Study Group with Deputy Prime Minster Chrystia Freeland: Canada – Elbows Up or 51st State?

The U.S. is Canada’s largest trading partner — and Canada is America’s largest export market. Canada and the United States are NATO and NORAD allies. Yet today the relationship has been complicated by repeated U.S. assertions that Canada should become the 51st state. Many Canadian exports to the U.S. now face tariffs of up to 35% despite the USMCA agreement which replaced NAFTA in 2019, and the administration has demanded additional trade concessions in advance of the mandatory joint review of the USMCA in July of 2026. In response, Canadian businesses and governments have removed American products from shelves and many Canadian families have cancelled their usual winter travel to sunny American destinations. 

How does Canada navigate a threat from its closest military and economic partner? Can Canada maintain both its sovereignty and prosperity? Can the Canada-US relationship recover?

GUESTS:

• Flavio Volpe (In-Person)
  President of Automotive Parts Manufacturers'​ Association
• Jean Simard (In-Person)
  President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aluminium Association of Canada
• Lana Payne (Virtual)
  Unifor National President

AUDIENCE: These conversations are open to members of the Harvard community. Please RSVP with a valid Harvard email address. 

OFF-THE-RECORD: In keeping with our long tradition at the IOP to ensure honest and candid discussions of politics, all IOP study groups are off-the-record.

Please register for this study group with a valid Harvard email address.