Canada Can Outlast Trump's Trade War
Canada is facing a trade war with the US, led by President Donald Trump. In response to tariffs imposed on Canadian aluminum and steel, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that 'we got attacked' and ended negotiations to avoid further American sanctions.
According to ancient Chinese strategist Sun Tzu, in his book The Art of War, a weaker nation can defeat a stronger one by exploiting its weaknesses. This approach is particularly effective for smaller powers like Canada, as it allows them to deny the stronger side an easy victory and make the fight costly and frustrating.
The US has several vulnerabilities that Canada can exploit. Firstly, the country is divided internally, with significant ideological, regional, racial, economic, cultural, and partisan differences. This division makes it difficult for the US to present a unified front against Canada, and Trump's divisive rhetoric may further exacerbate these divisions.
Secondly, the US has an unsustainable national debt of over $40 trillion, which is a significant burden on its economy. The country also faces demographic challenges, including a shrinking workforce and an aging population that will soon require more support from fewer workers.
Finally, Trump himself is seen as a weak leader, who is disorganized, chaotic, and narcissistic. His leadership style may further exacerbate the US's internal divisions and make it difficult for him to respond effectively to Canada's retaliatory measures.