On February 1st, President Trump started a major “trade war”, by imposing steep tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico. This move caused a sharp stock market drop and strained key US diplomatic relationships. Over the following two months, the new tariffs escalated tensions with US neighboring countries and major trade partners.
On April 2nd, which he called “liberation day”, Donald Trump announced a 10% baseline tariff on imports from every country, causing a stock market plunge even before the tariffs took effect from April 5 to April 9.
This trade war spurred mixed feelings within the US. Some Americans see the tariffs as a necessary step toward protecting the country’s economy. Others, however, express concerns over the economic and diplomatic position of the US, and about their investments in the stock market.
These measures received almost unanimous international criticism. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney condemned the sweeping tariffs, stating that, “Canada will not bow down to a bully. We won’t stand by as illegal US tariffs hurt our workers and their families” in a video message posted on X. Meanwhile, French president Emanuel Macron called for an “European rebuttal” to tariffs that he called “brutal and unfounded”.
Citizens all over the world are responding to these measures by boycotting American products, and even cancelling their trips to the US. “Since Donald Trump began his tariff threats against Canada and his ‘jokes’ about making Canada the 51st US state, I have not bought a single product originating in the US”, said Canadian 78 year-old Lynne Allardice.