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Joanna Smith

Joanna Smith

@joannasmith.bsky.social

4K followers 790 following 160 posts

Political journalist in Ottawa covering trade and Canada-U.S. relations for The Logic | Director at World Press Freedom Canada | Amateur Fiddler | Here to learn and share about the craft, business and protection of the press and its people.

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Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Sep 16

The U.S. government is encouraging domestic industries to snitch on businesses they suspect of evading tariffs as part of a trade-fraud crackdown that some lawyers say should put Canadian companies on guard. More in @thelogic.co on how to stay out of trouble.
thelogic.co/news/us-trad...
#TradeSky

U.S. ‘trade fraud’ crackdown spells risk for Canadian firms—even if they follow the rules - The Logic

A new task force is encouraging U.S. businesses to tattle on rivals they think are tariff cheats. For exporters, there’s no margin for error.

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · 5d

Canada's border agency says it has taken steps to stop outages on a $706-million digital system to assess and collect customs duties and taxes. The glitches were one reason the platform landed on a U.S. list of non-tariff trade barriers
thelogic.co/news/canada-... #TradeSky

Canada’s new online customs system is plagued by glitches - The Logic

Ottawa says it has taken steps to stop constant outages that landed the $706-million tool on a U.S. list of non-tariff trade barriers

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · 13d

Donald Trump said his tariffs on Canada are part of “natural business conflict,” but predicted Carney and his team would leave Washington happy thelogic.co/news/carney-... #TradeSky

Steel and aluminium talks heat up after Carney's visit to White House - The Logic

The U.S. president hinted at a compromise on autos while hosting Mark Carney at the White House. But he sent mixed messages on the future of the USMCA.

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · 17d

Meta, Pembina near deal to build massive Alberta AI data centre
thelogic.co/news/meta-pe...

Read the exclusive story by Jesse Snyder in @thelogic.co

Meta, Pembina near deal to build massive Alberta AI data centre - The Logic

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · 27d

Trade reporter complaint incoming: We can get used to the North American free trade deal having three different names (USMCA, CUSMA and T-MEC). What is harder: automated transcripts that turn CUSMA into "Kuzma," or "Kusuma," etc. Surely by now, they could figure it out?

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · 28d

In Canada, "the public square is loud, diverse and free," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says at event hosted by Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Sep 19

“Is that unequivocal enough for you?” PM Mark Carney asked reporters, after saying Canada would not cut Mexico out of a trade deal with the U.S. “Because if you want it to be unequivocal, just write down ‘unequivocal.'”

#TradeSky #USMCA #CUSMA #TMec

thelogic.co/news/mexico-...

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Sep 18

Taking off for Mexico City to cover PM Carney's meeting with President Sheinbaum. Here's my story on Canada-Mexico trade, and a relationship that needs some work: thelogic.co/news/canada-... #TradeSky

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Sep 17

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate to 2.5 per cent amid slow growth worries thelogic.co/news/bank-of...

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate to 2.5 per cent amid slow growth worries - The Logic

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Sep 16

The U.S. government is encouraging domestic industries to snitch on businesses they suspect of evading tariffs as part of a trade-fraud crackdown that some lawyers say should put Canadian companies on guard. More in @thelogic.co on how to stay out of trouble.
thelogic.co/news/us-trad...
#TradeSky

U.S. ‘trade fraud’ crackdown spells risk for Canadian firms—even if they follow the rules - The Logic

A new task force is encouraging U.S. businesses to tattle on rivals they think are tariff cheats. For exporters, there’s no margin for error.

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Sep 5

It turns out you can't claim the USMCA/CUSMA carve-out on packages being shipped through Canada Post, which is a big problem now that Trump ended the 'de minimis' exemption. More from @lauraosman.bsky.social for @thelogic.co thelogic.co/news/canada-... #TradeSky

The end of de minimis deals a brutal blow to Canada Post - The Logic

The postal service 'will have no commercial business’ to U.S. as small businesses scramble for alternatives, customs expert warns

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Sep 5

How a group of farmers in Saskatchewan are using a non-GMO canola product to protect their family legacy, gain independence and boost profits thelogic.co/news/the-big... #agriculture

Crushing the trade war: Saskatchewan canola farmers bet on U.S. health-food market - The Logic

How farmers are using a non-GMO canola product to protect their family legacy, gain independence and boost profits

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Sep 4

Online sellers in Canada are joining the paperwork push to avoid U.S. tariffs on low-value goods thelogic.co/news/de-mini...

