What A Second Trump Presidency Could Mean for Canada

MONTREAL, Canada—Former president Donald Trump’s 10% tariff proposal could impact Canada, one of the United States’ most important trading partners. While it’s difficult to estimate the impact of tariffs, it’s generally accepted  that they raise the price of goods in the importing country and could set off  a trade war, some experts believe.

David Shribman, author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, confirmed Canadians are “mostly worried about Trump’s economic policies and the prospect of 10% tariffs. In the past, negotiations with Canada over tariffs were very difficult.”

Mr. Shribman is referencing the 2018 aluminum and steel tariffs, as well as Trump’s remarks about Canada posing a national security threat as justification for those tariffs: “There’s a lot of concern about Trump’s remarks labeling Canada as an economic threat to the United States, “ he said in a phone interview. “People here look at that with bewilderment.”

Beyond tariffs, Canadians are worried about the state of democracy in the U.S., says Andrew Cohen, award-winning journalist and bestselling author. “Tariffs, quotas, any type of trade obstacles or barriers certainly will worry Canadians. However, if you were to ask Canadians tomorrow what their foremost worry is, I think it would be the reliability of America as an ally, as the world’s leading superpower, as a defender of freedom.”

Donald Trump’s dislike for Justin Trudeau is another concern several Canadian citizens share. He has called the Prime Minister a “far-left lunatic” in the past and some worry that a strained personal relation between the two leaders could impact their collaboration.

“His (Trump’s) views are so dissimilar to what Canadians believe. He couldn’t be more different than the Canada we know,” says Cohen.