Recorded on August 5th, 2025, this episode of Gristle & Bone dives into the thickening fog of US-Canada trade tensions. With new tariffs slamming key Canadian exports—from steel to softwood—co-hosts Christopher Bourne and Dónal Gill unpack what’s really going on behind the headlines.
Canada Tariffed: Crisis or Compliance Game?
After the August 1st deadline passed with no new deal, the Trump administration imposed 35% tariffs on several Canadian exports, and an eye-popping 50% on copper. But what looks like a full-blown economic attack is more nuanced. As Donald and Christopher explain, CUSMA compliance—while paperwork-heavy—could blunt the worst of the impact. With some 90% of goods expected to comply, the effective tariff rate may be closer to 5%. Painful? Yes. Apocalyptic? Maybe not.
This episode offers a primer on the tangled threads of modern protectionism—from obscure trade clauses to philosophical crusades. In the age of Trump 2.0, it’s not just about tariffs. It’s about what kind of country Canada wants to be, and how much it’s willing to risk to stay that way.
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