Canadians don’t trust Trump: Vern’s view from the road

By Vern Thompson

vern.thompson.nd7@gmail.com

Our trucking business has me driving almost daily from gas plants in western North Dakota's oil patch to Canada. I haul natural gas liquids (NGLs) products we used to see flared off at oil well sites. You remember seeing the satellite images that looked like candles on a birthday cake? Images lit up brighter than a city. 

In my travels, I talk with and listen to workers from different areas of the United States and Canada. In both western North Dakota and the areas I travel in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, workers are pro-oil and support Donald Trump. People living in the southern parts of those provinces feel closer to events in the U.S. than to their government in Ottawa, because they follow our U.S. news. 

Many Canadians around me preferred Trump to their own prime minister until President Trump began discussing tariffs against our closest ally, neighbor and important trading partner. That happened on his first day in office, January 21, when he announced a 25% tariff would go into effect on February 1 on all imports coming in from Canada. Trump's announcement sounded idiotic to our friends to the north. After all, it was Donald Trump who negotiated the current trade agreement (USMCA) with Canada, Mexico and the United States in 2018. 

Another reason Mr. Trump gave for tariffs on Canadian imports was because he said Canada was a big player in the fentanyl trade. Trump was quoted as saying that the fentanyl coming through Canada is massive.

Fact check: According to the U.S. Customs on Border Protection, in fiscal 2024, the fentanyl identified as coming from Canada into the U.S. amounted to 43 pounds — not quite 2%. The report showed 99.80% of the fentanyl U.S. officials recovered was linked to either Mexico, the United States, or had unknown origins. 

Canadians shook their heads in disbelief when President Trump claimed he was going to reduce tariffs from 25% to 10% because Canada caved in to him and would increase their border security. As one of my Canadian friends said: "Your President is lying to the American people. Canada didn't cave in. Our Prime Minister announced a $1.3 billion border security plan in December." 

For over a month, while crossing the border into Canada and returning to North Dakota, customs officials did not know what the tariff fees were on any given day. Both sides of the border told me that President Trump kept changing his mind. One day there was a 25% tariff; the next, it was delayed. Then it was 10%, then USMCA treaty items were exempted. One customs official told me they were getting 15 to 20 emails a day with updates and changes. Another day I asked a border official if there had been any new clarifications.

"Yes,” he responded. ”But the information we are getting is as clear as mud!"

Imagine the impact of the Trump tariff war on the normal flow of commerce. In 2024, North Dakota exported $3.9 billion in goods to Canada — 70% of the state's total goods exports. Imports from Canada into North Dakota amounted to $2.8 billion in 2024. "You guys are going to be sorry Trump started this trade war,” one of my Canadian friends said to me. “Canadians are nice, but when you piss us off, we will fight back."

Those were strong words for me to hear. Shortly after that, American products were removed from their shelves. My Canadian friends get upset every time President Trump mentions wanting to make Canada the 51st state. As one of them said to me,"Your democracy is in crisis! Why would we want to be a part of that?!" I am grateful to have made friends at my workplace across the border. They are "Canada nice," but they no longer think America can be depended upon.

"We love the American people,” one of my buddies said. “We just don't trust Trump."

Another one told me it's pretty bad when your president treats Putin with more respect than he treats us. It is safe to say that the overwhelming majority of the Canadian friends that I work with no longer support Donald Trump.

The cities of Minot, Grand Forks, Fargo and Bismarck will see less foot traffic in their stores from Canadian friends for the near future. North Dakota farmers have lost a dependable trade partner. Businesses who buy quality equipment and supplies from Canada will pay more through no fault of their own. A trade war with Canada will negatively affect consumers on both sides of the border. It’s not the way to treat our friends and neighbors.