In a recent episode of In Conversation with David Frum, hosted by The Hub’s Sean Speer, David Frum offered a sharp critique of the Trump administration’s trade tariffs, its treatment of allies, and the broader implications for America’s role in the world.
The conversation, which took place in the wake of the imposition of 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports by the Trump administration, delved into the economic, political, and geopolitical consequences of these actions.
Here are three key takeaways from the discussion:
– Trump’s strategy is a “predatory” zero-sum game
– Canada should respond to the U.S. tariffs in kind, to send a message
– America is stepping back from engaging with the world
A predatory approach to trade with no strategic vision
Frum characterized President Trump’s decision to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports as a “predatory” act driven by a primitive understanding of economics. Frum argued that Trump views trade as a zero-sum game, where one country’s gain must come at another’s expense. “Trump thinks like a primitive tribesman,” Frum said. “His idea of how you get rich is you go to the next village, you burn down all the huts, and you take their stuff.”
Frum dismissed the notion that these tariffs are part of a larger strategic plan, emphasizing that they are an end in themselves. He warned that the tariffs would trigger a cycle of retaliation, making it difficult for cooler heads to de-escalate the situation. The tariffs, Frum argued, are not just an economic policy but a symbolic act of hostility toward Canada, a country with which the U.S. has historically enjoyed a close and mutually beneficial relationship. “This is the most dramatic way of saying that the United States is going to be an economic island,” Frum said.
Frum also highlighted the broader implications of Trump’s trade policies, noting that they have already damaged U.S. agricultural exports, particularly soybeans, which have lost their dominant position in global markets to Brazil.
Canada should strike back—hard
In response to the tariffs, Frum advocated for a “maximalist” response from Canada, despite the potential economic pain it would cause. He argued that the only way to counter Trump’s aggressive trade policies is to deliver a rapid and forceful shock that disrupts the cycle of enablement surrounding the president. “The first step is giving [Trump] a shock back,” Frum said, “So he is stunned into stopping his rampage.”
Frum acknowledged that retaliatory tariffs would hurt Canada as well, but he argued that the short-term pain would be worth it if it forced the U.S. to reconsider its approach. He compared the situation to a “bucket of cold water over your head contest,” where Canada, despite being at a disadvantage, must take decisive action to jolt the U.S. into recognizing the seriousness of the situation and that it would cause permanent harm to the Canada-U.S. relationship.
Frum also criticized the broader political climate in the U.S., where many Republicans and Democrats have failed to stand up to Trump’s policies. He noted that while many Republican leaders privately oppose Trump’s actions, they remain publicly silent, enabling his behaviour. Frum warned that the failure of lawmakers to take a stand would have long-term consequences for both the U.S. and its allies.
The decline of an American empire
Frum argued that Trump’s policies represent a fundamental shift away from the post-Second World War vision of American primacy, which was based on global cooperation, security alliances, and free trade. Instead, Trump has embraced a transactional and predatory approach to foreign policy, treating allies as adversaries and undermining the very institutions that have sustained American power for decades.
Frum drew a historical parallel to the decline of past empires, such as the Habsburgs in Spain, the Kaiser’s Germany, and the Soviet Union, which were ultimately brought down by their own “obnoxious behaviour.” He warned that the U.S. risks a similar fate if it continues to alienate its allies and act as a predatory power.
“The United States has been different because it always had this intuition [that] the way you prevent people from combining against you is by offering them such a good deal that they would be crazy to unite against you,” Frum said. “What Trump is doing is reconceiving the United States as a predatory power, like China or Russia.”
Frum expressed particular concern about the impact of Trump’s policies on U.S. alliances, including the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing arrangement with Canada. He noted that many allies now view the U.S. as a potential threat rather than a partner, a shift that could have profound implications for global security and stability.
“The whole structure of North American continental air and space defence could come under dissolution,” Frum warned. “People see the Americans as actively dangerous.”
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