Obama Teases Canada as 'Evil Empire' at Ohio Rally

Former U.S. President Barack Obama told a crowd in Cleveland on Saturday that the current administration is waging a trade war with a "well-known evil empire" named Canada. He made the remark while campaigning for Democratic candidates in Ohio ahead of the midterm elections.

Obama used the joke to highlight the unusual nature of the conflict with a long-time ally. He noted that Canadians provided the U.S. with maple syrup and the comedian Martin Short. He described the neighbors to the north as the nicest people and questioned why President Donald Trump would pick a fight with them.

The former president argued that the tariffs have produced the negative results many experts predicted. He stated that American consumers are bearing the brunt of rising costs. Those higher prices have weighed on Republican prospects in border states.

On Friday, Trump announced plans to lift tariffs on some Canadian products. This move comes as the two countries continue to trade retaliatory tariffs. The measures were originally designed to address alleged fentanyl trafficking and trade imbalances. Trade talks between the two sides broke down in August.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc told CBC's Power & Politics that Ottawa does not expect a final deal before the Nov. 3 vote. The uncertainty remains despite the recent signal from the White House.

Trump has also targeted Canada during his own campaign stops. At a rally in Highland Heights, Kentucky, on Oct. 17, he said the U.S. would eventually make an amazing deal. He claimed that for years the U.S. lost billions of dollars while Canada felt emboldened.

The crowd at the Kentucky event cheered when Trump called former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a loser. He then addressed Trudeau's successor, Mark Carney, saying he is a nice guy but not nice when it comes to trade. Trump concluded that the Canadians are learning and suffering.