Trump's "American System" and Canada

Donald Trump's tenure as President of the United States has been among the most disruptive in American history. In many areas, President Trump has upended convention, undermined norms, and cast aspersions on a host of institutions. Trump's imposition of punitive tariffs on steel and aluminum, along with the threat to withdraw from the NAFTA have been significant threats to the Canadian economy. The President's instincts on trade may be one of the few constants in a worldview on foreign policy that has otherwise lacked consistency. This article argues that Trump's actions on trade have other precedents in American history, many of which have similarly embroiled Canada.