Pence cautions that U.S.–Canada trade war would hurt American economy

President Donald Trump’s administration activated 50 percent tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian imports, a measure that took effect on Saturday. In retaliation, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the United States will face matching 50 percent tariffs on its exports to Canada beginning on Sept. 8. The rapid escalation follows a week in which trade talks between the Trump administration and Canadian officials stalled, prompting heightened rhetoric from both leaders.

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• Mike Pence — former vice president, participant in the original U.S.–Mexico–Canada trade agreement negotiations.

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• Donald Trump — president of the United States, architect of the new tariffs and proponent of a hard-line stance toward Canada.

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• Mark Carney — Canadian prime minister (as identified in the source), spokesperson for Canada’s reciprocal tariff response.

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• Dana Bash — CNN anchor who hosted Pence on the program “State of the Union.”

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Pence told host Dana Bash that the United States is “getting back on its feet” and that a trade war with Canada would be “the last thing we need” for American families and the broader economy. He urged President Trump to prioritize negotiation over confrontation, recommending a “hard bargain” while preserving free-trade principles. President Trump, in turn, accused Canada of seeking the “benefits of being a State” without actually being one, and has previously floated the idea of annexing Canada. Carney’s response framed the reciprocal tariffs as a direct countermeasure, signaling that Canada will impose its own 50 percent duties on U.S. goods starting Sept. 8.

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• “American businesses and American consumers pay American tariffs, and I think the last thing we need right now, as our economy is getting back on its feet, is a trade war with Canada,” — Mike Pence, former vice president — Mike Pence, former vice president.

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