Loud boos echoed through Canadian Tire Centre during the U.S. national anthem ahead of Saturday night’s Ottawa Senators vs. Minnesota Wild game.
The crowd’s reaction came just hours after President Donald Trump slapped new tariffs on Canadian imports, sparking immediate backlash.
Trump’s Tariff Shock Triggers Outrage
The Ottawa crowd cheered enthusiastically for the Canadian anthem but jeered during the American one. Earlier in the day, Trump declared an economic emergency, imposing a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports and a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. Canadian oil was also hit with a 10% tax.
Canada Fights Back With Its Own Tariffs
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded swiftly, announcing matching 25% tariffs on up to $155 billion worth of U.S. imports.
“It will have real consequences for you, the American people,” Trudeau warned, saying higher prices on groceries and other goods would be inevitable. Canada’s duties on $30 billion in U.S. alcohol and fruit will take effect Tuesday—the same day Trump’s tariffs go live.
Canada Wins On and Off the Ice
Adding to the night’s patriotic spirit, the Ottawa Senators crushed the Minnesota Wild in a 6-0 shutout.
Understanding Tariffs and Their Impact
Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, typically charged as a percentage of the purchase price. In the U.S., tariffs are collected at ports of entry. Previously, most goods moved tariff-free between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada under Trump’s USMCA trade deal. However, his latest tariffs mark a dramatic shift, reigniting trade tensions with America’s closest allies.
