To the editor:
The primary rationale for imposing substantial tariffs on goods from other countries is America’s grievance for allegedly being taken advantage of essentially by the rest of the world. This tariff policy is a false pretense for a tax increase on American consumers without calling it a tax increase. We pay for the price increases on tariffed goods.
Take tariffs on our Canadian neighbors for example. How the administration can claim fentanyl from Canada is justification for the policy is a lengthy stretch given that the amount of fentanyl from the north is minuscule, and it is likely more of the drug goes from the U.S. to Canada. Further, and more importantly, given the lengthy border with Canada, Canadians pay billions of dollars for services from American businesses. The trade calculation should reflect services in addition to goods which would show a substantial trade surplus for the U.S.
Mexico has sued numerous American manufacturers and distributors for arming the drug cartels, which run the human trafficking and fentanyl operations on our southern border. The Mexican government can document almost every firearm seized from cartel members as coming from the U.S. It should be obvious that blaming the Mexicans for a criminal enterprise, which is armed by American business, is rather hypocritical. Consider further that if U.S. troops were deployed south of the border, they would be fighting criminals armed with American weapons.
Finally, on the world stage, American grievance is a complete fraud. The U.S. has 5% of the world’s population and consumes 25% of the world’s resources. If that’s not a good deal for us, then what is?
Stephen Menard, Shawano
