Canada avoids US tariffs but did Trump win the trade war?

Less than twenty-four hours before Donald Trump’s 25% blanket tariff came into effect on all goods imported to the United States from Canada, both Ottawa and Washington announced their respective tariffs would be delayed by 30 days. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Donald Trump spoke over the phone on February 3rd and came to a deal that will delay US and Canadian tariffs until the beginning of March according to a statement by Trudeau. 

Trudeau revealed on X that Canada would be implementing its proposed $1.3 billion dollar border plan to secure its border with the United States, as well as several other measures around addressing the Canada-US border. 

“I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan,” Trudeau explained. Canada committed to reinforcing its border with new helicopters, technology, and personnel, and enhanced coordination with US personnel. 

“Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border,” the Prime Minister continued before adding that Canada would make new commitments to ensure the border would be safe from illegal drugs and aliens. 

“In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering,” Trudeau wrote. 

“I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million,” Trudeau added. “Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”

Whether or not the deal is a win for Canada or United States has yet to be seen, Trump’s actions have raised the ire of Canadians but the choice to delay tariffs may save both countries’ populations from unnecessary hardship. 

CBC News noted that while speaking to reporters between the two calls with Trudeau, Trump said Canada was “very tough” and that the United States was not “treated well by Canada and we have to be treated well."

Trump claimed that Canada doesn’t take US agricultural products, a remark that CBC News said was “outlandish” since data from Trump’s own government noted US agricultural products represent roughly 57% of Canadian food imports.

The President also doubled down on his desire to make Canada the 51st state of the United States, a claim he has championed a lot in recent months. 

“What I’d like to see—Canada become our 51st state,” Trump said when asked if there was anything Canada could do to avoid tariffs. 

Trump attacked the significance of the Canadian-US trade relationship but said that the United States did not need Canadian lumber or automotive production according to The Hill. He also said it was unlikely the US would annex Canada. 

“We don’t need them. As a state, it’s different. As a state, it’s much different. And there are no tariffs,” Trump said. “So I’d love to see that. Some people say that would be a long shot. 

“If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100 percent certain that they’d become a state. But a lot of people don’t like to play the game. Because they don’t have a threshold of pain,” Trump added. 

Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum worked out a similar deal with Trump to delay 25% tariffs on her country, announcing over social media that Mexico would send 10,000 members of its National Guard to the border to address fentanyl trafficking, NBC News reported. 

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