Let’s get this straight: in the same week that President Trump gave the UK a velvet handshake—zero tariffs on aluminium, a fast-tracked trade agreement, and warm words about transatlantic unity—he doubled down on a trade brawl with Canada. Yes, Canada. The country that literally shares our border, energy grids, NORAD, and arguably, Netflix tastes. So…why the love for London and the left hook for Ottawa?
On May 8, Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer dropped the mic with a bilateral deal that completely removed aluminium tariffs between the U.S. and the UK. British exporters rejoiced. U.S. manufacturers welcomed the move. Downstream sectors, especially construction and automotive, started to breathe a little easier. And all the while, Canada—our #1 aluminium supplier—was handed a new set of penalties and retaliations. Again.
The timing couldn’t be more revealing. Now, while the UK has a golden pass to the U.S. market, Canadian producers face a 25% hike and the possibility of further restrictions. What happened to the “best friends forever” image we had with Canada? Did it expire? Or is this a deliberate strategy?
Could it be that Trump sees the UK as a useful wedge—a backdoor into Europe, or better yet, a compliant ally eager for trade outside the EU shackles? Could he be trying to break Europe’s cohesion by treating the UK as “a first among equals”? And in contrast, is Canada being used as leverage? Or, as a cautionary tale: “Play ball, or pay tariffs.”
It makes you wonder. Are we witnessing a realignment of America’s closest economic partners? Aluminium, seemingly innocuous, has become a diplomatic litmus test. It’s no longer just about metal—it’s a message. The U.S. is signalling who it trusts, who it rewards, and who it’s willing to pressure.
What’s next? Will Carney back down? Will the EU feel cornered and rush to the table with their own deal? Or will all of this spiral into a fractured West, where aluminium flows based on political gravity?
Either way, the signal is clear. The U.S. has moved to playing checkers with aluminium to playing chess with the future of global trade.