The US-Canada tariff dispute: Letters to the Editor — Aug. 28, 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks about the trade dispute with the United States at the Davie Shipyard in Levis, Quebec, Canada on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

The Issue: President Trump’s steep tariffs on Canadian imports and Canada’s threats of retaliation.

President Trump risks losing control of Congress if he doesn’t have good news to announce to voters by November. That is why he wanted a Trump-style win-lose deal with Canada, not a win-win one (“Choppy waters,” Aug. 26).

Unfortunately for him, the much-anticipated 51st state refused. If Canada wants to reduce Trump’s power, it must not back down. If an agreement is reached by Nov. 3 and Canada is satisfied with it, it will mean the United States has made concessions, and American voters will understand that Trump has lost this battle.

Prime Minister Mark Carney must hold firm until then and not give an inch.

Sylvio Le Blanc

Montreal, Quebec

The failure of Carney and his negotiating team to secure a deal with the United States will not only cripple Canada’s economy, but it will be the ultimate argument for Albertans to separate from the sinking ship of Canada.

Alberta has no issues with the Trump administration and looks forward to growing its relationship with America, as opposed to Carney’s European Canada.

Maybe Carney shouldn’t have spent the week before the negotiation deadline vacationing in Italy.

Chris Robertson

Stony Plain, Alberta

The Canada-US relationship was once likened to a mouse sleeping with an elephant, which surprisingly worked well. Then, they replaced the elephant with an old wheezing jackass with unexpected outbursts. The relationship has turned into a real stinker.

Joe Schwarz

Princeton, BC

I’m just curious: Doesn’t the United States get tired of always bashing Canada? Isn’t it time to say enough is enough?

Remember, geography, economics and history connect us and have made us necessary allies.

Canada is small in population, but that doesn’t mean we have no self-respect. The time has come to stop bashing us. We are not for sale and will never be the 51st state. The only way to do that would be militarily, and I’m sure America would never go that far.

Anant Nagpur

Ottawa, Canada

So, Trump wants to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America.” If he does that, Ontario Premier Doug Ford will do a cannonball then a belly flop to drain the lake. We must fight back!

Terry Toll

Campbell’s Bay, Quebec

The Issue: Anti-data center protesters claiming the facilities ruin economies and waste resources.

People protesting — saying “not in my back yard” — claim data centers use too much water, displace workers, and ruin the local economy (“The Irony of Data-Center Dementia,” Rich Lowry, PostOpinion, Aug. 25).

On the other hand, data centers use less water than a golf course and give back to the local economy through their taxes.

So, what’s the motive to stop or impede the development of data centers? All my guesses involve China’s need to dominate AI. It has American propagandists stirring up discontent — pretty cheap Chinese investment for a big payoff.

Fred Stewart

Grand Junction, Colo.

I think it would be a great idea if Lowry moved to a town with a huge AI data center and reported on the joys of power outages and surges and lovely discolored water running from his pipes.

That would prove he’s not the typical “do as I say, not as I do” hypocrite.

Sam Bliss

Rutherford, NJ

I worked in data centers for 40 years. I think the hatred towards them is overblown. Whether it’s in banking, education, business or technology, changes happen quickly and stalling of any kind — like the one-year hold by Gov. Hochul — puts a state behind.

John Nolty

West Kill

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