Canada's patient approach to Trump's tariffs is working better than critics claim. Facing a U.S. president who wields tariffs as leverage, Carney is keeping dialogue open and expectations realistic, building trust directly with Trump while avoiding hasty, one-sided deals like those struck by Japan and the EU. With 85% of exports still tariff-free and pressure mounting on U.S. consumers and industry, Canada’s long game preserves leverage — and in this climate, even no deal may be wiser than a bad one.

Canada’s patient approach has become an excuse for failure. Tariffs have doubled, companies are fleeing south, and Ottawa has surrendered key tools like counter-tariffs and the digital services tax without securing anything in return. “No deal” isn’t a strategy — it’s a symptom of weak leadership. Canadians deserve more than photo ops and vague promises; they need a government that will fight to scrap Buy American rules, lift crippling tariffs, and deliver real wins that put Canadian workers first.