#TradeSky

Small merchants rush to claim USMCA carve-out as de minimis ends - The Logic

Online sellers in Canada are joining the paperwork push to avoid U.S. tariffs on low-value goods

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 29

Things to watch out for next:

1. The Trump administration is widely expected to appeal.

2. How this might Canada-U.S. talks: USMCA carve-out has already shielded many goods from the tariffs in this ruling. Sector-specific tariffs, which Trump is unlikely to lift entirely, doing more damage.

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 29

Here’s the ruling: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.com

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 29

Things for Canadians to know:

1. The ruling applies to the fentanyl-related tariffs (now at 35% or 10% for energy & potash)

2. It would not take effect till Oct. 14

3. It does not apply to tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos or copper (imposed by other means)

www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

Federal appeals court strikes down major chunk of Trump’s tariffs

The ruling will not take effect right away, giving the administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court.

www.politico.com

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 29

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump had no legal right to impose sweeping tariffs but left in place for now his effort to build a protectionist wall around the American economy.

#TradeSky #Tariffs #CanadaUS

www.yahoo.com/news/article...

Appeals court finds Trump’s sweeping tariffs unconstitutional but leaves them in place for now

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump had no legal right to impose sweeping tariffs but left in place for now his effort to build a protectionist wall around the American ec...

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 29

Canada’s AI minister used a Google tool to learn about an unpassed bill on privacy and AI. When @thelogic.co did the same, the results were far from perfect.

Story by @davidreevely.bsky.social

thelogic.co/news/evan-so...

#AI #cdnpoli

We tried the AI tool Evan Solomon used to summarize an AI bill. It didn't go well - The Logic

Canada's AI minister used a Google tool to learn about an unpassed bill on privacy and AI. When The Logic did the same, the results were far from perfect.

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 27

U.S. trade data blurs view of Canada’s carve-out from Trump tariffs, says report by Oxford Economics thelogic.co/briefing/u-s...

#TradeSky

U.S. trade data blurs view of Canada’s carve-out from Trump tariffs: Oxford Economics - The Logic

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 25

Come work with me! @thelogic.co is hiring a business reporter to work on the finance desk in Toronto. More details here: thelogic.applytojobs.ca/editorial/41... Please send a DM if you want to hear how great it is to work here, or have any questions. Please share!
#cdnmedia #journojobs

The Logic Job Board - Business reporter

Job vacancy for the role of Business reporter

thelogic.applytojobs.ca

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 21

Is it time for Canada to modernize how it tracks (and thinks about) international trade? thelogic.co/news/canada-... #TradeSky #TradeData

Canada's trade data is too slow and overstates trade with U.S., says new report - The Logic

Canada should modernize how it tracks trade so the data better captures the scale of digital services exports, analysis finds

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 19

China has banned Canadian beef imports for years. Summaries of WTO meetings suggest Canada remains mystified—and exasperated—over how long it is taking to resolve the impasse.
What's this trade beef all about? My latest for @thelogic.co thelogic.co/news/china-c...

#TradeSky

Why China's ban on Canadian beef just won't go away - The Logic

Nearly four years ago, Beijing slammed the door on $193M worth of annual Canadian beef imports. It's still shut tight.

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 13

Read our initial investigation here: thelogic.co/news/the-big... via @thelogic.co

Saudi Investment Bank says it has nothing to do with mysterious Canadian lobbyist - The Logic

A B.C. man claiming to represent the bank raised hopes of Saudi money pouring into major projects in Canada. A bank official now calls the claims 'gibberish.'

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 13

A registry set up to shed light on attempts to influence government policy is vulnerable to misrepresentations, the federal lobbying watchdog acknowledged after her office published false claims about a Middle Eastern bank's interests in Canada. What went wrong? thelogic.co/news/saudi-s... #cdnpoli

Saudi bank saga reveals the lobbying registry’s vulnerability - The Logic

A report from The Logic could be a wake-up call about a system that wasn’t designed to prevent fraud, experts say

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 11

Pshhhkkkkkkrrrrkakingkakingkakingtshchchchchchchchcch!

Nope, this is not a covfefe-style pocket post. It's my new favourite onomatopoeia, courtesy of @muradhem.bsky.social

What does it mean? Check out The Logic Briefing, an award-winning newsletter from @thelogic.co

Find it here: thelogic.co

Home - The Logic

Canada's business and tech newsroom

Joanna Smith @joannasmith.bsky.social · Aug 11

An updated guide to the various layers of U.S. tariffs on Canada to help you keep track of what’s officially on paper, not just what President Donald Trump’s saying out loud. thelogic.co/news/trump-t... #TradeSky #Tariffs #CanadaUS

Everything you need to know about U.S. tariffs on Canada - The Logic

This is how Donald Trump's trade war is hitting Canadian goods—from softwood lumber to metals and autos