“Canada – USA Tariff Wars”

While Canada’s economy is far more reliant on exports to the U.S. than vice versa, Canadian negotiators have crucial ammunition in their efforts to land a trade deal that reduces or eliminates tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Before Trump launched his tariff war, roughly 76 per cent of Canada’s exported goods went to the U.S., while just 17 per cent of U.S. exported goods were destined to Canada.

The U.S. hunger for Canadian exports exposes the falsehood in Trump’s repeated claims that his country doesn’t need anything from Canada. Meanwhile, U.S. industries have told the administration that cross-border trade is essential to their success.

The U.S. has begun forced labour probes into 60 economies that critics say are a ‘show trial’ that will allow Trump to slap new tariffs on trading partners such as Canada

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Trade watchers say they are shocked at the latest tactic being used by the U.S. Trump administration to shore up its tariff wall against Canada after a legal setback last month.

Last week, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) launched investigations into 60 economies under Section 301(b) of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 to determine whether they have failed to impose or enforce bans on imports produced with forced labour. But critics in the Washington beltway say the 301 probes are basically a “show trial” and that the verdict is sure to go against trading partners such as Canada.

Ouch!

🚨NEW – VANCE DROPS TRUTH BOMB ON CANADA:

“We had to foot the bill for Canada!

Is that fair that you and your kids have to pay for the military of a foreign country?…. NO!” pic.twitter.com/zutKG0ksoJ

— Tablesalt 🇨🇦🇺🇸 (@Tablesalt13) March 18, 2026

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has expanded its trade investigations to 60 countries, including Canada, in an effort to shore up the president’s tariff policies.

“We are trying to move very quickly,” United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC Friday. “We are trying to move in a matter of months.”

Greer’s office announced Wednesday that it was launching investigations of the European Union and a handful of other countries under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

A new survey from Nanos Research for CTV News found 43 per cent of Canadians are less likely to travel to the United States in 2026, compared to the previous year.

Thirty-eight per cent said they don’t vacation in the United States in general, while just four per cent said they are likely to spend more leisure time south of the border.

For many Canadians, “the U.S. is not on the radar in terms of a travel destination,” said Nik Nanos.

As U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war against Canada stretches into its second year, more than half of Americans said in an Angus Reid survey that they don’t want any tariffs on Canada, with the majority viewing their northern neighbour positively.

With the Canada-U.S.-Mexico (CUSMA) free trade agreement up for renegotiation this year, 51 per cent of U.S. respondents told the survey that if they had their way, there would be no tariffs on Canada at all.

Just over 1 million Canadians returned from the US by car in February, the lowest level in nearly four years.

Statistics Canada data published Tuesday shows Canadian travel to the US continues to decline, even as trips overseas increase.

U.S. President Donald Trump referred to Prime Minister Mark Carney as the “future Governor of Canada” in a Truth Social post on Tuesday.

Trump’s post was in reference to working with U.S. governors to “save The Great Lakes from the rather violent and destructive Asian Carp.”

h/t Patti Jo