Tariff Man Visits Rockaway

Dear Editor:

No matter how much lipstick is applied, tariffs are just another tax on American consumers and businesses. They drive up the prices of imports and domestic products, destabilize the economy, and adversely impact international relations with our closest neighbors and strongest allies.

The administration’s claim that Canada imposes huge tariffs on U.S. dairy products is misleading. Actual tariffs paid are zero, as exports haven’t come close to the quota threshold. Trump approved these terms in 2018 as part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), NAFTA’s replacement. At the time, he called it “the best trade deal ever made,” and Biden left it as is.

Blaming Canada for our fentanyl problem makes no sense as Canada represents less than 1% of the nation’s fentanyl supply, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Besides, they were already cracking down on fentanyl producers prior to the 25% tariff being implemented.

This bad public policy hit home when Tariff Man, disguised as a UPS driver, showed up at my door. He was delivering a specialized foot brace that I had purchased from a small Canadian company. The driver was unable to leave the long-awaited medical device unless I paid $314 for tariffs and brokerage fees on top of the $967 I had already paid. I refused the shipment on principle.

When are we going to demand that elected leaders, both Republican and Democrat, let the legislatures make the laws and stop dictating rules and policies like monarchs?

Rick Horan