Montreal, May 22, 2025 – Faced with the renewed surge in American protectionism, the Centre for Productivity and Prosperity – Walter J. Somers Foundation (CPP) has now published Productivity: the key to a strong, resilient domestic market. Its main finding is categorical: Canada’s structural productivity deficit is drastically limiting its room to manoeuvre in efforts to counter American tariffs.
“Because it was unable to make corrections 15 years ago, when the warning signs were flashing, Canada is now exposed to mounting American protectionism, since its sizeable structural productivity deficit limits its opportunities to develop new markets, both internationally and domestically,” says Robert Gagné, CPP Director and co-author of the study. “And regardless of what we hear, tearing down barriers to interprovincial trade will not be enough to offset the impact of threatened US tariffs.”
