Obama mocks Canada as 'evil empire' in Ohio trade war jab

Barack Obama ridiculed the idea of a trade conflict with Canada at a campaign event in Cleveland on Saturday, calling the northern neighbor a "well-known evil empire." The former president used the phrase to puncture the gravity of Donald Trump's tariff policy, which has turned a long-standing alliance into a commercial dispute.

Speaking to a crowd supporting Democratic candidates in Ohio, Obama noted that Canada is the source of maple syrup and the comedian Martin Short. He described the Canadians as "the nicest people" and "friendly neighbours to the north," questioning the logic behind picking a fight with them. The comments land as the U.S. midterm elections approach on November 3.

The tariffs have driven up costs for American consumers, a factor weighing on Republican prospects in border states. Trump announced on Friday that he intends to lift tariffs on some Canadian products. Despite this signal, Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Ottawa does not expect a deal to be reached before the vote. He made these remarks on CBC's Power & Politics.

The two nations have exchanged retaliatory tariffs since Trump launched his levy campaign last year. The measures were introduced to address alleged fentanyl trafficking and trade imbalances. Negotiations between the two sides collapsed in August, leaving the trade relationship in a fragile state as both countries prepare for the election cycle.

Trump has also targeted Canada in his own recent speeches. At a rally in Highland Heights, Ky., on October 17, he promised an "amazing" deal. He claimed that the U.S. has lost billions of dollars over the years because Canadian counterparts felt "emboldened." The audience cheered when he labeled former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a "loser."

Trump shifted his focus to Prime Minister Mark Carney during that same event. He called Carney a "nice guy" but noted that he is not nice when it comes to trade. Trump asserted that the Canadians are "learning and suffering," a characterization that underscores the tension between the two political leaders as they campaign for their respective parties.