ACCORDING TO LIZ - Trump’s tariffs have now dunked the United States economy in some very hot water. The irascible president, thinking his relentlessness grants him unstoppable power to control the world, has met his immovable object.
And it’s the Canadian border, where people live who look and sound similar to Americans, who are longtime allies and friends and economic partners, not demonizable dark-skinned foreign-speaking non-Christians on the far side of the globe.
After decades of free trade, the United States is now in an escalating trade war with its northern neighbor with no clear end in sight.
Putting ordinary Americans at risk for further inflation, the scourge he blamed on Biden and promised to rein in and reverse in his desperate scramble to return to the White House, Trump continues to inflict severe pain on many of his own constituents.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney understands that the Trump administration could and “would put a series of tariffs on its closest allies and use economic integration as a weapon.”
That any offers were signaled with a “signature was written in pencil.”
In his speech to the people of Canada on Saturday, Carney explained, “we believed, earlier this week, that we were moving toward a mutually beneficial agreement, in recent days, the U.S. proposed new terms that were uneconomic, unfair, and undermined the net benefits to Canada, calling into question the reliability of any deal.
“In short, they asked too much and offered too little.”
He wants to build “Canada strong,” not be the 51st state beholden to the U.S. at the expense of Canadian interests and identity.
Trump is too overextended elsewhere to mount any sort of military might along a 5,525-mile border with $2 billion worth of goods and 330,000 people crossing it every day.
When asked whether the U.S. and Canada were locked in a trade war, Carney responded: "You're at war when you're attacked – we got attacked."
In fact, he and Canada were economically blind-sided by the duplicity of the American negotiating team.
Carney came to power with a call for “elbows up” – a hockey term for an aggressive approach, vowing to fight for Canadian sovereignty.
The economic pain imposed by Trump on those living north of the border has hardened a choice by Canadians to fight for their way of life while the suffering of Americans, floundering in the consequences of their president’s overweening pride, is prolonged.
Over half of Canadians in a recent survey want the federal government to take a hard line and make no more concessions.
Despite a drawdown since Trump hit office and directed his draconian commerce war weaponry at the world, the United States and Canada sold each other $880 billion worth of goods and services in 2025.
Before the current brouhaha, Canada depended on the United States to buy more than 70% of its exports.
On July 1, Trump let the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) free trade agreement expire; he would not extend it without significant changes, disproportionately favoring the United States.
On August 22, Trump tariffs of 50% took effect on between $20 and $28 billion of goods coming from Canada, even on those that are fully USMCA-compliant.
Carney’s response to the president’s first salvo will be retaliatory, matching tariffs on U.S. imports dollar for dollar, kicking in on September 8.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the move was reluctant as such tariffs will “raise costs and reduce choice for Canadians.” Reluctance as well because many American companies and states and their residents are still friends to Canada, innocent bystanders in Trump’s trade wars.
Canadian opinion has continued to harden against the American presidency.
At Davos on January 26, Carney laid forth on the rupture and decay of Pax Americana, and called on countries to band together against the superpowers, pointing out that “if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
Ontario premier Doug Ford, whose province’s industries will be severely impacted by the new tariffs, wrote Carney that any agreement under duress from the American Goliath would “embolden the United States to seek concession after concession.”
Canadians avoiding travel to the United States this past year has cost California and other states $2.35 billion in travel and tourism.
Provincial bans on American-made booze drove a drop of 78% in wine imports and over 70% in distilled liquor, quickly becoming a thorn in the paw of the Trump administration.
As always, the devil was in the details with the American trade team’s clarifications twisting what had been verbally agreed to favor Trump’s petty frustrations on paper.
Ultimately, Carney and Canada embraced the slogan of a previous Republican president’s wife: when pressured to cave to something that is wrong for you, “Just Say No.”
Now that Carney has drawn a line in the sand – at least it’s not a wall… yet, clarifying that trade deals are negotiable but directing other countries on how they operate with in their own borders or interact with other nations is not, the eyes of the world will be riveted on what comes next.
The tariff crisis is not of Canada’s making.
Early in his speed to Canadians on Saturday, Carney pointed out:
“We cannot control the storm blowing in from Washington.
“We can chart a new course by building Canada strong at home and diversifying our trading relationships abroad.
“We are masters in our own home and the partner of choice abroad.
“For over a year, Canada has worked intensively and in good faith with the United States to negotiate a new comprehensive trade deal.
“We have been pragmatic, patient, and persistent. We have pursued every opportunity to reach an agreement that protects Canadian workers and their families, that strengthens our economy, and that respects Canadian sovereignty.”
Trump is and had done none of these.
So draw the line Carney must.
Canada will remain the true north, strong and free. With its people standing guard against incursions from the dictator down south.
(Liz Amsden is a former Angeleno now living in Vermont and a regular CityWatch contributor. She writes on issues she’s passionate about, including social justice, government accountability, and community empowerment. Liz brings a sharp, activist voice to her commentary and continues to engage with Los Angeles civic affairs from afar. She can be reached at [email protected].)
