By Harinder Mahil

It has become clear that we in Canada can never count on the US to be our friend and ally.

It seems obvious that the US announced 25% tariffs on Canadian exports so that the commander in chief would look tough.

Punishing 25% levies on imports from America’s neighbours were due to come into force at 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday, February 4, but Trump put his trade war on hold, claiming he has scored two big wins and major concessions from Canada and Mexico.

Trump wrote on Truth Social: “As President, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that.” Fox News declared: “Mexico and Canada buckle.”

Why were the tariffs on Canadian goods announced by Trump? He has made many complaints about Canada to justify the 25% tariffs on imports from Canada (with 10% tariffs on energy imports). He has cited the US trade deficit with Canada, the trafficking of fentanyl from Canada to the US, and illegal migration over the Canada-US border.

What are the facts? The statistics show that US authorities seized 21,889 pounds of fentanyl in the 2024 fiscal year. Of that amount, 43 pounds were seized at the Canadian border — about 0.2% — compared with 21,148 pounds at the Mexican border, about 96.6%.

The bipartisan congressional Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking in a 2022 report stated, “Canada is not known to be a major source of fentanyl, other synthetic opioids or precursor chemicals to the United States.”

Here are the facts concerning illegal aliens crossing into the US: In fiscal year 2024, of the approximately 1.6 million US Border Patrol encounters with migrants at places other than legal ports of entry, just 23,721, or about 1.5%, were at the Canadian border.

In response to Trump’s concerns, the Canadian government had already announced several measures to try to combat drug trafficking into the US.

Although I am happy to see that 25% tariffs have been paused for 30 days, I have difficulty understanding the need to do this. Why would our closest ally start an unprovoked economic attack on us?

Trump has often expressed his unhappiness about trade deficits between Canada and the US. If he is not happy about the trade deficit, then no amount of new border security will make him abandon his tariff threats.

Trump has publicly announced that he would use “economic force” to absorb Canada into the United States. It doesn’t appear his advisors have advised him about the principles of liberty, democracy, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and global co-operation that US leaders often talk about.

Canada is a test case for how the present administration treats its friends and allies.

I wrote a column on Trump’s threats which appeared in DSSIBUZZCanada on January 21, 2025. In that column I argued that Canada should expand trade with Europe. Asia and others.

It has become clear that over reliance on the US exposes the Canadian economy to risks such as economic downturns and protectionist policies. Diversifying trade with Europe and Asia provides Canada an opportunity to build economic resilience and capitalize on growing markets.

Through the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Canada has preferential access to over five hundred million consumers in the European Union. This allows Canadian producers to tap into one of the world’s largest economic blocs.

Diversification mitigates the risks associated with U.S. centric trade policies, such as tariff and trade disputes. Expanding trade with Europe, Asia and others enhances economic stability by spreading risk across multiple regions.

Our governments should immediately pay attention to this and diversify our trade.

Harinder Mahil is a human rights activist and is secretary of Dr. Hari Sharma Foundation.