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The mystery at the heart of Trump’s trade war

There is no prominent think tank, industry or pundit that wants an all-out clash with Canada. So why is Trump obsessed?

This story appeared in Today, Explained, a daily newsletter that helps you understand the most compelling news and stories of the day. Subscribe here.

I spent Labor Day weekend in Montreal, and signs of the trade war were everywhere.

On Google Maps, which — at least until we crossed over the border — jarringly displayed the label “Lake America” where “Lake Ontario” used to be. Along Highway 2, which runs beside the St. Lawrence River, and where lawns sprouted signs with slogans like “Canada, strong and free.” On the TV in the hotel lobby, where a brisk CBC segment reported that Canadians overwhelmingly support Prime Minister Mark Carney’s retaliatory tariffs against the US.

Those tariffs, incidentally, went into effect this morning — targeting roughly $20 billion in US products.

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The levies are Canada’s response to the........

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