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US-Canada Trade War Could Raise Prices on Many Goods

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The trade war between the United States and Canada is getting worse, and it could soon affect the prices of many products. A trade war happens when countries charge extra fees, called tariffs, on goods coming from each other.

According to reports, several kinds of items could become more expensive because of this dispute. This means shoppers in both countries may need to pay more money for things they normally buy.

Businesses are already feeling the effects. One business owner said their company could lose half of its work because of the trade war. This shows how serious the situation has become for smaller companies.

Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, is at the center of the response to the trade war. An opinion piece about the situation said that Carney is doing what Canadian voters elected him to do.

This suggests that Carney's actions in the trade dispute match what many Canadians expected from him when he became prime minister. However, the trade war still creates uncertainty for businesses and workers.

Both countries are now bracing for more economic fallout. This word means the bad results that come after a big event, like a trade war.

As tensions continue, people in the US and Canada will likely be watching prices and business news closely to see how the situation develops.

Vocabulary10 words

trade war
when countries put extra costs on each other's goods
tariffs
extra fees paid on goods brought into a country
prime minister
the top leader of a country like Canada
uncertainty
not knowing what will happen next
fallout
the bad results that come after a big event
dispute
a disagreement between two sides
economic
related to money, jobs, and business
brace
to get ready for something difficult
elected
chosen by people through voting
opinion piece
an article showing one person's view

Quiz

1. What is happening between the US and Canada?
2. What did one business owner say about the trade war's effect on their company?
3. According to the opinion piece, what is Mark Carney doing?

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

The _____ between the United States and Canada is getting worse, and it could soon affect the prices of many products. A trade war happens when countries charge extra fees, called _____, on goods coming from each other.

According to reports, several kinds of items could become more _____ because of this dispute. This means shoppers in both countries may need to pay more money for things they normally buy.

Businesses are already feeling the effects. One business owner said their company could lose half of its work because of the trade war. This shows how serious the situation has become for smaller _____.

Canada's _____, Mark Carney, is at the center of the response to the trade war. An opinion piece about the situation said that Carney is doing what Canadian voters _____ him to do.

This suggests that Carney's actions in the trade dispute match what many Canadians expected from him when he became prime minister. However, the trade war still creates _____ for businesses and workers.

Both countries are now bracing for more economic _____. This word means the bad results that come after a big event, like a trade war.

Discussion questions

  1. Why do you think trade wars cause prices to rise for shoppers?
  2. How might a trade war affect small business owners differently than large companies?
  3. Do you think leaders should prioritize protecting their own country's businesses in a trade dispute? Why or why not?
  4. What could the US and Canada do to end this trade war peacefully?

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