How Trump’s Tariffs Are Impacting Hispanic Support and Canada Trade Ties

A bold tariff move on Canada

President Donald Trump announced a 10 % tariff on Canadian imports, citing retaliation for an anti-tariff advertisement sponsored by Ontario’s government. The ad used excerpts of a 1987 speech from former President Ronald Reagan about free trade — a move that angered Trump and triggered the retaliation.

Although Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are both attending the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia, the president said he had no intention of meeting Carney while there.

The move strains the U.S.–Canada partnership, one of the world’s largest trading relationships, and signals that Trump is willing to escalate trade pressure even with close allies.

Asia trip and the North Korea opening

As Trump departs on a five-day trip to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea — his first visit to the region since taking office this year — he signalled he would be open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

That comment comes as part of a broader strategy that blends trade diplomacy (with China’s Xi Jinping) and security engagement in Asia — showing Trump’s foreign policy remains multifaceted despite the “America First” brand.

Hispanic support for Trump plummets

A new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds Hispanic adults’ favourable view of Trump has dropped from 44 % before his second term began to just 25 % now.

Confidence in his handling of immigration and the economy — once strengths among Hispanic voters — has also fallen sharply. The data comes at a critical time, given how key the Hispanic vote was to Trump’s 2024 victory.

Other headlines to watch

A well-known billionaire donor, anti-tax crusader and friend of Trump was revealed as the anonymous $130 million backer who paid U.S. troops during the shutdown.

Despite Trump’s self-styled image as a “president of peace”, his administration’s intense military posture toward Venezuela is testing that narrative.

Looking ahead

Trump’s tariff escalation with Canada could lead to retaliation and ripple effects in North American trade. His Asia tour and outreach to Kim Jong-un suggest a willingness to reopen old diplomatic doors — but whether that yields substantive progress remains uncertain. Meanwhile, his significant drop in Hispanic support poses a strategic challenge as he consolidates his second term.