Obama Mocks Canadian Tariffs in Ohio

Barack Obama labeled Canada an "evil empire" on Saturday to mock the current administration's trade strategy.

Speaking at a rally in Cleveland, Ohio, the former president addressed a crowd supporting local Democratic candidates. He noted that the current president is waging a major trade war against a close ally. "The big trade war he's starting now is with that well-known evil empire: Canada," Obama said.

Obama described the northern neighbor as friendly and cited specific cultural contributions. He pointed to maple syrup and comedian Martin Short as evidence of the relationship. "These are the people who gave us maple syrup and Martin Short," he said. He added that they are the nicest people and questioned the logic of picking a fight with them.

The former president argued that the tariffs have produced the expected negative results. He stated that American consumers are currently paying higher prices. These increased costs have created a political headwind for Republicans, especially in states that border Canada.

Donald Trump announced on Friday that he intends to remove tariffs on specific Canadian goods. This decision came after a series of retaliatory measures began last year. The initial levies were justified by claims of fentanyl trafficking and trade imbalances. Negotiations between the two governments collapsed in August.

Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's trade minister, appeared on CBC's Power & Politics to discuss the situation. He said Ottawa does not anticipate a final agreement before the November 3 midterm elections.

Trump has previously targeted Canada in his own speeches. In Highland Heights, Kentucky, on October 17, he promised a future deal would be amazing. He claimed the U.S. has lost billions of dollars to Canada for years. The crowd cheered when he called former prime minister Justin Trudeau a loser. He then addressed current prime minister Mark Carney, noting that he is a nice person but tough on trade.

Obama continued his campaign schedule in Ohio on Sunday. The midterm election is scheduled for November 3.