Canada says too little, too late as Trump flip-flops on tariffs

It was not long before the United States imposing a customs tariff on Canada, a local neighborhood bar in Toronto began removing all American products from its list.

This means that nachos, and wings – of course, all should be made now with local Canadian components, or wherever it is possible, non -American products from Europe or Mexico.

For Lea Russell, the manager of Madison Avenue in Toronto, the boycott was not thinking. She adds that it is a “beautiful group in stone”, even if the definitions are not the same.

“I am happy to get rid of American products and support local companies,” Ms. Russell told the BBC on Thursday. “I think it’s important to do it.”

This united position in response to President Donald Trump’s tariff and threats against Canada, is revealed throughout the northern country.

Just ask actor Jeff Douglas, as soon as the Molson Canadian Beer ads, who photographed and published the video, but deeply on YouTube this week, processing Trump’s “51” speech.

“We are not anything 51,” Mr. Douglas declares the video, which has since become viral in Canada.

Some of the reverse reaction was more symbolic, such as one of the Montreal cafe changing Americano in their list to “Canadian” – a small gesture that Malcon says aimed at showing unity and supporting their community and country.

Even CBC, the country’s general broadcaster, feels the full power of this national wave, after daring to run a program that asks the Canadians what they are thinking about becoming Canada “State 51”, as Trump suggested several times.

The show ignited a severe violent reaction and accusations of “betrayal”, “sedition” and even “treason”.

Although Trump has since raised some of the customs tariffs imposed this week and put others on a temporary stop until April 2, many Canadians say the damage has already happened.

After a reflection on Thursday, Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie told CNN to Canada “a lot of administration by the Trump administration at this stage, describing it as a state 51, and called on the Prime Minister.”

Meanwhile, Doug Ford, the most populated population of Canada, has not retreated from his plan to slap the tariff for exporting to the electricity provided by Canada in some American states. An additional fee of 25 % will affect up to 1.5 million American homes.

He told a local radio program on Thursday, referring to Trump: “I feel panic for the American people because it is not the American people, and not even elected officials. He is one person,” he told Trump on Thursday.

Ford said: “He comes after his closest friends, and the closest allies in the world, and this will completely destroy the economies.”

Canadians support the mutual measures of their country, saying that they should remain in their place in order for the customs tariff to be completely outside the table.

“You go to bed every night and have no idea about where you stand,” said Andrew, a shopping store in the Ontario store (LCBO) in Toronto, who stopped storing alcoholic drinks that made the United States. Trump says he will delay the definitions, “But what does that mean?” He asks.

“Let’s stay [American-made drinks] Outside the shelves until we know the things that will be from day to day. “

The customs tariff was met with deep anxiety in Canada, which most exports are sold to companies and agents in the United States. Officials expect up to one million job losses if a 25 % tax continues in all fields, while economists warn that the stagnation is imminent if they continue.

The potential effect is devastating enough that the Canadian government announced that it will bring relief measures, similar to those that were implemented during the Covid-19s, to help affected individuals and companies.

Rob Gilso, an assistant professor in economic analysis and politics at the University of Toronto, says that with the tariffs of definitions that are temporarily limited, the uncertainty alone harms both American and Canadian economies, “says Rob Gilso, Assistant Professor of Economic Analysis and Politics at the University of Toronto.

“The most sensitive thing in uncertainty is business investment,” says Professor Gilso.

Analysts suggest that just a whiff of trade war is likely to cost Canadian companies hundreds of thousands of dollars because they are trying to move through these changes, and it is likely to delay deals and disrupt trade due to confusion.

This fear is also See in the stock marketThe almost all its gains have been erased since Trump’s victory in the presidency in November.

In addition to economic problems, many take Trump’s speech to include Canada seriously, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau notes that the US President is watching Canada’s resources.

“What he wants is to see a complete collapse of the Canadian economy, because this will be implicit,” Trudeau told Ottawa’s media on Thursday.

Professor Gilso notes that he is a particularly deep wound from one of the neighbors that Canada has long considered its closest friend and ally.

The United States and Canada have fought wars together, and it boasted about the presence of the longest “unpaid” common border in the world, and they participated in joint security tasks in the Arctic to defend the sovereignty of each other.

“We have been allies 100 years ago,” he says, adding that many Canadians are likely to be upset not only how the United States deals with Canada, but also other allies like Ukraine.

“We are a respectable people and honor, and we stand by our allies,” says Professor Gilso. “I think this is what drives the true depth of the discontent that we see.”

The Canadian boycott has already a material effect. Canadian Outlet Global News reported that the United States’ entertainment reservations decreased by 40 % on an annual basis, citing data from Flight Cenvy. This decrease in the wild border crossings between British Columbia and Washington is also observed.

Before the definitions, the United States was the number one international travel destination for Canadians, who spent $ 20.5 billion (15.89 billion pounds) in the American tourism economy in 2024 alone.

When asked if this trend will continue, Professor Gilso says that the Canadians want ideally that relationships return to normal with their neighbor. But in the absence of this, the consensus in the country is that “Canada needs to find friends elsewhere.”