By Edith Loyola 
This Wednesday, Canada began preparations to face the next four years under Donald Trump’s presidency, focusing on how to safeguard its trade relations with the United States. As the largest trading partner of the country, Trump’s reelection has raised concerns within the Canadian government about the possibility of escalating tariff barriers.
In a statement, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce urged the government to firmly oppose potential tariffs and trade restrictions, asserting that such measures would “only drive up costs and harm consumers in both countries.”
“Given the stakes, we expect the Canadian government to deploy all its resources to reinforce this vital relationship in the critical months ahead,” the Chamber of Commerce said.
In 2023, trade between Canada and the United States reached 1.3 trillion Canadian dollars (almost 1 trillion U.S. dollars), representing a daily flow of goods and services valued at 3.5 billion Canadian dollars. However, Trump’s campaign promises to impose a 10% tariff on all U.S. imports, including those from Canada, have raised alarms within Canada’s economic sector.
According to a report released by the Chamber of Commerce in October, such tariffs could significantly impact the Canadian economy, given that 77% of Canadian exports are directed to the United States. “Such measures could restrain Canada’s economic growth and directly affect key sectors,” the report highlights, expressing the widespread concern shared by economic stakeholders.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, congratulated Trump early Wednesday on his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, recalling that Canada and the United States share “one of the most successful partnerships in the world.” Trudeau also underscored the value of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), renegotiated during Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021, which, in the Prime Minister’s words, “has generated high-quality jobs, investments, and opportunities” across North America.
Additionally, with the next review of the USMCA scheduled for 2026, the Chamber of Commerce urged the Canadian government to “work effectively with the Trump Administration to preserve and strengthen trade relations,” in a bid to ensure the continuation of the benefits achieved under this agreement.
It is worth noting that Trudeau had previously described a potential Trump reelection as “a step backward,” reflecting the complex relationship between the two leaders during Trump’s first term. Nevertheless, in preparation for this scenario, the Canadian government has revived “Team Canada”, an initiative originally developed in the late 20th century to advance Canadian interests in the United States.
Led by Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne and International Trade Minister Mary Ng, this strategy has focused on building stronger ties with U.S. governors and other political leaders, aiming to establish key alliances to mitigate potential trade conflicts.
In his congratulatory message to Trump, Trudeau reaffirmed his commitment to collaborate on issues such as trade, investment, and continental security, indicating the pragmatic approach that the Canadian government intends to maintain as it faces the challenges that may emerge in the coming years.