Toronto Star columnist David Olive argues Canada should stop offering concessions ahead of Trump's August 19 tariff deadline, which threatens 50% duties on Canadian goods, and instead let talks collapse if necessary.
He cites Canada's 181,000 new jobs since May, GDP growth of 3.4% versus the U.S.'s 1.5%, and lower forecast inflation, alongside Ontario Premier Doug Ford's call for dollar-for-dollar retaliation and chief negotiator Janice Charette's warning that the tariffs would halt talks entirely.
Olive proposes export taxes on oil, gas, uranium and other U.S.-critical goods, rising 5% with each new American tariff, betting that Trump's weak approval and midterm troubles make him ripe for a symbolic trade-deal win instead of an all-out fight.
The full dispatch is available from the source below.