President Donald Trump recently halted Canada-U.S. trade talks due to an ad from Ontario Premier Doug Ford that featured Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. Doug Irwin, an economist and former Reagan staffer, highlighted Reagan’s core beliefs in free trade, emphasizing his opposition to tariffs and belief in economic liberty. In contrast, Trump’s trade policy is characterized by a blend of revenue generation, import restriction, and reciprocity, lacking a singular guiding principle. This inconsistency allows Trump to claim success regardless of the actual outcomes of his tariffs.
