The trade conflict between Canada and the United States is heating up and has moved beyond rhetoric. After the latest round of negotiations failed, the US imposed 50% tariffs on around C$27.6 billion (£14.68 billion) of Canadian goods on August 22. Canada is responding swiftly with dollar-for-dollar retaliation to take effect on September 8.
Two other events in September give this confrontation wider significance. The first is that from September 1 Britain and Canada can trade with each other under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade framework. And on September 17, the Canadian prime minister Mark Carney is due to address the European parliament seeking an ever closer relationship with the EU.
