Canada's renewed patriotism amid Trump tariffs and USMCA dispute

President Donald Trump threatened to make Canada the 51st U.S. state and imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian imports under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced reciprocal tariffs on more than $100 billion of U.S. goods. A Politico poll found 52% of Canadians now say they are very proud of their nationality, a sharp increase from earlier surveys.

Economist Paul Krugman warned that Trump's decision not to renew the USMCA – the successor to NAFTA – could undermine the long‑standing North American economic alliance. He argued that predictable, tariff‑free trade had been essential for cross‑border supply chains and cautioned that rolling protectionist measures would harm businesses.

The trade tensions have revived national sentiment in Canada while raising concerns about the future of the U.S.–Canada–Mexico trade pact.