Canada should not respond to potential U.S. tariffs with retaliatory tariffs, as this would primarily harm Canadian consumers by driving up prices. Instead, Canada should leverage its industrial and technological capabilities to undermine the monopolistic rent-seeking of American corporations by legalizing and promoting third-party modifications, repairs, and alternative marketplaces for technology, agriculture, and other industries. By dismantling restrictive intellectual property laws—many of which were imposed under the USMCA trade agreement—Canada could become a global hub for jailbreaks, independent app stores, and right-to-repair solutions, thereby reducing dependence on U.S. tech monopolies and fostering a new high-tech economy that directly benefits Canadian consumers and businesses.
I agree. We could also forge better partnerships with Mexico, Central and South American countries, and Pacific island nations. Up to now I think our companies have been more exploitative (i.e. manipulating governments or bringing underpaid labour), but we could do things that are mutually beneficial instead. Strengthening less powerful neighbours is beneficial to everyone in a region (including the US, ironically), while exploitation just helps the specific corporations involved.