François Picard welcomed Jean Simard, president and CEO of the Aluminum Association of Canada, to discuss the escalating aluminum dispute between Ottawa and Washington. Simard described the conflict as more than a conventional trade disagreement, characterizing it as a nonsensical posture driven by President Donald Trump. He argued that strong American industrial demand, which already exceeds domestic production capacity, means tariffs cannot displace Canadian aluminum from the US market.
Simard said protectionism does not eliminate the two countries’ economic interdependence; it simply makes that relationship more costly. He emphasized that sustained pressure from Washington may instead accelerate structural change in Canada by encouraging the removal of internal trade barriers, broader export relationships, stronger support for strategic industries and research, and deeper ties with Europe.
In his view, continued US economic pressure could strengthen domestic support for resistance rather than prompt Canada to accept American demands. By asserting that Canada is “making a new country out of our country,” Simard captured the wider argument that the trade conflict, while disruptive, could provide an opportunity to reshape Canada’s economic model and develop partnerships around the world.
Europe occupies a central place in this transformation and could move from being a bystander to an active strategic partner. Simard said the dispute reflects a broader struggle over whether America’s allies will respond individually to US economic coercion or build greater collective strategic autonomy.
