How is Canada readying its arsenal for a trade war with the US?
The United States' northern neighbor is wasting no time when it comes to Donald Trump's tariffs and the looming threat of a North American trade war


Perhaps contrary to its national reputation of equanimity, Canada is matching President Donald Trump's bellicosity about tariffs with a steely resolve. The actions "by the White House split us apart instead of bringing us together," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a Saturday speech. The country has wasted little time readying retaliatory measures against the Trump administration's planned tariffs.
In a fitting metaphor for the United States' standing with Canada, the typically jocular hockey rivalry between the two nations took on a sharper edge as Canadian fans drowned out the U.S. national anthem with a chorus of boos at recent games against American teams. But arena-echoing jeers aren't Canada's only response to the Trump administration's trade war, initially set to go into effect this week but delayed a month after last-minute negotiations.
What did the commentators say?
Canada plans on "moving forward with 25% tariffs on $155 billion worth of goods in response to the unjustified and unreasonable tariffs imposed by the United States on Canadian goods," its government said. The retaliatory tariffs will apply to "American products like orange juice, peanut butter, wine, spirits, beer, coffee, appliance, apparel, footwear, motorcycles, cosmetics and pulp and paper," said the CBC — goods that Canada would ordinarily import from the U.S. "for which there is a replacement" from other countries, said Finance and Intergovernmental affairs minister Dominic LeBlanc. Trudeau has also encouraged shoppers to focus on buying Canadian products, "effectively urging a boycott of U.S. goods," said The Associated Press.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Canadian government is "not ruling out other retaliatory measures," Politico said, including "targeting Elon Musk's companies, or slapping export taxes on Canadian oil." Already, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has pledged to end his province's contract with Musk's StarLink internet provider, drawing a line in the sand for American companies "hellbent on destroying our economy" as part of Trump's leadership team. "Trump is the only person to be blamed," said Ford to ABC News. "Maybe Elon Musk can call his buddy?"
What next?
Canadians "appear to have misunderstood the plain language of the executive order," said White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett on CNBC. Instead, Canada is mistakenly "interpreting it as a trade war" rather than accepting Trump's claim that the tariffs are intended to stop undocumented immigration and drug trafficking, said Hassett. To that end, the agreement negotiated to delay Trump's tariffs by a month included on the Canadian side "measures that were already being enacted under its $1.3 billion border plan," The New York Times said, as well as the creation of a "joint strike force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering."
With the immediate threat delayed for now by at least a month, Canadian provincial lawmakers have nevertheless been "united and resolute" in the face of the tariff threat, with each "crafting individual retaliation measures that will continue to unfold in the days ahead," said TD Bank in its analysis of the ongoing showdown. Given Canada's "Twisted Sister" declaration that "we're not gonna take it," TD Bank's analysts said, "brace for a further escalation."
"I won't sugarcoat it," said Prime Minister Trudeau in an address. "Our nation could be facing difficult times in the coming days and weeks." Although Canada prefers to "solve our disputes with diplomacy," Trudeau added, the country is "ready to fight when necessary."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
How will the new tax deductions on auto loans work?
the explainer Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a tax deduction on auto loan interest — but eligibility for the tax break is limited
-
Is Trump actually going to prosecute Obama for 'treason'?
Today's Big Question Or is this just a distraction from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal?
-
5 best movie sequels of all time
The Week Recommends The second time is only sometimes as good as the first
-
'Spending is what card issuers are hoping you will do'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Deportations: The growing backlash
Feature New poll numbers show declining support for Trump's deportation crackdown
-
Is Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' cancellation an omen of something worse?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION CBS said its decision to end the talk show was strictly business. But the timing and nature of the announcement has some observers wondering if there's more at play behind the scenes.
-
Citizenship: Trump order blocked again
Feature After the Supreme Court restricted nationwide injunctions, a federal judge turned to a class action suit to block Trump's order to end birthright citizenship
-
Epstein: Why MAGA won't move on
Feature Trump's supporters are turning on him after he denied the existence of Epstein's client list