Dear editor,

Donald Trump placed new tariffs on Canada, but the real story isn鈥檛 about trade 鈥� it鈥檚 about how he鈥檚 justifying those tariffs and why it sets a dangerous precedent far beyond Canada鈥檚 borders.

Trump isn鈥檛 using normal trade laws. Instead, he鈥檚 invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) 鈥� a law that gives U.S. presidents sweeping authority during true national emergencies. With it, a president can freeze assets, impose sanctions, block trade, and even override treaties 鈥� all without Congress. The catch? There鈥檚 supposed to be an actual emergency.

But there isn鈥檛 one.

Trump claims Canada鈥檚 fentanyl exports justify these powers. Yet U.S. government data shows that Canada accounts for less than one per cent of the fentanyl entering America. Most comes through Mexico and China. Canada isn鈥檛 the crisis.

So why is Trump using emergency powers for a non-emergency?

Because no one鈥檚 stopping him.

This is bigger than Canada. If Trump can invent an emergency to justify tariffs against an ally, what stops him from:

• Declaring an emergency to punish European competitors?
• Blocking imports from Japan or South Korea for political leverage?
• Using economic emergency powers to target journalists or political opponents, claiming they threaten 鈥渘ational stability鈥�?

This isn鈥檛 just Trump鈥檚 problem 鈥� it鈥檚 a global problem. When the world鈥檚 most powerful economy starts redefining emergencies to suit its political agenda, the whole system unravels. International trade depends on rules, and if America no longer follows them, why should China? Why should Russia?

If the global economy becomes a free-for-all where any leader can declare an 鈥渆mergency鈥� to justify illegal actions, everyone loses 鈥� businesses, governments, and ordinary people alike.

The media treats Trump鈥檚 tariffs as just another trade fight. It鈥檚 not.

It鈥檚 an attack on the very idea that facts, rules, and laws still matter.

The question isn鈥檛 whether tariffs on Canada are good or bad.

The only question that matters is:

What鈥檚 the emergency?

Because if there isn鈥檛 one, then the real emergency is the abuse of power itself 鈥� and it鈥檚 everyone鈥檚 problem.

Ashley Welsh

Comox Valley