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His predecessors in the White House understood that a unified North American bloc made the US more secure and prosperous
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https://www.ft.com/content/fc3fce3b-18d2-4340-ac0f-aa2964aa6147
The writer was President of the World Bank, US Trade Representative and Deputy Secretary of State. He helped negotiate Nafta
Why must President Donald Trump bully Canada? Americans might not take jibes about the “51st state” seriously, but what Canadians see is an attack on their independence and even unity.
Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email [email protected] to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://help.ft.com/faq/gifting-and-sharing-an-article/what-is-a-gift-article/.
https://www.ft.com/content/fc3fce3b-18d2-4340-ac0f-aa2964aa6147
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Opinion Trump tariffs
Trump’s threats against Canada are self-defeating
His predecessors in the White House understood that a unified North American bloc made the US more secure and prosperous
ROBERT ZOELLICKAdd to myFT
Canadians protest against US tariffs in Toronto, Ontario, last year © Carlos Osorio/Reuters
Trump’s threats against Canada are self-defeating on x (opens in a new window)
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Robert Zoellick
PublishedAUG 31 2026
258
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Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world
The writer was President of the World Bank, US Trade Representative and Deputy Secretary of State. He helped negotiate Nafta
Why must President Donald Trump bully Canada? Americans might not take jibes about the “51st state” seriously, but what Canadians see is an attack on their independence and even unity.
They acknowledge US economic power, but expect Americans to keep their word. In contrast, Trump wants to bind Canada while being free to change terms whenever he wishes. The US needs Canadian aluminium, but wants to constrain Canada’s ability to sell products made from the metal. Trump’s negotiators want to break up the 60-year-long integration of US-Canadian auto production by keeping out parts and pick-up trucks, hitting Ontario in particular. Prime Minister Mark Carney pointed out that the US questioned the French language requirements before the Quebec election. Washington is aware that Canadian retaliation through restrictions on energy exports would play into the hands of Albertan separatists before a referendum. And to top it all off, the US wants to limit Canada’s freedom to trade with others.
Trump’s spite will just stoke Canadian anger. And it’s not popular among Americans either. According to a survey last year by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs-Ipsos, Americans rank Canada more favourably than any other country.
President Ronald Reagan recognised that an integrated North America offers the US a firmer continental foundation for projecting influence globally. By building closer ties, the three democracies of North America could enjoy energy self-sufficiency and even exports, access to key minerals, manufacturing efficiencies, more secure supply chains, a larger market for innovation and better demographics than the rest of the world. When Canada and Mexico grow, they buy much more from the US than other countries do. Half a billion North Americans should be in a stronger position to compete with 1.4bn Chinese and others around the world.
Reagan took the first step to slash barriers by pursuing a free trade agreement with Canada. George H W Bush expanded the free trade agreement to include Mexico, and Bill Clinton passed Nafta. Then the private sector filled in a network of commerce ranging from railroads and energy systems to auto production, business services and agricultural supplies. Competition lowered prices and created opportunities in all three countries.
US goods and services trade with Canada has grown to about $900bn a year — and is almost in balance. That commerce is underpinned by cross-investment, with the US investing about $750bn in Canada and a Canadian flow of about $500bn to the US.
Ties deepened so extensively that in Trump’s first term he decided that he had to maintain the accord, although he renegotiated the terms through the USMCA. Some 75 per cent of Americans consider the USMCA good for the US economy. Overwhelming numbers of Americans say trade with Canada (81 per cent) and Mexico (71 per cent) strengthens US national security. Strong majorities oppose adding tariffs.
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Canada says no thank you
This year the three USMCA partners were supposed to consider extending the agreement from 2036 to 2042. Instead, Trump is threatening to unravel American integration, stirring anti-Americanism.
No American leader should dishonour the country’s past by treating our closest partners so shabbily. Americans and Canadians stood arm-in-arm during the first and second world wars, the Korean war, and in Afghanistan. In 1979, after Iranians took US diplomats hostage, the Canadian ambassador and his wife in Tehran ran the risk of hiding six Americans until the CIA could extricate them.
During the cold war and after, Canadians were among our closest allies. Of course, friends have disagreements, which they debate and work out. But great countries treat partners with respect.
Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email [email protected] to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://help.ft.com/faq/gifting-and-sharing-an-article/what-is-a-gift-article/.
https://www.ft.com/content/fc3fce3b-18d2-4340-ac0f-aa2964aa6147
The writer was President of the World Bank, US Trade Representative and Deputy Secretary of State. He helped negotiate Nafta
Why must President Donald Trump bully Canada? Americans might not take jibes about the “51st state” seriously, but what Canadians see is an attack on their independence and even unity.
Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email [email protected] to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://help.ft.com/faq/gifting-and-sharing-an-article/what-is-a-gift-article/.
https://www.ft.com/content/fc3fce3b-18d2-4340-ac0f-aa2964aa6147
MENU
Financial Times
Sign In
Opinion Trump tariffs
Trump’s threats against Canada are self-defeating
His predecessors in the White House understood that a unified North American bloc made the US more secure and prosperous
ROBERT ZOELLICKAdd to myFT
Canadians protest against US tariffs in Toronto, Ontario, last year © Carlos Osorio/Reuters
Trump’s threats against Canada are self-defeating on x (opens in a new window)
Trump’s threats against Canada are self-defeating on facebook (opens in a new window)
Trump’s threats against Canada are self-defeating on linkedin (opens in a new window)
Trump’s threats against Canada are self-defeating on whatsapp (opens in a new window)
Save
Robert Zoellick
PublishedAUG 31 2026
258
Print this page
Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free
Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world
The writer was President of the World Bank, US Trade Representative and Deputy Secretary of State. He helped negotiate Nafta
Why must President Donald Trump bully Canada? Americans might not take jibes about the “51st state” seriously, but what Canadians see is an attack on their independence and even unity.
They acknowledge US economic power, but expect Americans to keep their word. In contrast, Trump wants to bind Canada while being free to change terms whenever he wishes. The US needs Canadian aluminium, but wants to constrain Canada’s ability to sell products made from the metal. Trump’s negotiators want to break up the 60-year-long integration of US-Canadian auto production by keeping out parts and pick-up trucks, hitting Ontario in particular. Prime Minister Mark Carney pointed out that the US questioned the French language requirements before the Quebec election. Washington is aware that Canadian retaliation through restrictions on energy exports would play into the hands of Albertan separatists before a referendum. And to top it all off, the US wants to limit Canada’s freedom to trade with others.
Trump’s spite will just stoke Canadian anger. And it’s not popular among Americans either. According to a survey last year by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs-Ipsos, Americans rank Canada more favourably than any other country.
President Ronald Reagan recognised that an integrated North America offers the US a firmer continental foundation for projecting influence globally. By building closer ties, the three democracies of North America could enjoy energy self-sufficiency and even exports, access to key minerals, manufacturing efficiencies, more secure supply chains, a larger market for innovation and better demographics than the rest of the world. When Canada and Mexico grow, they buy much more from the US than other countries do. Half a billion North Americans should be in a stronger position to compete with 1.4bn Chinese and others around the world.
Reagan took the first step to slash barriers by pursuing a free trade agreement with Canada. George H W Bush expanded the free trade agreement to include Mexico, and Bill Clinton passed Nafta. Then the private sector filled in a network of commerce ranging from railroads and energy systems to auto production, business services and agricultural supplies. Competition lowered prices and created opportunities in all three countries.
US goods and services trade with Canada has grown to about $900bn a year — and is almost in balance. That commerce is underpinned by cross-investment, with the US investing about $750bn in Canada and a Canadian flow of about $500bn to the US.
Ties deepened so extensively that in Trump’s first term he decided that he had to maintain the accord, although he renegotiated the terms through the USMCA. Some 75 per cent of Americans consider the USMCA good for the US economy. Overwhelming numbers of Americans say trade with Canada (81 per cent) and Mexico (71 per cent) strengthens US national security. Strong majorities oppose adding tariffs.
Recommended
Markets
Canada says no thank you
This year the three USMCA partners were supposed to consider extending the agreement from 2036 to 2042. Instead, Trump is threatening to unravel American integration, stirring anti-Americanism.
No American leader should dishonour the country’s past by treating our closest partners so shabbily. Americans and Canadians stood arm-in-arm during the first and second world wars, the Korean war, and in Afghanistan. In 1979, after Iranians took US diplomats hostage, the Canadian ambassador and his wife in Tehran ran the risk of hiding six Americans until the CIA could extricate them.
During the cold war and after, Canadians were among our closest allies. Of course, friends have disagreements, which they debate and work out. But great countries treat partners with respect.
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