Fetterman on Trump tariffs: We don't have to 'punch' allies 'in the mouth'

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said he disagrees with President Trump’s approach to tariffs on Canada and Mexico, calling it a blow to the U.S.'s working relationship with its allies.

“Truthfully, I don't understand why President Trump is picking all of these kinds of tariffs with our allies. I mean, I — Canada's never going to become our 52nd state and — or 51st, 51st. And I don't support these kinds of things because we have these incredible allies,” Fetterman said during a Tuesday appearance on MSNBC’s “The 11th Hour with Stephanie Rule.”

“And there might be issues like fentanyl or some of those, but that doesn't mean we have to punch them in the mouth, because that's not making America great,” he added.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has sought to impose tariffs on imports from bordering nations, citing the flow of fentanyl between the countries as a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which the administration said grants them the governing authority to impose tariffs without approval from Congress.

“I think that's creating some instability. And now, you now have witnessing some of the markets start to wobble. And now, we have enough enemies in the world,” Fetterman told Rhule.

The stock market dropped by 890 points on Monday as investors worry about the future outcome of massive change to economic policies. Despite angst, Trump said the adjustments on trade relationships will be worth it in the long run.

“You know, I think we should be really squadding up with, with our kinds of allies like Canada or Mexico,” Fetterman added.

Trump temporarily paused the 25 percent blanket tariffs on imports in February and last week hit the two countries with levies on goods, causing an influx of retaliatory sanctions, some of which were then dropped after conversations with foreign counterparts.

“Like I said, we can have disagreements but we don't have to again punch — you know, our allies in the mouth because I don't think that's projecting strength. I think that's projecting chaos or instability. And the markets don't like that,” Fetterman said.

“The American business community, they want — they want stability, you know? No one will vote for chaos,” he added.

Trump on Tuesday also said his administration would increase planned steel and aluminum tariffs against Canada in response to an electricity surcharge the Ontario government imposed in the latest escalation of a growing trade war.

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