Karoline? Are you freakin seriousness?!?!?
The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently declared that Canada imposes “nearly 300%” tariffs on American dairy products like cheese and butter. Technically true? Yes. But let’s be honest, that number is as misleading as calling a Kraft single “real cheese.”
So, grab a bowl of poutine and let’s cut through the cheddar-scented confusion.
The Great Dairy Wall of Canada
It’s true—Canada’s dairy tariffs can reach 298.5% for butter and 245.5% for cheddar cheese if American exporters exceed their designated quotas. That’s the key word: quotas. Under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Canada allows a set amount of U.S. dairy imports to flow in tariff-free—like a VIP section for cheese. But once the U.S. exceeds that amount? Boom. The bouncer (aka the tariff system) steps in.
But here’s the kicker: the U.S. has never actually filled these quotas. That’s right—despite all the noise, we haven’t even maxed out our cheese privileges before the tariffs kick in. It’s like complaining about club entry fees when you never actually show up at the door.
"But the U.S. is Getting Ripped Off!"
Hold your lactose-intolerant horses. The U.S. also has tariff-rate quotas for dairy imports, and in some cases, our own tariffs exceed 100% for over-quota dairy. So, while the White House paints a picture of the U.S. as a helpless dairy damsel, we’re also wielding our own tariff sword.
Think of it as two neighbors both setting up fences. Canada’s fence is just a bit taller, and the U.S. is mad about it—even though we built our own.
This Isn't the Real Trade War
Dairy makes up less than 0.2% of Canada-U.S. trade. Meanwhile, there are much bigger economic battles happening, like auto tariffs that disrupt supply chains or retaliatory measures that could hit $30 billion worth of U.S. goods. In comparison, arguing over cheese tariffs is like fighting over who gets the last mozzarella stick at a billion-dollar buffet.
And let’s not forget: 96% of Canada-U.S. goods trade is tariff-free. So, if you were picturing an all-out war between the two nations over a block of cheddar, rest assured—we’re mostly just quibbling over the fine print.
The Real Verdict?
The White House’s claim is like saying, “Canada charges 300% tax on an extra-large pizza”—without mentioning that the first few slices are free. Sure, the numbers are technically right, but they leave out a lot of context.
So, should Americans be outraged? Only if you were planning on smuggling truckloads of butter across the border. Otherwise, we have bigger trade issues to worry about.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a grilled cheese sandwich.
