Trade matters to everyone of us who is a consumer.  Ideally we should have a wide variety of alternative products available for us at the lowest possible prices and free trade on imports is the only way to guarantee this.  Ideally we also want free trade on exports so our most efficient industries can produce on a scale that allows the best economics and provides jobs for Canadians.

We have a natural advantage in trade to the US over most countries because of our geographical proximity.  If the US eliminates or reduces that advantage with tariffs we need to look at other locations where we might be able to sell our goods and get the treaties in place to ensure trade can be based on economics and not the whims of politicians.