After Trump declares a trade war, Canadians grapple with a sense of betrayal
After Trump declares a trade war, Canadians grapple with a sense of betrayal
One of the world’s most durable and amicable alliances is broken. Canadians are absorbing U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and his threats to make Canada the 51st state.
Canadians are feeling an undeniable sense of betrayal after Trump declared a trade war against America’s northern neighbor and longtime ally. Trump keeps threatening Canada’s sovereignty and and vowing to put sweeping 25% tariffs on Canadian products, though Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday afternoon the tariffs will be postponed by at least 30 days after he promised more cooperation on the border.
In Canada, discussion and disapproval are everywhere. Canadian hockey fans have even been booing the American national anthem at recent National Hockey League games. Addressing the nation this past weekend, Trudeau channeled the betrayal that many Canadians are feeling, reminding Americans that Canadian troops fought alongside them in Afghanistan and helped respond to myriad crises from wildfires in California to Hurricane Katrina. “We were always there standing with you, grieving with you, the American people,” he said.
The Canadian jitters, some worry, could go beyond the moment. “The damage is going to be long-lasting,” said Robert Bothwell, a professor of Canadian history and international relations at the University of Toronto. “The Americans won’t be trusted anymore. The 51st state stuff is just contemptuous. It treats Canada like we don’t even exist.”
The list of items in the second round of retaliatory tariffs was supposed to go up for public comment for 21 days before it kicked in; the government should go ahead with the comment period while Trump's tariffs are paused so all the tariffs can be implemented immediately if Trump's tariffs get unpaused.
Weird. Thought there'd be no wars under him. 🤔
Me, watching this unfold from South America
Since the comments are turning into a flamewar, thread locked.
America likes Canada.
Canada needs America.
The unfortunate reality is that America has allowed Canada to exist because they work with us on most things and it's a mutually beneficial relationship. Y'all sorta keep an eye on our northern border and we protect you from basically all threats merely by existing nearby you.
Yeah if we had to completely stop getting stuff from Canada that would suck, but we would be fine.
If we stopped trading with you Canada's economy would take decades to fix.
Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Or in this case don't try and enter into a trade war with the nation that basically funds your existence.
I’m pretty sure Canada exists because in two wars the Americans couldn’t take and hold it.
I think you’ll find that Canadians are good friends and fierce enemies. We’d rather go without and rebuild our economy from scratch than lose our sovereignty and country.
I don’t think Canada needs you as much as you think, I think that got really clear this weekend when the entire country organized quickly and Trump backed off.
Must be nice living in that alternate reality you've fabricated in your mind.
America lost 0 wars to Canada (not that any of that matters for this current conversation about the world of 2025). There was a stalemate, but if you wanna count that as a win for Canada you go right ahead man.
I do think Canada could survive if they went cold turkey on American goods and services. It would SUCK for y'all for a while, but I think you could do it. You would probably spend a ton of money and time expanding your exporting capabilities to go more global, but why bother when you can sell to your neighbors with way less effort and overhead?
All you gotta do is keep a better eye on the border. Doesn't seem like a crazy request given the large upsides for your country.
Kansas checking in here just to say fuck you buddy. Go fuck off to some other country where alliances and brotherhood dating back generations don’t mean shit if that’s how you feel.
I’ve worked for a Canadian company in the US, and they were great for our local economy. I work at a big US org now (multi industry including petrochemicals) alongside many Canadians again contributing to the US economy.
Frankly, they have been a more reliable and trustworthy partner than the likes of you who would so instantly harm your brother who had done you only service. I hope you go find some other fucking country to taint with your America harming agenda. I’ll stand with the Canadians and the real American patriots who believe in many of the good things that the US has stood for, while also recognizing we can all always be better.
That's strange, because we just bit you and you seem to have fucked off.
Lmao is that what you think just happened?
Trump told y'all to watch your shit or he would make you regret it. You called his bluff only to find out he wasn't kidding. The second you did find out he wasn't kidding you folded instantly.
I do not understand how y'all think Canada came out on top of that little trade fiasco at all lol
Oh yeah buddy, big win for Trump there. This picture from this post is applicable:
Canada gave up nothing, we just reiterated our commitment to the exact same promises already made before Trump was even in power. The only thing this pointless, unnecessary chest-thumping accomplished was the world found out how quickly the USA betrays even it's closest ally. Trump traded in a lot of international goodwill in order to "win" something already agreed to before his presidency so he could brag about it to credulous people like you.
Whatever happened to being a good neighbor? Canada is not hurting the US. There's no reason to hit them with tariffs in the first place. Having power does not automatically mean using it at everyone else's expense is right.