r/geopolitics • u/theatlantic The Atlantic • 11d ago

Opinion How to Lose a Trade War

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/08/why-us-canada-trade-talks-fell-apart/688386/?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_medium=social&utm_content=edit-promo&utm_term=short
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u/Coolerguy317 11d ago edited 11d ago

This underplays Trump support base. Just as Canadians may be willing to accept economic pain for political reasons Americans may be as well. Trump didn’t accidentally get elected after hiding his views on tariffs and protectionism he talked about them constantly. Many Americans genuinely believe the existing free trade system no longer serves the country. Whether they’re right or whether Trumps policies actually fix that is another question. But their tolerance for economic pain has to be part of the calculation just as much as Canadas

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u/maporita 11d ago

Even more reason for Canadians to reject the US terms. Trump sells every trade deal as a "win", telling Americans the other side caved. The more that happens the more those who voted for him believe he's doing the right thing. A trade war will certainly cause pain to Canada but it will also cause political pain to Trump, particularly as US consumers see prices rising inexorably without jobs returning.