WASHINGTON (August 25, 2026) – The U.S.-Canada trade relationship is facing renewed tensions after the United States imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $27.6 billion in Canadian goods on August 22, following the collapse of trade negotiations, with Canada preparing matching retaliatory tariffs effective September 8. The latest escalation is putting additional pressure on Canadian businesses and consumers while raising concerns about the broader economic relationship between the two countries. At the same time, the trade dispute is affecting travel, with Canadian visits to U.S. cities reportedly down 42% year-over-year as some Canadians continue to avoid the United States amid tariff tensions and deteriorating relations.
Faculty experts at George Washington University are available to offer insight and analysis on these developments. To schedule an interview with an expert, please contact Skyler Sales at skylers
gwu [dot] edu (skylers[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Tariffs
Rodney Lake is a teaching instructor of finance and the director of the GW Investment Institute at the GW School of Business (GWSB). At the GW Investment Institute, Lake teaches courses associated with student investment funds as well as oversees portfolios, connects with alumni and industry practitioners, leads the GW Investment Institute Live Show and other events, and oversees GW Investment Institute’s day-to-day operations. Prior to Lake’s current appointment in the GWSB Department of Finance and the GW Investment Institute, Lake worked as a senior investment officer in the GW Investment Office and was previously a senior financial analyst in the Executive Vice President and Treasurer’s Office at GW.
Travel Effects
Jungho Suh is an award-winning teaching assistant professor of management in the Department of Management at the George Washington University School of Business (GWSB), recognized with the GWSB Dean’s Award and the International Council for Small Business Presidential Award. Dr. Suh also serves as a project director of the Korean Management Institute. His areas of expertise include evidence-based entrepreneurship (EBE), strategic human resource management, service management, sustainability and ESG reporting in the travel industry, digital platforms in the service industry, and gastronomy tourism.
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