Hewers of wood and drawers of water 2.0: how American and Chinese economic nationalism influence Canadian trade policy in the twenty-first century

While specific events and personalities have disrupted bilateral relations between Canada and its two largest trade partners of the United States and China, long-term challenges remain at the core of Canada's future trade relations with each. Under Presidents Trump and Xi, the United States and China respectively are pursuing nationalist economic agendas that seek to privilege domestic production while reducing reliance on imports. This paper analyzes the likely impacts of America First and Made in China 2025 strategies on Canada's own Supercluster plan for economic growth and export success. Significant overlaps in sectoral focus between all three strategies suggest that Canada faces stiff competition. The paper then considers whether changing geopolitical conditions create an impetus for Canada to revisit its shift away from prioritizing growth in natural resource sectors, exploring the example of rare earths and their importance for supply chains in the new economy.