Some media reaction, especially in Canada, was apocalyptic, but most in the US took it in stride, as did the financial markets and Congress. US president Donald Trump, in contrast, favours a negotiating approach that creates uncertainty because he thinks it gives him more leverage. US trade representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer is following in the footsteps of Trump’s previous USTR, Robert Lighthizer. One can disagree with Greer’s announced goal, which is to reduce US trade deficits with Canada and Mexico—I certainly do—but at least he has one. The biggest issue is security, which appears to mean protecting the US market from Chinese imports coming in through the “back doors” of Mexico and Canada.