cooperation

Thursday April 10, 2025

Trump's aggressive trade policies, particularly against China, create risks and uncertainties in an already fragile global economy.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday April 10, 2025 (Also, Luremburger Wort)

The Risks of Trump’s Trade Policy in Today’s World

Trump's policies have redefined global trade dynamics, prompting allies like Canada to seek new economic opportunities beyond U.S. dependence.

April 5, 2025

In a world already facing challenges from economic recovery and international tensions, President Trump’s trade policies are adding more uncertainty and risk. His recent move to pause tariffs on some countries while sharply increasing them on China highlights a short-sighted strategy that could have long-lasting negative effects.

At a time when people are still recovering from the economic impacts of the pandemic, Trump’s reliance on tariffs to negotiate trade deals often makes everyday goods more expensive for American families. This isn’t just about protecting jobs; it’s about making life harder for those who are already struggling with rising costs.

Markets thrive on stability, but Trump’s unpredictable trade decisions create confusion and insecurity. While there may be some immediate benefits, like temporary stock market boosts, the constant changes can undermine long-term economic growth when the global economy is already on shaky ground.

News: Tracking Trump’s On-Again, Off-Again Tariffs and the Global Trade War

Trump's vision of a manufacturing renaissance risks creating a mirage of prosperity, as low-skilled jobs return amidst automation, isolating the U.S. from global trade benefits.

April 4, 2025

Taking a tough stance on China with such high tariffs might seem strong, but it risks sparking a trade war that can hurt both countries and strain relationships with other trading partners. Instead of leading, the U.S. under Trump’s policies is encouraging other countries to find new partners and solutions that don’t rely on American markets.

Trump’s approach also ignores how interconnected our world is. Trade isn’t a win-lose situation; it’s about cooperation and mutual benefit. By treating it like a competition where only one side can succeed, Trump fosters unnecessary conflict and retaliation, which only harms everyone involved.

In short, Trump’s trade policies are not just misguided—they’re risky for the U.S. and the world. As we face ongoing global challenges, it’s crucial to work collaboratively and focus on building strong, reliable trade relationships. The stakes are too high to keep moving in a direction filled with uncertainty and potential conflict. The global community and American citizens deserve a more stable and cooperative approach.

A humiliating U-Turn for Trump, and he has no clue

It’s been quite the rollercoaster ride with Trump’s trade moves, hasn’t it? The “America First” idea sounded like a bold step, but it’s turned into a chaotic spectacle, wiping out trillions from the global economy and leaving everyone in a state of panic. His sudden U-turn is like watching a reality show where the plot twists are as predictable as they are bewildering.

Trust in Trump? According to his world view, the global trade system—the very one the U.S. has nurtured for decades—has, according to the President, somehow morphed into a corrupt scheme designed to rip off America. It’s like he’s convinced the world is full of scoundrels, with nations just waiting to take advantage of the U.S. His slights against individual countries, like calling Canada nasty or suggesting it and Greenland should be part of the U.S., come across as bizarre and out of touch.

It’s as if he believes that many of these countries owe their existence to the U.S. and its generosity, which just adds another layer to this perplexing narrative. And yet, here we are, not even 100 days into his presidency, and we’re already dealing with the fallout of a spectacular and escalating trade war with China. The consequences could reach far beyond trade, potentially destabilizing things even more.

It’s hard not to feel like we’re all just holding on because of one man’s lunacy, hoping for some stability to return. Fun Fact! As of April 10, 2025, it’s been 3,585 days since Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the presidency on that memorable escalator ride on June 16, 2015. Not a day has gone by without a single moment without Trump. Time flies, doesn’t it?

Check out my making-of animated editorial cartoon for April 10, 2025, below! If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, where I share weekly editorial cartoons every Saturday morning. Substack is a crucial platform for me amidst the uncertainties of being a staff cartoonist, especially given recent layoffs and newspaper closures affecting our field. As long as I hold my position, subscriptions will remain free. Thank you for your support! This “note” helps craft my weekly posts and showcases animated versions of my cartoons. Enjoy!

Trump Tariff Backfire | April 10, 2025:  https://youtu.be/PM8a_nvaDcM

– The Graeme Gallery

Read on Substack

Wednesday May 4, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 4, 2022

Ontario Liberal leader says Ford was campaigning at announcement with Trudeau

September 5, 2020

Days before an anticipated provincial election call in Ontario, Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca is suggesting a joint announcement between Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is more of a campaign stop than an act of governing.

On Monday, Trudeau and Ford shared the podium to announce a joint investment of more than $1 billion in electric vehicle manufacturing in Brampton and Windsor.

However, before the announcement took place, Del Duca suggested Ford’s motives were not genuine.

“I suggest that the Prime Minister is governing but Doug Ford is campaigning. Frankly, Doug Ford has been campaigning for well over a year now, instead of doing the heavy lifting that Ontarians have required him to do,” Del Duca said at an unrelated news conference on Monday.

