SooToday received the following letter about Prime Minister Mark Carney's use of tariffs with the United States
Mark Carney’s use of retaliatory tariffs was a masterclass in strategy.
At first glance, it looked like escalation, but in truth it was leverage. By imposing tariffs on carefully chosen goods, Carney gave Canada bargaining chips without risking our core interests.
When the time came to ease tensions, he could remove them as if offering a real concession, while in reality giving up nothing. This was not about punishment, but positioning. Poilievre’s criticism that Carney “backed down” misses the whole point as the tariffs were designed from day one to be reversible, precisely so Canada could trade away something expendable.
That’s not weakness, it’s foresight.
Too often Canada reacts with few tools against bigger players. Carney flipped that script, showing smart leadership means creating levers you can later cash in.
He reassured Canadians while leaving room to compromise on our own terms.
That is the kind of strategic strength politics needs more of.
Robert Peace
Sault Ste. Marie