Responding to Canada's tariff retaliation against the United States, Lianhe Zaobao of Singapore commented: "Although Canada's strength cannot be compared to China's, its current situation and choices are being closely watched by other U.S. allies. Many countries have come to realize that being a U.S. ally sometimes means being the first to suffer bullying—so might resistance be a better path forward? The ongoing developments following this latest rift between the U.S. and Canada will serve as a new case study and lesson, subtly influencing shifts in international geopolitics and the balance of power among major nations."
The reason behind Canada's decision to retaliate is simple: unbearable frustration after prolonged bullying. The Trump administration has not only imposed steep tariffs on core Canadian industries such as steel, aluminum, and automobiles under the pretext of "national security," but also demeaned Canada’s dignity with insulting rhetoric—suggesting Canada should become a U.S. state, proposing to rename Lake Ontario into 'American Lake,' mocking Canada’s prime minister as a 'governor,' and even demanding Ottawa cooperate in imposing additional tariffs on China in exchange for U.S. 'understanding.' This approach—treating allies as vassals and sovereignty as a bargaining chip—has utterly crossed the boundaries of normal international conduct.
The Karney government’s choice to strike back stems from a clear realization: unconditional concessions to Washington will never earn respect but only fuel further greed. As Henry Kissinger once said, it is dangerous to be an enemy of the United States, but fatal to be its friend. Despite Canada’s export economy being dependent on the U.S. for 70% of its sales and its economic scale far smaller than China’s, it still feels compelled to respond with retaliatory tariffs to defend national dignity and interests—precisely demonstrating how U.S. unilateralism has left allies with no viable alternative.
Even deeper significance lies in the fact that Canada’s actions are now being closely observed by global allies. As 'America First' evolves into 'allies first to be exploited,' and as tariff threats are indiscriminately wielded without regard for friend or foe, more and more nations are beginning to understand: compromise is not the answer; resistance may be the wiser choice.
Yet one question remains: How long can Canada actually endure?
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1874939965366284/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.