In an unusual and bold step, Ontario’s provincial government has stepped into the realm of U.S. politics, aiming to create a rift within the Republican Party over tariff policies. They are aware of the two distinct schools of thought within the GOP: one that champions free trade and another that supports tariffs. By doing so, the Canadians hope to leverage these differences to their advantage amidst ongoing trade disputes with the United States.
This brings us back to the topic of increased tariffs, which I am examining from a political perspective rather than an economic one.
Historically, the Republican Party has been a strong advocate of tariffs. This stance was adopted from the Whig party’s “American System,” championed by Abraham Lincoln. In 1896, the GOP further embraced tariffs under the leadership of William McKinley, who has received praise from President Trump.
Following the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, a series of Republican presidents—Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover—supported tariffs, contrary to my previous column where I mistakenly identified the first two as pro-free trade advocates. It wasn’t until 1952 that the Republican Party experienced a significant shift in its stance on tariffs when President Dwight Eisenhower endorsed free trade. Since then, all Republican presidents and candidates have largely advocated for free trade, with the notable exception of Donald Trump.
