North America is now officially in a trade war. And, like any war, things are confusing on the first day.
America still says it imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico because of fentanyl while Canada now says the American push to absorb or annex its northern neighbor has begun.
That was the upshot of Day One in tariff war 2025. Justin Trudeau said it out loud: Donald Trump’s real intention here is to undermine the Canadian economy to the point where we are forced to join the US.
This is an echo or a statement last week from Newfoundland and Labrador’s outgoing premier Andrew Furey who said his province has residents who still remember when they joined Canada. There were no tanks in the streets, he noted. It was an economic necessity. As a national, the Dominion of Newfoundland could not stand on its own.
Just as Putin wants Ukraine or China has its eye on Taiwan Trump wants Canada.
It seems living next door to a superpower – like Ukraine, Taiwan or Canada – can be challenging.
