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How Should Canada React to the Looming U.S. Trade War?

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  • Pau S. Pujolas
  • Jack Rossbach

Abstract

We apply the quantitative theory in Pujolas and Rossbach (2024), which determines optimal tariff rates in a multi-country, multi-sector general equilibrium model with input-output linkages and services trade, to a hypothetical trade war between the United States and Canada. While the United States can “win" a trade war if its tariffs against Canadian products are optimally chosen, a 25% across-the-board tariff met with optimal retaliatory tariffs by Canada causes the United States to also lose the trade war. Canada loses the trade war in all the scenarios we consider. However, the United States gains substantially more from engaging in a trade war with China than with Canada.

Suggested Citation

  • Pau S. Pujolas & Jack Rossbach, 2025. "How Should Canada React to the Looming U.S. Trade War?," Department of Economics Working Papers 2025-01, McMaster University.
    • Handle: RePEc:mcm:deptwp:2025-01
    as

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    File URL: http://socialsciences.mcmaster.ca/econ/rsrch/papers/archive/2025-01.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    5. Timothy J. Kehoe & Pau S. Pujolàs & Jack Rossbach, 2017. "Quantitative Trade Models: Developments and Challenges," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 9(1), pages 295-325, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trade War; Tariffs; Applied General Equilibrium; International Trade;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F11 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Neoclassical Models of Trade
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F17 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Forecasting and Simulation

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