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Stop panicking about Trump's tariff threats

Roland Paris

Donald Trump image by Barbus via Pixabay

Stop panicking


By Roland Paris, director, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa


Trump’s tariff threat shouldn’t have come as a surprise. This is how he starts negotiations: by threatening dire consequences to throw the other side off balance.


Unfortunately, he succeeded. Some Canadian political leaders have responded by siding with Trump, by blaming Ottawa, or by talking tough–when what we really need is calm resolve to defend Canada’s interests and a shared commitment to mount the biggest advocacy and outreach campaign in the United States that this country has ever undertaken.


Justin Trudeau’s unpopularity makes him an easy political target for his rivals, but he is still the prime minister. And if Canadian political leaders fail to work together at this moment of national urgency, they will be doing our country a lasting disservice.

Roland Paris
Graduate School of Public & International Affairs

University of Ottawa

120 University Private, Room 6005E

Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 3M5, Canada

rparis@uottawa.ca

© Roland Paris 2024

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