As inventory markets and commodities like oil journey a commerce warfare curler coaster, the Canadian dollar has been inching again up after a dip and hitting as excessive as 71 close to the top of the buying and selling day on Wednesday.
Can it final?
The Canadian greenback has been reacting to the dips and shocks of the inventory market chaos introduced on by U.S. President Donald Trump’s commerce warfare.
World shares slumped on Wednesday after Trump’s newest tariff hikes took impact, and he threatened so as to add nonetheless extra. Uncertainty is operating excessive about what Trump will do subsequent in his commerce warfare, and the European Union unveiled that bloc’s retaliation plans set to hit next week.
Let’s dive into what’s behind the loon’s energy proper now, and what it means for the Canadian economic system.
The place is the loonie proper now?
The worth of the Canadian greenback has been considerably low at about 70 cents USD, but it surely has slowly been inching again up, gaining almost a full cent at one level Wednesday.
This comes as inventory markets roil and commodities like oil hit a four-year low over the U.S. global tariffs, and the loonie, whereas not proof against modifications, has to this point managed to tread water within the storm.
With the longer term something however sure, what do the financial headwinds imply for common Canadians who wish to get essentially the most bang for his or her buck?
Nicely, like many financial elements, there are a number of contributing components to the place the loonie goes.

What’s the loonie doing now?
In a way, Canadians are seeing a slight bounce for our greenback due to the way it stacks up with different currencies — specifically, the U.S. greenback.
Due to the weak outlook, American traders might look extra to north of the border when contemplating the place to take a position their cash amid the turbulence.

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“The tariff exemption for items that adjust to the USMCA commerce settlement between the US, Mexico and Canada has helped the loonie outperform some main friends in current days,” stated Mirza Baig, a international change strategist at Desjardins talking in an interview.
“Repatriation flows from Canadian traders may additionally have helped stabilize the Canadian greenback,” Baig stated.
Though Trump’s commerce warfare is predicted to negatively have an effect on Canada’s economic system total, it is probably not as unhealthy as locations just like the European Union and particularly China due to the North American commerce deal that was negotiated by the U.S. president throughout his first time period.
Canada additionally averted the newest spherical of “reciprocal” tariffs final week.
“Canada escaped being named within the Trump administration’s newest spherical of tariff will increase,” says senior market strategist at Corpay Karl Schamotta. “Though we’re nonetheless getting hit with a considerable improve in commerce duties, we’re not prone to harm as badly as another international locations.”
Who will really feel the impression from a stronger or weaker loonie?
The Canadian greenback is probably not getting hit has badly from the commerce warfare as different currencies, however the financial outlook is dim with consultants pricing in a recession this 12 months — particularly in the US.
Karl notes, “The U.S. greenback is falling as traders decrease their development expectations for the American economic system … cash is transferring out of the US and into different areas of the world.”
Buyers are additionally wanting outdoors of the US extra now that there’s a lot volatility, in addition to weak spot within the U.S. greenback, and lots of could also be seeking to purchase Canadian foreign money whereas it’s priced low.
Up to now, a stronger loonie might need inspired extra Canadians to journey south of the border to benefit from the higher change charge, however these tariffs have left a bitter word for a lot of leading to less travel to the United States.

Canadian companies are additionally going to have a tricky time adapting to attenuate the impression of those tariffs — even when the loonie good points in energy.
“Asian international locations have been disproportionately focused by the Trump administration’s tariffs, and because of this, it will impression U.S. retailers who supply their items from these international locations,” says the Retail Council of Canada.
“The knock-on impact of the tariffs on client confidence, inflation, the U.S. economic system, and the Canadian economic system will stay a problem for Canadian retailers to navigate for weeks and months to return.”
To place it merely: a powerful loonie might profit the Canadian economic system, however with so many transferring components and quite a lot of financial uncertainty it may be exhausting to know whether or not the loon flies, floats, or dives because the commerce warfare rages on.
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