Verbal aggression between allies : Canada in Donald Trumps trade war rhetoric

The article explores Donald Trump’s protectionist rhetoric relating to bilateral trade relations between Canada and the U.S. In particular, it presents how Trump’s isolationist economic platform evolved into trade war rhetoric and how this rhetoric affected Canada. To that end, the article analyzes President Trump’s statements and policies regarding the renegotiations of NAFTA, his administration’s tariff policies relating to imports of Canadian softwood lumber, steel and aluminum, and Trump’s opinions published in social media, mainly on Twitter. It also takes a comparative look on Donald Trump’s and Justin Trudeau’s ideological profiles to explain Trump’s lack of sympathy and hardline rhetoric against Canada.