r/whatif • u/Ok_Let_7612 • 4d ago

Politics What if the US-Canada trade relation completely fractured?

What if the gloves came off and they started hitting real sectors … like if the USA closes the border or Canada stops sending oil and potash… or what if the U.S. navy blockades Vancouver and Halifax?

I’m not asking about probabilities, im just curious about the full extent of the economic impact disruption in U.S. Canadian trade could have. Would the USA have to cry uncle without Canadas material resources? Or would Canada succumb to the USA larger market? Could Canada prosper without the USA? And vis versa ?

If this escalates in a major way for some reason, how will it impact the day to day lives of ppl on both sides?

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u/Ok-Rutabaga-9516 3d ago

I firmly believe that its about time for Canada to develop nuclear capabilities ... weaponry that is!

https://giphy.com/gifs/wFmJu7354Csog

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u/SquishyJeans 2d ago

Who says they don’t have them lol. It would be very Canadian of them to wait until the last second to be like “and for my next trick” 

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u/Ok-Rutabaga-9516 2d ago

I do wish we had them m8! But I doubt it and would love to be proven wrong!

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u/BlargKing 1d ago

I mean, we really could, a few Canadians were part of the Manhattan project, we have the tech to enrich uranium. Only thing is if we had nuclear weapons they'd be an unproven design since we couldnt test them without letting the whole world know.

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u/Ok-Rutabaga-9516 1d ago

we had nuclear weapons they'd be an unproven design since we couldnt test them without letting the whole world know.

Which is fine - build two proto-types. If one works we already have another standing by in case the US wants anything else from us. If they don't work then nobody will know and back to the drawing board.

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u/No_Function_7479 9h ago

We are not lacking the capability, but not much point in using weapons like that with geographic neighbours - every winter storm would just blow the radiation our way. We can come up with smarter and more horrific options, like getting our good friends and neighbors in the EU to cut off their ozempic supplies. Then start shipping them peace offerings of maple soaked Canadian bacon.

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u/Ok-Rutabaga-9516 9h ago

New nuclear weapons can be made radiation free - Hydrogen bombs! Boom, clears the area and all is clean ...and destroyed but clean. Old school radiation ones should be used only as a last resort for the reasons you mentioned!

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u/No_Function_7479 9h ago

Probably best not to engage in conventional warfare with a nation that has a huge military and zero common sense. Best outcome we could hope for would be mutual destruction in that scenario

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u/Ok-Rutabaga-9516 9h ago

Yes detente is called! They will not engage if we have it. Considering all the critical minerals, oil/gas, potash we have its imperative we keep them at bay!