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Canada has been blessed by geography. Given the chance, any nation would choose the Americans as neighbours. The benefits of living next to (and being closely allied with) the greatest military and economic power in history has enriched Canada for generations, something the Mark Carney government should keep in mind as it navigates some of the more challenging aspects of having a great power for a neighbour.

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We have spent the last year responding emotionally to Donald Trump’s provocations. We are acting like our best friend turned on us. This happens to be true. But other countries, less motivated by hurt and anger, got on with business and found a path forward. It is true that we have more to lose, but that is all the more reason for us to get on with it calmly and rationally. For Canada, the country next-door remains the best game in town.

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In approaching trade negotiations, and the relationship more broadly, the Canadian government would do well to remember that the U.S. is more than just the Trump administration, and the U.S.-Canada relationship has been around for much longer and will continue to persist long afterward. What we can’t do is use this moment as a reason to grow closer to China, a non-ally that can’t be expected to stand with us in times of great upheaval.

This is the temptation that Prime Minister Carney and his team seem to be considering, however. It was this week that a delegation of Canadian officials travelled to Beijing to pave the way for........

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