In between backing an indefensibly cruel immigration policy that’s caused a literal humanitarian crisis, and stoking the flames of potential trade wars with China and the EU, deflated Oompa Loompa scrotum, Donald Trump, has also found time to accuse Canada of large-scale sneaker smuggling.
Speaking at the National Federation of Independent Business on Tuesday, Trump proved once again that he has absolutely no idea how anything works, alleging “that America’s northern neighbors sneak shoes across the border to avoid tariffs,” according to Bloomberg.
“The tariffs to get common items back into Canada are so high that they have to smuggle them in,” he said, “They buy shoes and they wear them. They scuff them up.”
Of course, Canadians do shop in the US, and bring the items they buy back home with them, but so does everyone who travels anywhere. And, as Quartz points out, “Canadians coming into the US and shopping at American businesses is good for the US,” because, you know, the economy and all that.
The footwear industry fired right back at Trump’s unfounded allegation. “The president is ‘misinformed’ and Canadians have no real reason to smuggle in shoes because their government is already helping lower their costs through trade deals,” Matt Priest, president of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, told Bloomberg in an emailed statement.
“On behalf of the American footwear industry, we welcome anyone from anywhere to come and purchase shoes in America,” Priest continued. “We don’t care where they wear them, and if they get scuffed up all the better so we can sell them more.”
