Trump & Tariffs

Trump’s Tariffs and the Impact on Canada-US Lacrosse

Duane Bratt

 March 2025

            Almost immediately after being inaugurated on January 20, 2025, United States President Donald Trump has launched a trade war against Canada. Canada has periodically had trade disputes with the United States, whether it was dairy, lumber, steel, aluminum, beef, etc. What is different this time is the comprehensiveness of the tariffs, the on/off again aspect, and the changing rationale for the tariffs. For example, is about Canada’s trade surplus, perceived unfair trading practices (like Canada’s Supply Management for Dairy), border security and the flow of Fentanyl, insufficient Canadian defence spending, etc? Making matters much worse is the sustained Trump rhetoric about annexing Canada, calling it America’s 51^st state, threatening to redraw the international boundaries, and repeatedly referring to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “Governor Trudeau.” In short, it is no exaggeration to say that Canada-US relations are at their worst level since the 19^th century.

Given this existential crisis to the Canadian economy, territorial integrity, political independence, and identity, it seems a bit silly to wonder about the impact of a game. Nevertheless, lacrosse provides a microcosm about how the Trump challenge is impacting on all aspects of Canada-US relations.

Prior to Trump’s second inauguration, there was plenty of integration between Canada and the United States in lacrosse. The professional National Lacrosse League (NLL) has teams in both countries, and American teams rely heavily on Canadian players. There are even some American players on Canadian teams. Cross-border leagues also extend to amateur lacrosse, with the SrB Can-Am league with teams in Ontario and New York State. There are hundreds of Canadians (male and female) playing lacrosse at American universities. This extends to the top Division I programs such as Syracuse, North Carolina, Duke, and Johns Hopkins to smaller Division III programs. There are Americans participating in Canada’s junior leagues. Canadian youth field teams often attend tournaments in the US, and US youth both teams attend tournaments in Canada. For example, for two decades teams from California and Denver have attended the prestigious Calgary Canada Day tournament. Equipment is manufactured on both sides of the border and is traded back and forth.

We are still in early days (although it feels like a lifetime), but many of these interactions are in jeopardy. The trade war may result in a drop of Canadian GDP and the loss of employment of hundreds of thousands of Canadians. It will also economically hurt the US. Will parents be willing or able to pay for expensive US lacrosse trips? This economic crisis could lead to a drop in the value of the Canadian dollar. What impact will this have on Canadians attending US universities (which are already much more expensive than Canadian ones)? Tariffs will make lacrosse equipment more expensive. Whether they are made in Canada, the US, or third countries such as China. Lacrosse is often out of reach for poorer families, and this trade war will make that class issue even more pronounced.

Politically, there are statistics showing Canadians are boycotting visiting the US. Will this extend to attending American lacrosse tournaments and/or enrolling in American universities? There has also been, like in hockey and basketball, the booing of the American national anthem at NLL games in Canada. Imagine the potential reaction of an American parent at a Canadian lacrosse tournament with a MAGA hat or t-shirt? Elbows Up might not just be a slogan.

Restrictions on foreign visas (students and workers), and the seeming desire of the Trump Administration to revoke them at any time for any reason (see comments by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio), could hurt Canadian lacrosse players/coaches at both the professional and university level.

The border could also be hardened making it more difficult for cross-border travel for lacrosse teams and players. Especially affected would be Canadian players who are on US-based NLL teams. NLL travel is already complicated: a weekend league, players living in different parts of North America, flying commercial, and centres outside of regular hubs (Saskatoon, Albany, Rochester, etc). A more hardened border would make it even worse.

The full impact of deteriorating Canada-US relations, caused by one man (Donald Trump), has yet to hit. But it would be foolish to think that lacrosse would remain unaffected. This is so sad and tragic for all lacrosse aficionadas in both countries. And absolutely unnecessary.    

Duane Bratt is a longtime lacrosse volunteer in Canada, but is also a political scientist at Mount Royal University in Calgary. He has taught courses in international relations, international trade, and Canadian Foreign Policy. He is co-editor of a three volume book series entitled Readings in Canadian Foreign Policy: Classic Debates and New Ideas (Oxford University Press). And spent the spring/summer of 2003 as a visiting professor at American University in Washington (where he attended an AU lacrosse game and bought a t-shirt). He also regularly comments on political events in the media (both Canadian and American).