How Canada’s Businesses Get Burned While Leaders Play Economic Chess

When giants play chess, we’re the ones getting crushed.

Donald Trump just threatened a 10% blanket tariff on all imports. Again. His logic? It’ll make America rich and, bizarrely, help Canada too. That’s not economic policy — that’s fan fiction.

Mark Carney, Canada’s ex-central banker turned Prime Minister, fired back. Canada would hold the line. No dropping tariffs until the U.S. learns to show respect. That word wasn’t accidental.

Then — in a twist no one saw coming — Carney pivoted. Praised the U.S. Called the relationship “strong.” Just months after calling for economic war, he’s playing peacemaker.

So which version is real? And more importantly — why are Canadian businesses always the ones left scrambling to adjust?

Welcome to the Firefight. We’re the Fuel.

This isn’t new. Every time a superpower tweaks its trade stance, small and mid-sized Canadian businesses get blindsided.

A Hamilton steel supplier wakes up to a 20% cost increase. A Calgary logistics firm loses its U.S. contract overnight. A Montreal startup can’t clear its AI hardware through a border caught in political crossfire.

75% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S.

One policy change. One tweet. One bad dinner between two leaders — and our entire economy catches a cold.

We’re not players in this game. We’re the pieces.

While They’re Shaking Hands, We’re Losing Leverage

The media will tell you the relationship is “resilient.” That cooler heads will prevail. They say “wait for negotiations.”

Let’s call that what it is: A luxury.

Waiting is a privilege when you’re not paying salaries, managing shipments, or negotiating with investors.

What small and mid-sized business in Canada has the time — or the balance sheet — to play diplomat?

At Rise With North, we’ve had enough of reactive economics. Enough of trade policy shaped by soundbites. Enough of wondering whose mood we’re supposed to build our quarter around.

We’re not interested in the next political handshake. We’re building the supply chains that don’t break under pressure.

Canada’s First B2B Platform Isn’t Here to Watch — We’re Here to Work

Rise With North was built for one thing: Giving Canadian businesses control.

• We’re not just connecting suppliers. We’re insulating them.
• We’re not just offering alternatives. We’re building resilience.
• We’re not waiting for a better deal from Washington — we’re making deals happen from Windsor to Whitehorse.

The old economy relied on cozy trade relationships. The new one relies on networks, speed, and sovereignty.

This Isn’t Just a Strategy — It’s Survival

Because let’s be clear: You can’t build your business on someone else’s agenda.

If you’re still basing inventory, sourcing, or expansion on what might happen in a U.S. election — you’re not running a business. You’re holding your breath.

That ends now.

“Canada needs to show the United States it can go elsewhere.”
– Mark Carney, March 2025

Exactly. And we agree — even if he doesn’t anymore.

Let Washington Tweet. Let Ottawa Clap Back. We’ll Be Busy Building.

Rise With North.

Canada Builds Here.

Join the platform. Explore Canadian supply chains. Stop gambling — start growing.