Trump delays tariffs in Canada, but anger and calls to re -examine American relationships persevere | News Donald Trump

Montreal, Canada – Canada experienced a tumultuous beginning of 2025, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeauu announcing his resignation Days in the new year, federal elections and deepening crisis of accessibility in the country.

Now Canada is facing What some economists They called “his biggest trade shock in almost 100 years.”

The President of the United States Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on a wide range of Canadian imports and 10 percent of tariffs on Canadian energy.

Although the measures were to start on Tuesday, Trudeau said on Monday afternoon that the US tariffs and retaliations announced by his government would delay for “at least 30 days” because the countries work together on the safety of borders.

Yet for many across the country, the potential for Trade war Between longtime allies, it still stimulates the feeling of anger, as well as anxiety and confusion about what is coming.

Trump’s threat to tariffs He also asked questions about the nature of the cross-border relationship and encouraged the calls of Canada to step up the trade in the country, while asking the US for more reliable international partners.

“She is currently very worrying about the workers,” said Lana Payne, a national coordinator of the Unifif, the largest Canadian private sector, said Al Jazeera before the delay of the tariff was announced.

“Much concerns, a lot of worries, a lot of uncertainty – they feel all that,” she said in a telephone conversation on Monday.

“But I would also say … they are currently feeling angry that the United States would do so to the Canadian economy, they would do this to Canadian workers, given our long history of working together.”

Canada-American ties

The US and Canada have been enjoying close political and trade connections for decades.

Last year, the United States in Canada took over more than $ 322 million in goods, he states The list of listing us. It also imported products worth more than $ 377 million from its northern neighbor.

Almost three -quarters of the total trade export of Canada goes to the US. The country is also the largest American foreign supplier of foreign energy, with about 97 percent of the export of Canadian raw oil south of 2023.

But Trump, who routinely criticized Canada since he won the re -election in November, said Tariffs are needed to encourage the Canadian government to stop the trade in Fentanil and irregular migration across its border with the USA.

He also claimed that the tariffs seek to compensate for a trade deficit with Canada, which he called a “subsidy.”

“We pay hundreds of billions of dollars to sub -Subsid Kanada. Why? No reason. We don’t need anything they have. We have unlimited energy, we should make our own cars and have more wood than we could ever use, “the US president recently wrote on social networks.

Trudeau returned, announcing the retaliation of the tariff compared to about $ 106 billion ($ 155 billion in Canadian) US goods on Saturday. Of these, about $ 20 billion ($ 30 billion in Canadian dollars) was to be imposed on Tuesday.

“We will be strong for Canada. We will strongly ensure that our countries are still the best neighbors in the world,” Trudeau said.

But on Monday afternoon, the Canadian Prime Minister announced that the suggested tariffs would stop “at least 30 days” after he had a “good call” with Trump.

Canada will “”Naming Fentanil Car, we will list cartels as terrorists, provide 24/7 eyes at the border, launch a common strike by Canada-US for the fight against organized crime, fental and money laundering “, among other things, Trudeau said.

I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada implements our $ 1.3 billion border plan – enhances the border with new helicopters, technology and staff, improved coordination with our American partners and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanis. Almost …

– Justin Trudeau (@justintrudeau) 3. February 2025

‘Subject to Trump’s whim’

Asa Mckercher, a professor at St Francis Xavier University who studies relations in Canada-US, said the two countries have experienced tension in the past.

He pointed to the tension for rejection of Canada to join the invasion of Iraq under the leadership of the US in 2003 and personal animosity between former US President John F Kennedy and Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker in the early 1960s.

But Mckercher said that current trade tensions had recessed the attitude towards his lowest point.

“We have not actually seen Americans get out of the way impose politics It will only destroy the Canadian economy. That’s the difference here, “Mckercher told Al Jazeera.

He said that, since Trump, he signed a command that approved the tariff against Canada and Trudeau discovered reciprocal measures, had progress in Canada in a nationalist mood.

