Mocking Canada, Trump Singles Out Shoppers Who Cross The Border

Buffalo and Niagara Falls may welcome Canadian shoppers — there are websites and advertising campaigns devoted to the practice — but President Donald Trump isn't taking a booster-ish stand on the matter. Tuesday he added shoe smuggling to his trash talk against our Neighbor To The North.

“The tariffs to get common items back into Canada are so high that they have to smuggle them in," the president said in remarks to the National Federation of Independent Businesses. "They buy shoes, then they wear them. They scuff them up. They make them sound old or look old so they can get them past border guards.”

This latest escalation in the trade war is all the media's fault. The commander-in-chief was apparently referring to an opinion piece in the New York Post by a Canadian staffer who was skeptical that her countrymen would boycott American goods, citing her family and friends' habits.

An American footwear trade association took exception to the president's remarks.

“On behalf of the American footwear industry, we welcome anyone from anywhere to come and purchase shoes in America. It helps both our brands and retailers grow. Period. We don’t care where they wear them, and if they get scuffed up all the better so we can sell them more,” said FDRA President and CEO Matt Priest in a statement. He continued:

The President seems misinformed about footwear trade. Consumers buying shoes in America already pay a very high tariff, upwards of 37.5% and 67.5%. NAFTA is not treating footwear consumers in America unfairly, the American government itself has not lowered footwear duties in a meaningful way in over 80 years. If the President is concerned about treating American footwear companies and consumers fairly, then he should have signed the TPP to lower footwear costs in America. Canada signed the TPP and will eventually get duty free shoes from Vietnam, a major sourcing hub, where American brands will ship directly into Canada duty free. Canadian’s have no real reason to “smuggle” their shoes because their government is already helping lower their costs through proper trade deals.

If you want to see Canadians in action, shopping for shoes, the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls are ostensibly full of them. Or you can go to any of the businesses listed on the "Welcome Canadians" page on Buffalo&Niagara.

Reaction on social media was, of course, swift.

President Donald Trump has called Canada “brutal,” accused Canada’s PM of being “weak,” and taken aim at Canada’s supply management system. Now, he's accusing Canadians of shoe-smuggling. Report, from @ddale8: https://t.co/bWQM64NkBV
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) June 19, 2018

“When Canada sends their people they don’t send us their best. They are passive aggressive, shoe smuggling, maple syrup addicts. And some, I assume, are good people.” https://t.co/HCaNoyjSMG
— Jackie (@Jackstar009) June 20, 2018

What's getting lost in all this immigration/child detention uproar is that Canadians are getting away with shoe smuggling. They go stateside and buy gas, hotel and meals to save $3 on shoes. IT HAS TO STOP! #northborderwallnow pic.twitter.com/8YFUzrXTZW
— Greg Johnson (@TornadoGreg) June 20, 2018

Something terrible is afoot. We must stop the scourge of Canadian shoe smuggling. Stamp it out. Give it the boot. Bring it to heel once and for all.
— Chris Flockton (@ChrisFlockton) June 19, 2018

The message to ALL people outside of America is this: The USA is CLOSED!!! Closed to immigrants, Closed for business, Closed for free trade ;Closed to tourism.We get the message #canada I don't want to get arrested at the border for shoe smuggling as DT has accused us
— Darlene (@evadar53) June 20, 2018

The Fashion Police have detained many Canadian children in tent cities in border towns while their parents await trial for shoe smuggling. The humanity! #trumpshoes https://t.co/PR2if19KeP

— Carlene Rummery (@CarleneRummery) June 19, 2018

Canadian shoe smuggling route . pic.twitter.com/eIcrGJLlqO