Tariffs: Social Studies

*Choose ONE option*

  • Assign students different countries that represent unique trade interests and use class discussion or debate as a tool to share the complexities of international trade negotiations.
  • Explore how tariffs and potential trade war responses are represented in the political discourse (e.g., political cartoons, social media, news).
  • Assign students different political parties and have them research how ideology shapes the various positions being taken in the trade war, on both sides of the border.
  • Assign students different roles (e.g., small business owner, factory worker, consumer, CEO, advocate, premier, prime minister) and hold a stakeholder meeting where each student presents their position on possible trade war responses. Hold a vote to determine the best path forward for Canada. As a class, consider what other classes in other regions might think. Would they reach the same conclusion? Why or why not? What changes to the class decision would be required to create a national consensus?
  • Explore how tariffs and trade wars have influenced elections and voter opinions. How might this trade war impact Canadian politics? Discuss as a class.

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