Canada finds itself in trade wars with the world’s superpowers — there is no room for error
Strong-armed by Beijing and hectored by U.S. ideologues renegotiating CUSMA, Canadian officials will be disadvantaged — especially now that protections like the WTO or “legally binding treaties” are worthless. There will be no David and Goliath outcome, no principles of reciprocal fairness, no goodwill toward Canada.
Trump tactics like demanding that NATO nations hike military spending to 5 per cent of GDP not only benefit American defence contractors but present an impossible task for Canada as it struggles to support its workers and restructure its economy. That then becomes a rationale for further penalties like closing off U.S. markets, imposing secondary tariffs, and of course playing the Trump card for our resources and Arctic sovereignty.
Stalked by China, estranged from our erstwhile U.S. partner, and an ocean away from European allies, Canada must tread carefully and strategically as it reorganizes relationships and navigates the shoals of the new age. Trump is already promising further kamikaze tariffs if we jointly retaliate with Europe. Beijing will use similar threats if Ottawa moves to protect Canadian sovereignty by countering Chinese espionage, influence, interference, bribery and intimidation operations here.
