Hours before a midnight tariff deadline, Canada suspended trade negotiations with the United States and 50% tariffs took effect. Both governments blame the other. This lesson uses the collapse to ask why trade disputes are so difficult to end, especially considering the power asymmetry at play. In this case, is interdependence preventing conflict – or actually making it worse?
Members-only lesson
Get the full lesson
Three reading levels. Inquiry, critical thinking, and discussion built in. Ready to use today.
Included in this lesson
- PowerPoint Slides with concept intro, discussion, and current event overview
- A separate ready-to-print PDF document for each lesson level
- Thinking questions to connect to the concepts of power and interdependence
- Critical thinking activity about reasons why trade negotiations fail
- Research extension about media reactions to the failure of negotiations
Then $99 USD / year. Monthly and department plans also available.