Economy experts on US-Canada trade war: 'This is getting worse'
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Economy experts on US-Canada trade war: 'This is getting worse'
Bruce Winder

Canada-U.S. trade war shifts one Torontonian's habits; retail expert Bruce Winder says others follow suit as 50% tariff forces price hikes

A 50% tariff on goods has prompted significant price hikes, forcing Torontonians to alter their shopping habits, according to retail expert Bruce Winder. He notes that many retailers are unable to absorb the costs, leading to increased prices that affect consumer behavior across Canada and the U.S.

CTV News29 August 2026 · 21:13 UTC
CuriousCats Full Story
Key Insight
“Retail analyst Bruce Winder warns that some retailers cannot absorb the shock of a 50 per cent tariff on their products, so prices will need to increase. This suggests broader consumer impact as the trade war continues to reshape shopping behaviors.”
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CTV News
“Retail analyst Bruce Winder says some retailers cannot ‘absorb’ the shock of a 50 per cent tariff on their products, so prices will need to increase.”
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CuriousCats STORYARC
EARLIER IN THE STORY:
Ipsos poll shows 63% of Canadians back Canada's firm tariff stance despite job losses; support splits by generation and income as 67% say tension won't resolve soon
Global NewsGlobal News
Ipsos poll shows 63% of Canadians back Canada's firm tariff stance despite job losses; support splits by generation and income as 67% say tension won't resolve soon

63 per cent of Canadians say Canada was right to stand firm, even if it meant higher tariffs and job losses, while 18 per cent favored more compromises.

Canada Stand FirmCanadian Trade TariffsGenerational Divide
2026-08-30
TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai
  • Ipsos polling exclusive to Global News shows that 63 per cent of Canadians say Canada was right to stand firm, even if the move meant higher tariffs and significant job losses in Canada, compared to 18 per cent who said Canada should have made additional compromises.
  • Support for the government’s decision to walk away is higher among baby boomers (80 per cent), those with a university education (74 per cent), and those making more than $100K (76 per cent).
  • Among Generation Z, just 48 per cent said Canada was right to stand firm, and only 41 per cent were willing to pay a personal price, compared to 67 per cent of boomers.
  • Willingness to pay a personal price is lower among lower-income earners: 45 per cent of those earning less than $40K were willing, compared to 61 per cent of those earning over $100K.
  • Seven in 10 (67 per cent) say the tension will not be resolved soon, up three points since July 2025.
Canada urged to play defence, not offence, on U.S. tariffs; Carney says Aug. 22 retaliation aims to protect and defend domestic industries
Toronto Star
Canada urged to play defence, not offence, on U.S. tariffs; Carney says Aug. 22 retaliation aims to protect and defend domestic industries

Canada should focus on defence, not offence, using counter-tariffs to protect manufacturers at home rather than inflicting trade pain abroad.

Alcohol BoycottsCanadian TariffsCarney Retaliation
2026-08-30
TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai
  • Prime Minister Carney clarified that the Canadian retaliation announced on Aug. 22 was meant to protect and defend Canadian industries and allow them to compete with U.S. products in the Canadian market.
  • The government is using counter-tariffs strategically to shield Canadian manufacturing sectors, enabling industries like steel, aluminum, and furniture to capture a greater share of the Canadian market by making U.S. imports more expensive.
  • An example of past retaliation is when Canada and the EU put tariffs on orange juice from Florida and Harley-Davidsons from swing states, which largely worked in 2018.
  • But 2026 is different; the U.S. administration's trade agenda is deeply entrenched and faces little resistance from Congress, and the provincial alcohol boycotts show that retaliation leads to doubling down rather than compromise.
  • Analysis suggests that around 83 per cent of trade hit with Canadian counter-tariffs is in goods Canada exports itself, so it should be possible to replace U.S. with Canadian suppliers, helping offset losses from forgone exports.
  • With only 17 per cent of affected trade as an afterthought, retaliation should also be used as an engine for trade diversification, making inputs from Asia and Europe more attractive and reducing dependence on U.S. supplies.
Canada-U.S. trade war sparks anger and uncertainty in Ohio as businesses await counter-tariffs set to begin Sept. 8
CBC
Canada-U.S. trade war sparks anger and uncertainty in Ohio as businesses await counter-tariffs set to begin Sept. 8

Ohio's congressional district OH-6, including Youngstown, exports over $820 million US in goods to Canada annually, while Ohio's total exports to Canada reached $17.5 billion US last year.

