Montreal, Canada – Canada witnessed a turbulent start for 2025, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Declare Days after the new year, the federal elections are waved, and the crisis of the ability to bear the costs in the country.

Now, Canada is facing What a economist It was called “The biggest commercial shock in nearly 100 years.”

US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff fees on a wide range of Canadian imports and definitions by 10 percent on Canadian energy.

While the measures were appointed on Tuesday, Trudeau said on Monday afternoon that the American definitions and reprisals announced by his government would be delayed at at least “30 days” as the two countries work together to security border.

However, for many all over the country, the possibility of this Commercial war Between the allies for a long time, it continues to feed the feeling of anger, as well as anxiety and confusion about what will come.

Trump’s threat to definitions It also raised questions about the nature of the border relationship and prompted invitations to Canada to enhance trade within the country, looking beyond the United States of more reliable international partners.

“It is very worrying at the present time for workers,” Lana Pine, the National Coordinator at UNIFor, the largest private sector federation in Canada, told Al Bayne.

She said in an interview on Monday: “A lot of anxiety, a lot of anxiety, and a lot of uncertainty – they feel all of this.”

“But I would also say … they are getting angry now because the United States will do so for the Canadian economy, you will do so for Canadian workers, taking into account our long history at work together.”

Canada and the United States relations

The United States and Canada have close political and commercial relations for decades.

Last year, the United States exported more than $ 322 million from goods to Canada American census data. She also imported more than $ 377 million of products from her northern neighbor.

Almost three quarters of the total trade exports in Canada go to the United States. The country is also the largest foreign energy resource in the United States, with about 97 percent of Canadian crude oil exports south of the border in 2023.

But Trump, who routinely criticized Canada since his victory in his re -election in November, He said The definitions are necessary to push the Canadian government to stop trafficking in fentanel and irregular migration across its borders with the United States.

He has also argued that the definitions are seeking to compensate for a trade deficit with Canada, which was called “Support”.

We pay hundreds of billions of dollars to support Canada. Why? There is no reason. We don’t need anything they have. The US President recently wrote on social media: “We have unlimited energy, we must be our own cars, and we have more wood than we can use.”

Trudeau fell, and announced the tariff for revenge against about $ 106 billion ($ 155 billion in Canadian) of American goods on Saturday. From this, about $ 20 billion ($ 30 billion in Canadian dollars) was imposed on Tuesday.

“We will stand strong in Canada. Trudeau said:” We will separate strongly to ensure our country continues to be the best neighbors in the world. “

But on Monday afternoon, the Canadian Prime Minister announced that the proposed definitions will stop temporarily “for at least 30 days” after I received a “good call” with Trump.

Canada will “Trudeau said that the defects in the fentian Tsar, we will include the cartals as terrorists, guarantee eyes around the clock throughout the week, and the launch of a joint strike force between Canada to combat organized crime, fentanel and money laundering “, among other measures, Trudeau said.

I received a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our border plan of $ 1.3 billion – strengthening borders with new helicopters, technology and employees, enhancing coordination with our American partners, and increasing resources to stop the flow of fentanel. almost …

Justctrudeau February 3, 2025

“It is subject to the passions of Trump”

Asa Maccher, a professor at the University of Saint Francis Kazavier, who is studying Canada and the United States, said the two countries have witnessed tensions in the past.

He referred to the tensions about Canada’s refusal to join the US -led invasion of Iraq and the personal passion between former US President John F. Kennedy and Canadian Prime Minister John Devbaker in the early 1960s.

But Maccher said that the current trade tensions had fallen on the relationship with its lowest point.

“We didn’t really see the Americans coming out of their way Impose This will destroy the Canadian economy. This is the difference here.

He said that since Trump signed a matter that allows definitions against Canada, Trudeau revealed mutual measures, as there was a rise in national feelings in Canada.

The Canadian crowd screams the American national anthem in Hockey and basketball games During the weekend, while the leaders of many provinces urged people to “buy a Canadian” in response to the definitions.

“Some people interact with the only ways they can, which are the formulation of American hockey teams and not to buy Kelog pills because they are made in America,” he said.

As for the average person, Micharchor explained, that “small challenge works” provides “a sense of proxy” in a situation in which they may feel unable.

“We are really subject to the whims of a man in the White House, and this is very frightening.”

Confusion and uncertainty

In a small store in Montreal on Monday morning, shoppers Patricia and Lauren were looking for avocado-but they had to make sure he was not from the United States.

“It creates a lot of anxiety for everyone, I think,” Patricia, who only gave the island its first name, said about the definitions that wave on the horizon. “Even the weather in general: the prices will rise, and it will change the pace of our lives.”

“We have to boycott [US products]. “We must leave the store,” Lauren said while the husband left.

“We have no option,” added Patricia.

The owner of the store, Amin Mallehim, said that he was waiting to find out how the potential tariff would affect his work. He told Al -Jazeera that he is already selling local goods to a large extent, but during the winter months, a larger part of the products from the United States and Mexico comes.

“Indeed, everything is costly,” he said.

A few buildings, in a wine store in the provinces, the agent Angelo Baku added to us wine to a small shopping cart. Quebec government He said The American alcohol is removed from the shelves from Tuesday.

“They are just things that I will not be able to reach in the next few months, or who knows how long. Baku said,” I thought, “Well, I may get this,” and he reaches a red wine from California. “I will take another one, just in case.”

However, the threat of a long trade war goes beyond daily purchases. For many Canadians – including those who live in poverty and displacement – can make the possibility The already difficult economic situation worst.

George Ohana – director of displacement in the old junction mission, which is the support and advocacy organization in Montreal – said his greatest interest is a possible loss of jobs as a result of American definitions.

“This could double what was already a very difficult start for this year in terms of inflation,” he said.

Indeed, Ohanna said that there is an increase in demand for food and shelter banks in recent years in Montreal. The rental costs of the city increased as well, making it difficult to find housing at reasonable prices.

He said: “When these different systems gather, it makes it more difficult for homeless men and women, weak people, and people with shock, to be able to get the necessary assistance they need.”

However, Ohanna added, “I don’t think we should jump to the conclusions [on tariffs]. I think we should wait to see how this comes out. “

“No ally” behavior

Although Canada seems to have had a rest from the United States – at least at the present time – many Canadians have expressed their anger at Trump’s repeated threats against their country.

Last week, community leaders and civil society Absolute Canada pledged to build a country level response to the Trump administration policies.

This includes the protection of Canadian sovereignty, the reduction of “the country’s dependence on the United States by diversifying our trade”, and building alliances with other countries, including climate work, humanitarian and final democracy.

The legislator, Charlie Angus of the new Democratic Party, said during A. press conference Announcing the campaign.

According to Payne in Unifor, the threat of definitions – that Canada has witnessed for weeks, made Trump made his known plan for the first time in November – dangerous on its own.

It causes the industry to stop investments. It causes the industry to invest into the United States. She explained that the industry cancels investments because the customs tariff makes it more expensive for her to work.

But she said that Trump’s introductory threat also created an understanding in Canada that the country should review all its economic and commercial policies, including purchases, infrastructure projects and the development of natural resources.

“All this is on the table in a way that has not been on the table for a very long time,” she told the island.

“There is a great appetite for this now because there is a feeling … that we no longer have a friend the way we thought we did and a stable commercial partner.”

We have a president that mixes commercial agreements. We have a president who threatens us daily with measures that would throw our economy to recession. These are not an ally behavior. “