Canada Hits Back at US Tariffs with Dollar-For-Dollar Retaliation

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has vowed to retaliate against US tariffs on Canadian goods, saying 'we're going to hit back.' The move is a test of his argument that middle powers must resist economic coercion from great powers. Canada has imposed dollar-for-dollar retaliation on $20 billion worth of US goods, starting September 8.

Carney's stance has put him at odds with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly talked about making Canada the 51st US state. The US tariffs target various Canadian goods, including steel and autos. Carney accused Washington of using 'economic integration as a weapon' and said its signature was written in pencil.

Historian Robert Bothwell called Canada uniquely vulnerable to US pressure, citing its dependence on the US market. Nearly three-quarters of Canadian exports go to the US, whose economy is roughly 10 times larger. Carney acknowledged that retaliation would raise costs for Canadians but maintained that sovereignty depends on withstanding pressure.