Even Joe Rogan blasted Trump’s tariff war with Canada as ‘stupid’ and ‘ridiculous’ — urges America to ‘become friends’ again with its neighbor, dismisses ‘51st state’ rhetoric. Here’s why

‘Dumbest trade war in history’

At the time of writing, aluminum and steel imported from Canada face 25% tariffs while potash and energy imports face 10%, according to the Conference Board’s live tracker.

Goods covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement are exempt until April 2, which covers about 38% of imports from Canada. On April 3, 25% tariffs will also be imposed on cars imported from Canada.

The Trump administration’s justifications for these tariffs have varied widely, but the president has repeatedly insisted that Canada could avoid the trade war by simply joining the U.S.

“The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.”

Few people on either side of the border support this idea. Angus Reid polled Canadians and found 90% of Canadians would vote “no” to joining the U.S. Meanwhile, 60% of Americans are against the idea, and 32% would only consider it if Canadians are onboard.

The trade war is just as unpopular, with only 28% of Americans in favor of tariffs on Canadian imports, according to a survey by Public First. These economic moves are so unpopular and unjustified that the Wall Street Journal labeled it “The Dumbest Trade War in History”.”

Whether this growing chorus of criticism convinces the Trump administration to dial back trade tensions remains to be seen. For now, consumers and investors must prepare for a volatile economy.

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How to prepare

With plenty of uncertainty on the horizon, it’s probably a good idea to make strategic moves to protect your budget and investments for the foreseeable future.

The stock market has been just as volatile as the administration’s trade policy, prompting some investors to seek a safe haven. The price of gold is up 14.5% over the past six months as more investors add exposure to this hard asset.

Meanwhile, consumer behavior is shifting in response to tariff threats. If tariffs push prices up, nearly half of shoppers say they’ll buy less often.

Another 40% are ready to swap for cheaper brands, and half are open to secondhand or local alternatives, according to a poll by Smarty, a shopping rewards app.

The survey also found that many consumers are adopting a “buy now before prices spike” approach to major purchases, such as cars and home appliances. Moving up big purchases and buying essentials in bulk could be a great way to avoid or minimize the costs of this trade war.

Over the long term, if this economic battle persists you may need to add a margin of safety to your annual household budget. If you assume auto parts, clothes and food will cost roughly 25% more in the future, you can bolster your personal finances even if this trade conflict is resolved and the price hikes don’t materialize.