Rationale for U.S. Tariffs = Leverage for Canada’s National Security
International LawLJ HowardBy LJ Howard, 5 September, 2025
Rationale for U.S. tariffs = Leverage for Canada’s National Security
The economic impact of US’ tariffs on Canada’s economy is at scale, immediate and gravely prejudices Canada’s vital national interests. Determinative of US’ tariffs is their root policy rationale of ‘national emergency’ and ‘national security. Both are centres of gravity of the US’ ensuing actionable conduct, i.e., tariffs. Ipso facto, this rationale becomes indisputable justification that Canada may choose to employ to advance and leverage its national interests. One means to exercise this choice is to reduce reliance on US’ exclusivity of supply of defence infrastructure. Less reliance may be said to ‘impair goodwill,’ ‘undermine good relations’ and ‘hurt a trusted ally,’ but such argumentation is not persuasive. States first invoke policy to advance the sovereign’s self-interest to survive, with international relations becoming secondary outcomes of policy. US’ policy strategy validates this dynamic.
It is not Canada’s place to ask if the US’ invocation of the rationale of ‘national emergency’ and ‘national security’ is without merit and disingenuous. It is Canada’s obligation to weigh the advantages of following suit in order to strengthen its own sovereignty. Two track diplomacy of distancing itself from the US supply chain while leaving open the future possibility of reengaging with US suppliers is the prudent course to follow.