As a Canadian citizen—and as someone who applies critical thinking to my use of ChatGPT—I wanted to analyze the actual tariffs between Canada and the U.S.
There’s a lot of talk about trade imbalances, unfair tariffs, and economic policies, but what are the real numbers? Using ChatGPT’s reasoning tools, I conducted a fact-based comparison of current tariffs each country imposes on the other. The goal was simple: cut through the noise and present a clear, unbiased analysis.
Current Tariffs Between Canada and the U.S.
Below is a table showing the actual tariff rates currently applied on goods moving in each direction. These figures reflect the current state of trade under USMCA, not future projections or political rhetoric.
| Product | Tariff on US Goods Entering Canada (%) | Tariff on Canadian Goods Entering USA (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | 0-241% | 0-17% |
| Cheese | 0-245% | 0-12% |
| Butter | 0-298% | 0-12% |
| Poultry | 0-238% | 0-18% |
| Eggs | 0-163% | 0-13% |
| Barley | 0% | 0% |
| Wheat | 0% | 0% |
| Sugar | 0-8% | 0-3% |
Tariff ranges reflect variations due to trade agreements, import quotas, and specific product classifications.
Tariff ranges reflect variations due to trade agreements, import quotas, and specific product classifications.
Sources:
- Canada’s Tariff Schedule (Canada Border Services Agency): https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif-eng.html
- U.S. Tariff Schedule (U.S. International Trade Commission): https://hts.usitc.gov/
- USMCA Agreement Trade Rules (Government of Canada): https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/cusma-aceum/index.aspx?lang=eng
- WTO Tariff-Rate Quotas (World Trade Organization): https://www.wto.org/
- Agricultural Tariff Data (Dairy, Poultry, Sugar) (Canadian Dairy Commission, USDA, and WTO): https://www.dairyinfo.gc.ca/
Three Types of Bias I Mitigated in This Research
In conducting this research, I made sure to avoid three key biases that often distort trade discussions:
1️⃣ Confirmation Bias – Avoiding Pre-Set Assumptions
Many people assume that one country is treating the other unfairly, but political narratives don’t always align with reality (Source: USMCA Agreement [3]). Instead of accepting claims at face value, I used ChatGPT’s reasoning tools to verify actual tariff data.
2️⃣ Selection Bias – Getting the Full Picture, Not Just One Side
Headlines often focus on Canada’s highest tariffs (like dairy, which can exceed 200%) while ignoring the fact that many U.S. goods enter tariff-free (Source: Canada’s Tariff Schedule [1]). This comparison ensures we see both sides of the trade relationship, not just the most extreme cases.
3️⃣ AI Output Bias – Challenging AI to Be More Accurate
AI models like ChatGPT can repeat common misconceptions if we don’t structure our prompts carefully. Instead of asking leading questions, I designed prompts that required ChatGPT to reason through the data, cross-check figures, and present an unbiased breakdown (Source: AI Prompting Methods, OpenAI Research Papers). This approach turned ChatGPT into a fact-finding assistant rather than just a content generator.
The Value of Critical Thinking in AI-Assisted Research
This project wasn’t just about trade—it was an example of how critical thinking applies to AI tools like ChatGPT.
💡 AI is only as good as the questions we ask it. If we rely on it uncritically, we risk reinforcing our own biases. But when we approach it with skepticism, proper structuring, and fact-checking, we unlock its true potential as a reasoning tool.
By challenging AI to work beyond surface-level responses, we can apply it effectively in research, business, and problem-solving.
#TradeFacts #CriticalThinking #AIandTrade #Tariffs #FactChecking