Canadian crowds intensified the American national anthem in Hockey and basketball games During the weekend, while several provinces invited people to “buy Canada” in response to tariffs.

“Some people react in the only ways they can, which is amazed at the US hockey teams and does not buy Kellogg’s cereals because it was done in America,” he said.

For the average person, Mckercher explained, those “little definition ranks” offer a “feeling of agency” in a situation where they might otherwise feel powerless.

“We are really subject to a guy’s germ in the White House and that’s a very scary thing.”

Confusion and uncertainty

In a small fruit and committee store in Montreal on Monday morning, customers of Patricia and Lorraine were looking for Avocado-but they had to make sure it was not from the US.

“I think she creates a great anxiety for everyone, I mean,” said Patricia, who only al Jazeera gave her name, she said about the tariffs. “Even the atmosphere in general: prices will increase, our pace of life will change.”

“We have to boycott [US products]. We have to, “Lorraine said as the couple left the store.

“We have no choice,” Patricia added.

The owner of the store, Amine Mulhim, said he was waiting to see how potential tariffs would affect his job. Al Jazeera said to sell local goods to a large extent, but during the winter months, most of the product comes from the USA Mexico.

“It’s all expensive already,” he said.

Several blocks, in a provincial alcoholic beverage store, customer Angelo Baaco added wines to a small basket. The Quebec government said That American alcohol will be removed from the shelves from Tuesday.

“These are just things I won’t be able to get in the next few months or who knows how long. So I realized,” OK, maybe it could get it, “Baaco said, reaching for red wine from California.” I’ll grab another one, just in case.”

However, the threat of a long trade trade war goes beyond daily shopping. For many Canadians – including those who live in poverty and homelessness – the potential could make already a difficult economic situation up.

Georges Ohan – Director of Homeless Brewery Prevention, Brewery Mission, Montreal Supporting Organization – said his biggest concern for the potential loss of jobs as a result of US tariffs.

“It can agree on what was already a very difficult beginning of the year in terms of inflation,” he told Al Jazeera.

Ohan has already said that in recent years, Montreal has increased demand for food banks and shelter beds. The rental costs in the city have also jumped abruptly, making it difficult for accessible housing.

“When you put together these different systems, it makes it difficult for homeless people and women, people who are vulnerable, people who have trauma, so that they can get the necessary help they need,” he said.

But Ohan added, “I don’t think we should skip the conclusions [on tariffs]. I think we should wait to see how it appreciates it. “

‘Not the actions of allies’

Even while it seems that Canada has secured the return of American tariffs – at least for now – many Canadians expressed anger because of Trump’s repeated threats to their country.

Last week leaders of political, work and civil society released The “pledge for Canada” to build a response to the whole country on the policies of Trump’s administration.

These include the protection of Canadian sovereignty, a decrease in “dependence on the United States diversifying our trade” and the construction of an alliance with other countries, including climate action, humanitarian aid and improvement of democracy.

“It becomes very clear that to build a resistance to Canada in this increasingly Burner world, this means that we actually reduce our addiction to our southern neighbor,” said MP Charlie Angus of the new Democratic Party during A press conference announcing the campaign.

According to Payne in Unifif, the threat of tariffs – which Canada has experienced for weeks, since Trump first informed his plan in November – I am remains dangerous.

“This causes the industry to stop on investments. This causes the industry to divert investment in the United States. This causes the industry to cancel investments because the tariffs make them more expensive to work, “she explained.

But she said that Trump’s tariff threat also created an understanding in Canada that the country had to review all its economic and trade policies, including procurement processes, infrastructure projects and the development of natural resources.

“It’s all on the table so it hasn’t been on the table for a long time,” she told Al Jazeera.

“There is a great appetite at the moment because there is a feeling … that we no longer have a friend the way we thought we did it and a stable trade partner,” Payne added.

“We have a president who goes out to trade agreements. We have a president who threatens us daily to throw our economy into a recession. These are not allies’ actions. “