In early 2024, when the Canadian government received a notice of potential new tariffs from the U.S., tension filled the Ministry of International Trade in Ottawa. Minister Eveline Marchand, holding a printed report from Washington, knew action was needed. This story isn’t just another trade dispute—it symbolizes a new chapter in U.S.-Canada relations. The U.S. had used tariffs before, from steel and aluminum to lumber and dairy. But this time, accusations of unfair subsidies came with threats of renegotiating trade agreements. Canada responded. Eveline called a closed session with leaders from forestry, energy, and agriculture, along with EU experts. They chose to push WTO reforms and open export talks with Asia. Meanwhile, in the U.S., industrial lobbies pressured Congress for protection, but lawmakers from border states warned that tariffs could cost American jobs, especially in the auto sector. Tensions grew until both sides met in New York. After three rounds of talks, Canada agreed to review subsidies, and the U.S. paused new tariffs. Yet both sides knew it was only a truce. The story isn’t over. Even close allies can turn into rivals. In Eveline Marchand’s office, that first Washington report remained—a reminder that 21st-century diplomacy demands more than words.