Thursday October 29, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday October 29, 2015 Justin Trudeau has begun repaying Premier Kathleen Wynne for helping him become prime minister. Upon being sworn in to succeed Prime Minister Stephen Harper next Wednesday, Trudeau will reverse his predecessorÕs attempt to derail the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan. That announcement came after a 30-minute meeting Tuesday at QueenÕs Park between the two leaders. ÒWe made progress on our mutual commitment to build greater retirement security for Ontarians and Canadians,Ó said Zita Astravas, WynneÕs director of media relations. ÒOnce it takes office, the incoming federal government will direct the Canada Revenue Agency and the departments of finance and national revenue to work with Ontario officials on the registration and administration of the . . . ORPP,Ó said Astravas. ÒThis would be the same assistance with pension administration that the federal government has extended in the past to Quebec and Saskatchewan. The ORPP is being designed to integrate with any future CPP enhancement,Ó she said, referring to the Canada Pension Plan. Finance Minister Joe Oliver said in July that Ottawa would not provide administrative support for WynneÕs retirement scheme because the Conservatives felt it would Òtake money from workers and their families, kill jobs and damage the economy.Ó ÒAdministration of the ORPP will be the sole responsibility of the Ontario government, including the collection of contributions and any required information,Ó Oliver, who lost his Eglinton-Lawrence seat on Oct. 19, said at the time. During the campaign, Harper boasted that he was ÒdelightedÓ to hinder the Ontario plan, which launches in 2017. ÒKathleen Wynne is mad that I wonÕt help her do that . . . . YouÕre bloody right. The Conservative government is not going to help bring in that kind of tax hike.Ó Wynne created the Ontario plan after Harper refused to bolster CPP, which pays out a maximum ben

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 29, 2015

Justin Trudeau delivers help for Kathleen Wynne’s Ontario pension plan

Justin Trudeau has begun repaying Premier Kathleen Wynne for helping him become prime minister.

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday October 22, 2015 Justin Trudeau owes Kathleen Wynne after election win Endorse early, endorse often. ThatÕs how Kathleen Wynne turned the old political joke (ÒVote early, vote oftenÓ) on its head. Except she wasnÕt fooling around. Long before Canadians settled on Justin Trudeau, well before any prime ministerial honeymoon, OntarioÕs premier was an early adopter. And an enthusiastic endorser. She showed him political love when he was running last, and showered him with praise when he was pulling ahead. Wynne went out on a limb by placing a big bet on the Liberal leader when few others saw his growth potential. Wynne cheered him on, early on, at a Regent Park rally with a passion that seemed unseemly to critics. And she badmouthed NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair in an un-premier-like way when he was still well-placed to win the election. The investment was not only personal but political Ñ Wynne didnÕt just stick out her own neck, she loaned out much of her provincial electoral machine: The vast majority of campaign managers for federal Liberal candidates emanated from the partyÕs provincial wing. Now, the gamble has paid off. Wynne is the bearer of a monumental IOU. So too are the Ontarians who voted massively for Trudeau at her behest. They are counting on her to collect in full on their behalf, and fully expecting his new government to deliver. How big is that political debt? About $11 billion big, if you count the amount that Ottawa collects annually from Ontario taxpayers for distribution everywhere else through equalization and other social transfers for health and education. But that fiscal imbalance, long an irritant at QueenÕs Park, wonÕt evaporate overnight. Ontarians have swung massively behind the federal Liberals in the past, only to be taken for granted when it came time for Ottawa to give the countryÕs biggest province its due. Former prime minister Jean ChrŽtien won virtua

Upon being sworn in to succeed Prime Minister Stephen Harper next Wednesday, Trudeau will reverse his predecessor’s attempt to derail the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan.

That announcement came after a 30-minute meeting Tuesday at Queen’s Park between the two leaders.

“We made progress on our mutual commitment to build greater retirement security for Ontarians and Canadians,” said Zita Astravas, Wynne’s director of media relations.

“Once it takes office, the incoming federal government will direct the Canada Revenue Agency and the departments of finance and national revenue to work with Ontario officials on the registration and administration of the . . . ORPP,” said Astravas.

Tuesday November 25, 2014“This would be the same assistance with pension administration that the federal government has extended in the past to Quebec and Saskatchewan. The ORPP is being designed to integrate with any future CPP enhancement,” she said, referring to the Canada Pension Plan.

Finance Minister Joe Oliver said in July that Ottawa would not provide administrative support for Wynne’s retirement scheme because the Conservatives felt it would “take money from workers and their families, kill jobs and damage the economy.”

Thursday January 22, 2015“Administration of the ORPP will be the sole responsibility of the Ontario government, including the collection of contributions and any required information,” Oliver, who lost his Eglinton-Lawrence seat on Oct. 19, said at the time.

During the campaign, Harper boasted that he was “delighted” to hinder the Ontario plan, which launches in 2017.

“Kathleen Wynne is mad that I won’t help her do that . . . . You’re bloody right. The Conservative government is not going to help bring in that kind of tax hike.”

Wynne created the Ontario plan after Harper refused to bolster CPP, which pays out a maximum benefit of little more than $12,000 annually.

Trudeau received a hero’s welcome at Queen’s Park as he arrived to thank Wynne for her help in winning power. (Source: Toronto Star)

One play by play of the meeting courtesy of the National Post.

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