Andrew Coyne: Hard line? Soft line? There may be no way of dealing with Trump that works
In his op-ed, Andrew Coyne compares negotiating with Donald Trump to dealing with an irrational ogre, arguing that neither appeasement nor confrontation works. He defends Prime Minister Mark Carney’s mixed approach—both retaliatory tariffs and concessions—by noting there’s no consistent or effective strategy when Trump’s demands are incoherent and unreliable. Coyne challenges critics to offer a viable alternative, pointing out the contradictions in their calls for both toughness and restraint. He argues that Trump values tariffs not for economic logic but because they keep him at the center of attention. Ultimately, Coyne concludes that Trump is not a negotiator to be reasoned with, only a threat to be managed until his influence fades.
