Math teacher Jake Johnson says new tariffs on Canada don’t add up

Last night, the President signed orders to impose 50% tariffs on many Canadian goods, and Canadian leaders are already threatening to retaliate "tariff for tariff, dollar for dollar." In response, Jake Johnson criticized the decision and called out Congress for refusing to fulfill its constitutional responsibility to set tariffs. 

“It’s basic math: a 50% tax on goods from our biggest trading partner will mean higher prices for us," said Jake Johnson. “I’m tired of dumb policies from Washington that keep making life more expensive for my family, from groceries to clothes for my four boys. And farmers across southern Minnesota have told me at roundtable after roundtable that these tariffs are a bad deal for them, raising input costs and eviscerating export markets. It’s way past time for Brad Finstad and Congress to actually do their job and set tariff policy like the Constitution says they should.” 

Southern Minnesota will be caught directly in this crossfire. Canada is Minnesota's largest trading partner, buying $5.6 billion in Minnesota goods last year, which is nearly a quarter of everything our state exports. In particular, Minnesota's first congressional district is the ninth most agriculturally productive district in the country. When Canada retaliates, southern Minnesota farmers lose their markets and southern Minnesota families pay more every day.

But unfortunately, Brad Finstad has repeatedly voted for tariffs that are costing the average household over $1,700 per year.

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