“This looks a lot like the future of Donald Trump’s trade policy because it gives him flexibility,” says Eric Miller, head of the Rideau Potomac Strategy Group, a trade consultancy in Washington. This bullying appears to be hurting Mr Carney domestically, particularly the Gordie Howe mortification. After Mr Trump demanded and received a new deal, Mr Carney claimed repeatedly that Canada’s costs would still be paid first. That same poll shows that Canadians remain outraged by Mr Trump’s tariffs; almost two-thirds want Mr Carney to strike back with tariffs of his own. Mr Carney has sent negotiators back to Washington with instructions to intensify discussions aimed at extending USMCA.