美国经济受挫之际，我却暗自窃喜（观点，中英对照）
多年来，美国经济的经济繁荣一直是我密切关注的事宜，因为我深知加拿大的繁荣与这个南方邻国息息相关。通货膨胀、失业率、利率——每一项经济指标都像是影响加国经济前景的晴雨表。对美国经济关切之背后的理念很简单，一个强劲的美国经济对加拿大来说是好消息。如果美国繁荣，其财富光环就会扩展到加国的贸易、投资和就业市场。
For years, I watched the U.S. economy with keen interest, knowing that Canada’s prosperity was inevitably tied to its southern neighbor. Every economic indicator—inflation, unemployment, interest rates—felt like a barometer for our own fate. The conventional wisdom was simple: a strong U.S. economy meant good news for Canada. If America thrived, its wealth would spill over, fueling our trade, investments, and job market.
但今年特朗普的上台，彻底打破了我的认知。
But then came Donald Trump.
他的总统任期改变了我对美国经济主导地位的看法。曾经是加拿大稳定力量的美国，如今却成了动荡甚至敌对情绪的来源。特朗普的激进贸易政策，尤其是他屡次威胁对加拿大商品加征关税，让这两个所谓的“一贯盟友之国"瞬间针锋相对，怒目相向。他处处高喊“美国优先”，而其行动却将加拿大利益踩在脚下。和美国经济伙伴关系，突然之间不再是加拿大赖以生存发展的根基，而是会给加国带来伤害的来源。
His presidency altered the way I viewed U.S. economic dominance. What was once a force of stability for Canada became a source of volatility, even hostility. Trump’s aggressive trade policies, particularly his repeated threats of tariffs on Canadian goods, turned our so-called best friend into an adversary. He spoke of “America First” but acted as though it meant “Canada Last.” The economic partnership we relied on suddenly felt like a liability rather than an asset.
特朗普的言论进一步加剧了这种情绪。他声称加拿大“如果没有与美国的贸易，就根本无法生存”，意指我们如果没有美国的支持，就无力生存发展。这种居高临下的并带羞辱的态度凸显了美国长期以来对加拿大的轻视，认为我们是他们身上的寄生虫，毫无独立自主之能力。
Trump's rhetoric only exacerbated this sentiment. He claimed that Canada is "not viable as a country" without U.S. trade, suggesting that our nation couldn't survive without American support. Such condescension underscored a longstanding perception that the U.S. looks down on Canada, viewing us as dependent and incapable of thriving independently.
起初，许多美国人对特朗普的贸易威胁不以为然，认为贸易战对他们强劲的经济影响微乎其微。然而，这种看法忽略了两国之间错综复杂的经济依存关系。例如，在制造业领域，加拿大从美国的进口量实际上高于对美出口。这种不平衡意味着，如果贸易紧张局势升级，美国制造商将面临严重的商业损失。
Initially, many Americans seemed unfazed by Trump's trade threats, believing that a trade war would have minimal impact on their robust economy. However, this assumption overlooked the intricate interdependencies between our nations. In the manufacturing sector, for instance, Canada imports more from the U.S. than we export to them. This imbalance means that American manufacturers stand to lose significant business if trade tensions escalate.
渐渐地，我对期待美国经济繁荣的热情消失殆尽。我不再为华尔街股市飙升或美国就业增长而站台，反而对美国陷入经济困境有种愉悦快感，对其增长放缓、通胀高企、股市下跌等消息情有独钟，暗地期望经济窘境能成为特朗普最极端经济政策的障碍。但要知道有我这种想法的不止我一个人。
Gradually, my quiet hope for a booming U.S. economy faded. Instead of cheering for Wall Street highs and American job growth, I found myself calculating how U.S. misfortunes—slower growth, stubborn inflation, or stock market dips—could act as a buffer against Trump's worst economic impulses. And I wasn’t alone.
目前，美国经济的确开始显现困境。通胀率攀升，消费者信心下降，股市波动不安。企业和消费者都对激进贸易政策可能带来的后果感到担忧。汽车制造业等主要行业纷纷发声，表达对成本上升和供应链受阻的忧虑。
The American economy began showing signs of strain. Inflation rates climbed, consumer confidence waned, and the stock market experienced volatility. Businesses and consumers alike grew apprehensive about the potential fallout from aggressive trade policies. Major sectors, including automotive and manufacturing, voiced concerns over increased costs and disrupted supply chains.
加拿大总理贾斯廷·特鲁多预测，美国消费者将首当其冲地承受关税战的影响，面临价格上涨和商品品种减少的局面。他的警告引发了美国主要汽车制造商的关注，这些企业要求推迟关税实施，担心会遭受重大财务损失并对经济造成严重冲击。
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau predicted that American consumers would bear the brunt of a tariff war, anticipating higher prices and reduced choices. His warnings were echoed by major U.S. automakers, who requested a postponement of the tariffs, fearing substantial financial losses and economic disruption.
没有加拿大人希望看到美国经济彻底崩溃。毕竟，我们仍然依赖这个最大的贸易伙伴。但在我人生中第一次不再认为美国经济遭遇困境和不幸是件坏事。事实上，这或许正是加拿大能度过特朗普第二任期难过所需要的。只有当美国人真正经历特朗普政策带来的后果时，他们才能意识到与加拿大关系的重要性。他们的些许经济灾难，或许正是我们摆脱困境的契机。
No Canadian wants to see the U.S. economy crash—we still depend on our largest trading partner. But for the first time in my lifetime, a little American economic misfortune doesn’t seem like such a bad thing. In fact, it might be exactly what Canada needs to weather the storm of Trump's second term. Only through experiencing the repercussions of their policies can Americans truly appreciate the importance of their relationship with Canada. Their pain might just be the relief we need.
