There were trade skirmishes during Donald Trump’s first presidency, but many of us have been taken aback by the extent of the recent tensions between the US and Canada. Each week seems to bring a new surprise or a doubling down on previous threats. Tariffs have been proposed, paused, dangled again. A long‐time ally wreaking havoc on our heavily intertwined economies is concerning enough, especially since so many people in both countries are struggling financially.
But Trump’s repeated assertion that Canada should become the 51st state is truly alarming. The US president has spoken of “economic force” to push Canada into being a part of America, claiming that our border is “artificially drawn.”
Today’s newsletter is a far‐reaching look at these tensions, exploring industry impacts, political context, and the patriotic—and defiant—mood sweeping the country:
