Canadian Lawmaker Says Tariffs Are Burdening Americans, Fracturing Trade Relationship

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/28/2026) CHICAGO — An Ontario lawmaker drew applause Tuesday after bluntly challenging the Donald Trump administration’s claims about tariffs and warning that the United States’ relationship with Canada could take years to repair.

“I’m sure that there’s going to be some Americans in here who think I’m a jerk for this,” said Member of Provincial Parliament Dave Smith during a panel at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) conference in Chicago.

“The narrative that your president is putting out is that there is no financial impact on the residents of the United States,” Smith said. “Your data 100% disproves what he is saying.”

The atmosphere was rather dull during the panel, it could be that the crowd was listening and taking it all in. When they opened for questions, the crowd seemed hesitant. It wasn't until Smith walked to the microphone and spoke that everyone started to perk up, eventually leading others to line up behind him.

They were responding to a presentation from Chi Mac, business research director at the JPMorgan Chase Institute, on how tariffs have affected businesses, industries and consumers.

Research from the Harvard Pricing Lab estimates that about 24% of tariff costs have been passed on to consumers through higher prices, Mac said.

Tariffs are initially paid by the American company importing a product, but the cost can ultimately be divided among foreign exporters, domestic businesses and consumers. How much each party absorbs depends on its negotiating power and whether alternative suppliers or products are available, Mac said.

Smith questioned why that impact had not produced greater public opposition in the United States.

“Why is there not a groundswell of opposition from Americans to this?” Smith asked as the room applauded. “Why is there not a groundswell of support for reducing these tariffs? Because clearly, the burden is being put on the average American.”

He also warned that tariffs are damaging the United States’ relationship with its largest trading partners.

Smith said Ontario is the largest trading partner for 17 states. If the Canadian province were its own country, he said, it would rank as the United States’ third-largest trading partner.

“These have had significant impacts on us,” Smith said. “We are making decisions on whether or not we want to continue to trade with the United States and we’re exploring opportunities with other countries.”

“The relationship is fractured and it will take a very long time to fix it,” he added.

Mac said she did not have a clear explanation for why there had not been greater opposition, but called out to legislators in the crowd if they wanted to respond to her.

Rep. Troy Waymaster, a Kansas Republican, said the frustration is evident among farmers and people working in other industries that rely on imported equipment, parts, fertilizer, chemicals and fuel.

Waymaster said tariffs have intensified the financial barriers facing agriculture at a time when commodity prices remain low and the costs of land and machinery are already making it difficult for younger people to enter farming.

A new combine can cost as much as $1 million before adding a header, he said, while tractors can cost between $300,000 and $400,000. One farmer Waymaster knew faced an estimated $70,000 repair to a combine and found it was cheaper to purchase another used machine than obtain the necessary parts.

“When you’re talking about land prices being high, machinery costs being high and then fuel prices being high, your input costs being high, but your commodity price is low, it’s nearly impossible to try to make a profit,” Waymaster said.

Waymaster noted that tariffs have not affected every part of agriculture equally. Cattle producers have benefited from high beef prices, he said, potentially allowing farmers with both livestock and grain operations to offset some losses.

But farmers who rely primarily on crops have fewer options.

“There are people who are frustrated and concerned,” Waymaster said.

New Hampshire Rep. Mike Moffett, a Republican who chairs his chamber’s State-Federal Relations Committee, also responded to Smith’s question, saying concern about the tariffs has crossed party lines in his state.

Moffett said New Hampshire’s Republican-controlled House unanimously approved a resolution calling for an examination of the effectiveness of the Trump administration’s trade policies after lawmakers amended a Democratic proposal criticizing the tariffs.

“There is a lot of angst about this,” Moffett said. “The concerns are out there.”