Following the breakdown of trade negotiations, the US and Canada are entering a full-scale trade conflict that threatens years of peaceful trade relations, with effects already apparent. Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, vowed to retaliate against US tariffs with similar measures. He revealed a list of nearly 900 American products that will be subjected to tariffs ranging from 25% to 50%, beginning September 8.
The first noticeable sign appears on toilet paper and facial tissues. The American market for these products depends on Canada, which supplies abundant lumber as a raw material. Additionally, Procter & Gamble has announced plans to raise prices. According to the World Bank, in 2024 the US imported $328 million in toilet paper from Canada. Despite representing only 4% of the global population, the US accounts for over 20% of worldwide tissue product consumption. On average, Americans use 141 rolls of toilet paper each year, with Germany ranking second at 134 rolls annually.
Trump said his new tariffs are a response to Canadian taxes on U.S. dairy products. He imposed a 50% tariff on nearly all Canadian dairy imports. In retaliation, Canada imposed a 50% tariff on American dairy and a 25% tariff on American cheese. Canada also imposed a 25% tariff on American fish and seafood. Trump intends to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian cars and auto parts, which could significantly affect the U.S. auto industry because it depends on Canadian components.
I have always hated Justin Trudeau, as I hate his father, Pierre Trudeau – neither of whom deserved the Prime Minister’s seat. The less said, the better. I celebrated when Mark Joseph Carney became Prime Minister, and I was justified, as he has become one of the few global leaders willing to oppose Trump. Carney is a celebrated economist who served as Governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013 and as Governor of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020, so he knows the arithmetic best.
Deciding to announce retaliatory tariffs on approximately $20 billion of US goods was not an easy choice. How long can a country remain silent after VP JD Vance stated that “Canada and China are ‘the two worst countries in the world for trade policy’? We need to keep in mind that Canada is a country, not a state. Sorry, that was a slip of the tongue—an unintentional mistake.”
He went on to add that Canada “quite literally would be invaded by a foreign country were it not for the umbrella of protection provided by the United States of America.” He overlooked that it was Trump who threatened to annex Canada last year.
A Message for People Everywhere
Now, Canadians are making history and contributing a chapter to global history that everyone can learn from. When Mark Carney, the prime minister, pledged to match the US tariffs “dollar for dollar” after trade negotiations fell apart, the announcement was widely welcomed, especially by those who value freedom. To make matters worse, Donald Trump instructed the federal government two days ago to rename Lake Ontario Lake America. And thus began the drama.
A typical Canadian citizen has begun boycotting products made in the U.S., disregarding the potential increase in their weekly expenses, and they are still happy to do it. People are feeling sad and angry, yet they remain determined that this has become their new way of life. They have shifted from consuming U.S. beer to Canadian beer, resulting in roughly $720 more annually and higher monthly grocery bills. Stores now feature signs saying “Shop Canadian” and “We are no longer selling liquor from the USA.” Grocery stores are also increasingly offering more produce from Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Chile, and South Africa, as well as the Dominican Republic.
Last year, a similar situation unfolded in parts of Canada when Trump announced a trade war and threatened to annex the country. However, it quickly faded due to a lack of political will. Now, with Carney in a leading role, the circumstances are different. This time, Canadians are cutting back across sectors. Many individuals have stopped paying for streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Disney, as well as for vehicles like Tesla. Social media platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram are also affected. They have even begun shifting investments to Canadian companies. Europe is now their travel destination.
This shows how a strong leader’s message can rally people around a cause. I remember when Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to voluntarily forgo the cooking gas subsidy; people rushed to follow his advice.
I believe the US-Canada relationship has been severely damaged, possibly irreparably. The animosity toward the US runs deep, and in my view, the relationship has been permanently tarnished. Now, Canadians have decided not to support America economically while this administration is in power, and maybe not again. Canadians have shown how ordinary people stand up for their values. The world must follow suit.
In a recent Truth Social post, President Donald Trump ranked U.S. presidents from “the greatest” to “failures,” placing himself at the top as “the greatest” president of all time. Historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Franklin D. Roosevelt are regarded as “great.” Grover Cleveland and Theodore Roosevelt are seen as “near great.” Others are categorized as “average” or “below average.” Unsurprisingly, Barack Obama and Biden have been placed in the “failures” category, along with Jimmy Carter. However, history ultimately judges greatness, not individuals. I am fully confident that a chapter of American history will coin a new term for Trump: “the most corrupt, inefficient, and worst president” the US has ever had.
