Canada-U.S. Relations

Canada and the United States are in the midst of a cross-border trade war — and tensions between the two countries have reached levels higher than seemingly ever before. 

It means our relationship with natural resources in Canada is imperilled, no doubt: think of the increasing calls for more oil and gas pipelines, governments loosening regulations around permitting fossil fuel and other energy projects at the expense of Indigenous Rights — and so much more.

Trump tariffs and beyond: how we got here and what’s at stake

Things first hit the fan in late November 2024, when then-incoming U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to slap 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. That’s been followed by his remarks about making Canada the 51st state, his musings about accessing our fresh water — and so many turns in a trade war that make it impossible to keep up. 

Potash, farming, cross-border electricity sharing — it’s all up in the air. This much is clear: things aren’t what they used to be — and nobody knows what news will come next.

So, what’s going on and what does the current state of Canada-U.S. relations mean for everything from electricity to agriculture? The Narwhal’s got you covered.