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Trump’s Tariffs Against Canada: A Canadian Perspective
I still remember the moment when Trump’s administration announced tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel. It felt like a slap in the face. Canada and the U.S. have one of the closest trade relationships in the world, a partnership built over decades, surviving economic downturns, political shifts, and even the occasional trade dispute. But this wasn’t just another dispute — it was an outright attack on a trusted ally.
The justification? National security. That’s what made it even more insulting. Trump framed these tariffs as a matter of protecting American industry from foreign threats. But let’s be clear: Canada isn’t some adversarial foreign power looking to undercut the U.S. economy. We’ve fought alongside Americans in wars, collaborated in intelligence-sharing, and built an economic partnership that benefits both sides. So when the Trump administration imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian steel and a 10% tariff on aluminum, it wasn’t just bad policy — it was an unnecessary provocation.
The Economic Blow
For Canada, the tariffs were economically painful. The Canadian steel and aluminum industries are deeply integrated with American supply chains. Factories across Ontario, Quebec, and the Prairies don’t just produce for domestic consumption; they supply American manufacturers, car companies…
