This is (hopefully) just bluster on Freeland's part to appease Canuck nationalists. If retaliatory tariffs are imposed, Canadian consumers will pay for them — just as Americans will ultimately pay the price for whatever stupid anti-Mexico tariffs Trump imposes on their southern border.

Moreover, the United States, as a larger and more diversified economy than Canada, would have a much easier time weathering a trade war, if the worst came to pass. US exports to Canada make up only 1.8% of their GDP, but Canadian exports to the US make up 20% of ours. We need them more than they need us.

And yes, there's always a large portion of Canadians willing to cut off their nose to spite their face. But that doesn't mean the government has to listen to them.