Larsen Releases Statement on Collapse of U.S.-Canada Talks to Prevent Trump’s Pointless New Tariffs

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: "These new tariffs aren't leverage over Canada. They're yet another way that the Trump administration is raising your prices and sabotaging the American economy. “Across over a hundred meetings and conversations with people I represent in Northwest Washington, I heard how a stable economic relationship with Canada and Mexico is critical to keeping local businesses afloat, lowering prices and creating good-paying jobs. The U.S. must renegotiate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) and end these pointless, reckless tariffs. “It's not complicated: trade good, tariffs bad. I will keep fighting to end these tariffs, bring down costs and make the U.S.-Canada relationship boring again.” At midnight, new 50% tariffs on many Canadian goods went into effect after trade talks between the U.S. and Canada collapsed late last night. The 50% tariffs include goods that had previously been protected from import taxes by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA). Larsen Fights Against Trump’s Tariffs; Advocates for USMCA Last month , Rep. Larsen sent a report to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer urging the continuation of USMCA. The report summarizes over a hundred meetings and conversations that Rep. Larsen’s office has had with farmers, businesses, municipalities, ports and other stakeholders across Northwest Washington over the past year. Rep. Larsen is a leader in opposing the Trump administration’s tariffs and a member of the New Democrat Coalition Trade and Tariffs Task Force. Last month, the Task Force sent a letter to Ambassador Greer calling on him to renew and strengthen USMCA. Rep. Larsen is also the top Democrat on the U.S.-Canada Interparliamentary Group , an organization that connects American and Canadian legislators to promote information sharing and better understanding on shared issues of concern. Born and raised in Arlington, Washington, Rep. Larsen has a deep personal history with British Columbia and the U.S.-Canada relationship. ###