Aluminum SmeltersCanadian Counter-TariffsMidterm Elections
2026-08-29
TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai
  • Ohio exported $17.5 billion US in goods to Canada last year, roughly a third of its total exports.
  • Ohio's top exports to Canada included $2.7 billion US in engines and turbines, $1.8 billion in auto parts, $1 billion in plastics, and $692 million in iron and steel alloys.
  • Ohio imported $3.2 billion US in Canadian crude oil, $1.1 billion in vehicle parts, $1 billion in plastics, $915 million in steel, and $672 million in aluminum.
  • Canadian counter-tariffs are set to begin on Sept. 8, and companies and agriculture producers in Ohio are still trying to figure out how they will be affected.
  • Residents and business leaders express anger, uncertainty, and mixed feelings about the trade war's impact on the local economy and politics.
  • Youngstown, Ohio, sits in a wider congressional district known as OH-6, which exports more than $820 million US in goods to Canada every year.
CuriousCats
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Doug Ford unveils 'Lake Ontario' sign 'now and always' as Trump's 'Lake America' order draws 'petty' rebuke
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CBS News🇨🇦29 August 2026 · 21:34 UTC
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Ford posted a video calling the lake a 'crown jewel' and unveiled a sign at Fifty Point Conservation Area reading 'Lake Ontario - Now and Forever' in English and French. Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca said the order violates a more than 225-year-old treaty and shows 'blatant disrespect' for Indigenous people.

'The big fight with America': Canada-U.S. trade war shapes Quebec election as experts call impact 'unprecedented'; Carney hits back with 50% counter-levies
🇨🇦29 August 2026 · 10:29 UTC
'The big fight with America': Canada-U.S. trade war shapes Quebec election as experts call impact 'unprecedented'; Carney hits back with 50% counter-levies

The trade dispute has already triggered U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports after talks collapsed at the 11th hour, and Prime Minister Mark Carney responded with counter-levies of up to 50 per cent on certain items. Quebec is bracing for the fallout, prompting concerns among voters and officials.

Canada's dollar-for-dollar countertariffs on $27.6B of U.S. goods take effect Sept. 8; experts warn escalation is a minefield as Trump's 50% tariffs loom
The Globe and Mail🇨🇦28 August 2026 · 21:58 UTC
Canada's dollar-for-dollar countertariffs on $27.6B of U.S. goods take effect Sept. 8; experts warn escalation is a minefield as Trump's 50% tariffs loom

Dan Ciuriak of the Centre for International Governance Innovation says escalation works only when the demand is limited and negotiable, while Wolfgang Alschner of the University of Ottawa notes the U.S. can always hurt Canada more. An unnamed source warns retaliation may worsen Trump's behavior, as limited evidence suggests it leads to higher tariffs.

Tariffs could permanently alter Canada-U.S. trade; Quebec voter says sovereignty not top priority as inflation dominates discourse
The Spec🇨🇦28 August 2026 · 16:04 UTC
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Peter Schiff, chief economist at Euro Pacific Asset Management, says Canadian companies investing in new markets may find it more lucrative to stay there even after the trade dispute cools. Charles Rousseau, a 27-year-old Masters' student, says he's 'not interested in the proposals currently on the table' despite two parties prioritizing sovereignty.

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Canadian officials consider renaming street 'Obama Ave' to troll Trump after Lake Ontario 'shenanigans'; Ottawa council votes unanimously to weigh new names
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🇨🇦28 August 2026 · 22:25 UTC
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