US President Donald Trump has said Canadians were smuggling shoes from the US into Canada due to massive tariffs but according to experts this statement is incredibly misleading. He emphasized any products made in North America, with the exception of a few, are not subject to any tariffs at all when being brought over the border. In the case where the item purchased was not manufactured in North America, not declaring the purchase stems more frequently from uncertainty about what needs to be declared and a reluctance to go through the hassle of doing so at the border.
Matt Priest, president of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America stated that the president is misinformed and Canadians have no real reason to smuggle in shoes because their government is already helping lower their costs through trade deals. Tensions with Canada and other trade partners have surged as Trump seeks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement while imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, prompting retaliatory levie.
The comments were made while addressing the National Federation of Business in Washington. This comment marks the latest in a long line of insults aimed at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and at Canada in general.
