With the World Cup out of the way, Trump decided it was time to beat up on Canada again, so he announced the intention to hit us with new 50 percent tariffs, and no, not because of the wildfire smoke crossing the border (which prime minister Mark Carney said he talked to Trump about at the World Cup final). No, these are under Section 338 in their trade law, which has to do with “discrimination.” Because retaliation for their illegal and unjustified tariffs apparently counts as “discrimination” in their eyes, and no, there won’t be any NAFTA exemptions under these tariffs, apparently.

What incredibly weak garbage. Stand up and fight back for your country, Prime Minister.

— Emmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 (@emmettmacfarlane.com) 2026-07-21T00:00:58.175Z

But they’re also weird. Some of them are calculated for symbolic effect (like hockey sticks, or Canadian wine), but some of them make no sense (Canadian tequila?). And maybe this is more “art for the deal” nonsense,

Code has finished re-running! I get a total, across all 3 lists of about ~5.3% of annual Canadian imports into the US for US consumption (ie: not to be exported on elsewhere) using 2025 data or ~USD$20B, which will now cost US consumers up to USD$10B more if these come into effect in 30 days.1/n

— Jennifer Robson 🇨🇦 (@jrobson.bsky.social) 2026-07-20T23:36:33.055Z

There are symbolic goods on here (hockey stuff, down-filled parkas like Canada Goose). And the Canadian forestry sector/wood products was already hurting along with auto parts (like car seats…). If 232 doesn't already apply, this does. So, let's not dismiss this as unimportant.

— Jennifer Robson 🇨🇦 (@jrobson.bsky.social) 2026-07-20T23:36:33.056Z

My hunch is that 338 is one of the hopes of the administration to re-create "Liberation Day" tariffs. Lucky Canada, we get to be the test case (again).Why today? Don't waste a lot of time asking that.

— Jennifer Robson 🇨🇦 (@jrobson.bsky.social) 2026-07-20T23:36:33.057Z

Raking the Forests

Some Canadians got in on the whole “Rake the Forests!” MAGA meme, and it’s very embarrassing. Others decided that after years of insisting that these fires were set by climate arsonists, that now wildfires are natural, so there’s no climate change involved. (Erm, guys…) I can’t even.

New right wing talking points dropped! The forest fires have nothing to do with climate change. Nothing to see here.

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2026-07-18T19:42:56.807Z

My Latest:

My weekend column looks at how Carney capitulated to industry on the Pathways project, making it essentially costly and useless, likely in a bid to simply kill it.

Ukraine Dispatch:

Russians pounded Kyiv over the weekend with missiles and drones, as well as hit a ship carrying corn out of Odesa, killing ten people. Meanwhile, protests continue over the dismissal of the defence minister and calling for the army chief to be replaced.

Noteworthy:

• Kevin Carmichael suggests that we reframe our value proposition when it comes to global trade and focus on services, where the premium markets tend to be.
• Justin Ling ponders the American reaction to the so-called “middle powers alliance,” coupled with Carney’s incoherent positions as he tries to help build it.
• Ling also goes through the dismantling of Trump’s “stolen election” claims.
• Lindsay Tedds points to the grievance-generating form of Alberta’s bike lane reporting site, and how it deliberately obscures and ignores actual evidence.

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