Neighbors in dispute: After Trump declares a trade war, Canadians grapple with a sense of betrayal

One of the world’s most durable and amicable alliances is broken. Canadians are absorbing U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and his threats to make Canada the 51st state. Canadians are feeling a sense of betrayal after Trump declared a trade war against America’s northern neighbor and longtime ally. Trump keeps threatening Canada’s sovereignty and is poised to put sweeping 25% tariffs on Canadian products. The ties between the two countries are without parallel. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.5 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the United States.