After trade talks between Canada and the United States broke down in August, the Trump administration announced 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian imports. This latest round of tariffs is a serious strategic mistake, not to mention an economic one. 

Countries like Canada increasingly perceive the U.S as an erratic and unreliable partner, presenting a golden opportunity for China to fill the gap and increase its footprint in the Western Hemisphere. The latest tariffs also jeopardize the creation of an allied critical minerals trade block, one of the administration’s key strategic objectives. Though President Donald Trump may not believe that the U.S. “needs” Canada, his mistreatment of America’s northern neighbor is undermining his stated priorities.