billion figure to mock the current administration's trade strategy. He told the crowd that the major trade war President Donald Trump is waging is against the "well-known evil empire: Canada." The jab landed in the middle of a campaign stop for Ohio Democratic candidates ahead of the November midterms.

The former president spent several minutes describing the United States' northern neighbor. He referred to Canadians as "our friendly neighbours to the north" and questioned why the current administration would pick a fight with them. Obama added that these are the people who gave the U.S. maple syrup and Martin Short, calling them "the nicest people."

The timing of the speech coincided with a shift in federal policy. On Friday, Trump announced that he intends to lift tariffs on some Canadian products. This move comes as higher consumer costs from previous levies weigh on Republican prospects, especially in border states. Obama argued that the tariffs have had the negative effect many predicted, with American shoppers bearing the brunt of the rising prices.

Ottawa remains cautious despite the signal from the White House. Dominic LeBlanc, the Canada-U.S. trade minister, told CBC's Power & Politics on Saturday that the government does not expect a final deal before the November 3 vote. The two nations have exchanged retaliatory tariffs since Trump launched his levy campaign last year. Those measures were initially justified by claims of fentanyl trafficking and trade imbalances. Trade talks between the two sides broke down in August.

Trump has also made Canada a frequent target in his own recent speeches. Speaking in Highland Heights, Ky., on October 17, he claimed that at some point the U.S. would make a deal that would be amazing. He said the country has lost billions of dollars for years and that Canadians felt "emboldened." The audience cheered when he called former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a "loser." He then addressed Prime Minister Mark Carney, noting that Carney is a nice guy but not nice when it comes to trade. Trump concluded that the Canadians are learning and they are suffering.

The tariff dispute has become a central theme in the U.S. midterm race. Obama used the Ohio rally to connect the trade policy directly to the cost of living for voters. His comments follow a week of intense activity on the trade front, with both political parties using the border issue to define their platforms for the upcoming election.