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.

How our journalism makes a difference
Here at The Narwhal, we do journalism differently. As an independent non-profit, we’re accountable to you, our readers — not advertisers or shareholders. So we measure our success based on real-world impact: evidence that our reporting influenced citizens to hold power to account and pushed policymakers to do better.

Our stories have been raised in legislatures across the country and cited by citizens in petitions and letters to politicians.

Take our reporting on Alberta’s decision to allow cougar hunting in parks, which was cited in an official ethics complaint against the parks minister. And, after we revealed an oil and gas giant was permitted to sidestep the rules for more than 4,300 pipelines, the BC Energy Regulator started posting the exemptions it grants publicly.

This kind of work takes time, money and a lot of grit. And we can’t do it without the support of thousands of readers just like you.

Will you help us dig deep by joining as a monthly or yearly member, for any donation amount you can afford?
How our journalism makes a difference
Here at The Narwhal, we do journalism differently. As an independent non-profit, we’re accountable to you, our readers — not advertisers or shareholders. So we measure our success based on real-world impact: evidence that our reporting influenced citizens to hold power to account and pushed policymakers to do better.

Our stories have been raised in legislatures across the country and cited by citizens in petitions and letters to politicians.

Take our reporting on Alberta’s decision to allow cougar hunting in parks, which was cited in an official ethics complaint against the parks minister. And, after we revealed an oil and gas giant was permitted to sidestep the rules for more than 4,300 pipelines, the BC Energy Regulator started posting the exemptions it grants publicly.

This kind of work takes time, money and a lot of grit. And we can’t do it without the support of thousands of readers just like you.

Will you help us dig deep by joining as a monthly or yearly member, for any donation amount you can afford?

We’re fighting for our right to report — and your right to know. Stay in the loop about our trial against the RCMP and get a weekly dose of The Narwhal’s independent journalism
Red text in bold, capital letters: JOIN OUR FIGHT FOR PRESS FREEDOM
We’re fighting for our right to report — and your right to know. Stay in the loop about our trial against the RCMP and get a weekly dose of The Narwhal’s independent journalism
Red text in bold, capital letters: JOIN OUR FIGHT FOR PRESS FREEDOM