Pence warns Canada trade war could hurt Americans

Former Vice President Mike Pence warned that escalating U.S.-Canada tariffs could put additional pressure on American consumers and businesses, urging President Donald Trump to return to negotiations rather than deepen the trade conflict.

Pence Warns Canada Tariffs Could Hurt Americans On Sunday, Pence made the comments during an appearance on CNN’s "State of the Union" as trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada intensified. "American businesses and American consumers pay American tariffs," the former vice president said.

He added, "I think the last thing we need right now, as our economy is getting back on its feet, is a trade war with Canada." Pence, who said he was involved in negotiations over the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, acknowledged Trump’s aggressive negotiating approach. "I know that the tough line President Trump draws, it usually is accompanied with short-term action and hot rhetoric," he said.

Pence Urges Trump to Avoid Trade War Pence said Canada was responding with similar rhetoric but urged both sides to focus on reaching a deal. "My hope is for the sake of American families and for the sake of the American economy that what we’re looking at here is negotiation and not confrontation in a trade war," Pence said.

Mike Pence Warns Trade War with Canada Could Damage American Economy | The Hill pic.twitter.com/XI5vg7RxfA — Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) August 24, 2026 Read Also: Sean Duffy Calls Canada’s Trade War With Trump ‘Foolish,’ Says Carney Will ‘Come To The Table’ Amid 50% Tariffs Trump-Canada Tariff Fight Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts and steel to 50% on Jan.

1, 2027, after U.S.-Canada trade talks collapsed.

The threat pressured General Motors (NYSE: GM ), Ford Motor (NYSE: F ) and Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA ) shares while boosting U.S. steelmakers such as Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE: CLF ), Nucor Corp. (NYSE: NUE ) and Steel Dynamics Inc. (NASDAQ: STLD ).

Trump said companies could avoid the tariffs by moving production to the U.S.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded by pledging dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs starting Sept.

8 on U.S. goods including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper and electronics.

Carney said Washington’s final demands were excessive, saying, "They asked too much and offered too little." Anthony Scaramucci predicted Trump would reach a deal with Canada within the "next two weeks," arguing political pressure ahead of the midterm elections could push Trump to back down.

Trump Weighed China Tariff Trump is also considering a 7.5% tariff on Chinese imports over concerns about China’s excess industrial capacity and growing exports.

The move was being weighed alongside efforts to preserve the U.S.-China trade truce and Trump’s planned meeting with President Xi Jinping.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published editors.

Read Also: US-Canada Trade Talks Collapse Just Before Deadline, Trump’s 50% Tariffs Take Effect Photo Courtesy: Gino Santa Maria on Shutterstock.com