U.S. President Donald Trump on the roof of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 5. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

Canada’s summer tariff war with the United States continues to generate fake deadlines and sensational headlines. “Trump hikes tariffs on Canada to 35%.” Well, no he didn’t, really, but never mind because it doesn’t really matter. The daily trade war skirmishes must be seen as preliminary events leading to the real U.S. trade challenge Canada will face in coming months when the existing Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) comes up for review.

CUSMA allows 95 per cent of Canadian exports to enter the U.S. duty free. Donald Trump’s 35 per cent tariff announcement last week — which only affected the remaining five per cent— was merely a wa

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