How to lose Trump’s trade war: test Canada’s resolve with threats to hockey sticks

<p>The US president expected Ottawa to bow to tariff demands, but Canada is striking back – and it could cost Americans</p><ul><li><p><strong>This was originally published in This Week in Trumpland. </strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/election-newsletter-sign-up-stakes"><strong>Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday</strong></a></p></li></ul><p>Earlier this year, a survey found that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/canada">Canada</a>, along with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/switzerland">Switzerland</a>, was <a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-worlds-most-and-least-liked-countries/">the best-liked country</a> in the world. We all know this kind of polling is about as scientific as a high school popularity contest, but at least anecdotally, Canadians have a reputation for being friendly and welcoming, respectful and polite. Many people would find it difficult to dislike Canadians.</p><p>But not Donald Trump, who in a “hold my beer” moment this week demonstrated that he, at least, finds it easy to resent Canadians. The US president called the country “difficult and unreasonable”, and in a particularly hysterical moment, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/aug/25/donald-trump-tariffs-canada-midterms-primary-south-carolina-iran-ukraine-voting-rights-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6a8d78948f08c9649271ddc9#block-6a8d78948f08c9649271ddc9">threatened to rename a lake</a>, after trade talks collapsed.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/26/trump-canada-trade-war">Continue reading...</a>