Investor Kevin O’Leary urged investors to look beyond Canada’s tariff-driven economic turmoil and focus on where markets are headed, arguing that the disruption could create an opportunity to invest near the bottom. In a post on X dated August 31, 2026, O’Leary said the tariff environment could not continue indefinitely because of the economic damage it could cause. Referring to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, he said Carney could not sustain 50% tariffs on the Canadian economy without pushing the country into a recession. O’Leary also questioned whether 26 states in the US could maintain 50% tariffs against their biggest trading partner, saying President Donald Trump understood the economic stakes. He characterized the period as politically motivated and estimated that the disruption could last 60 or 90 days, potentially allowing investors to enter Canada at the bottom and pursue returns over the next five years. The comments came as political and trade pressure intensified. Economist Justin Wolfers said Trump’s tariff threats had placed Canada in a difficult political position, with the dispute touching national sovereignty and political survival as well as trade. Canada and the US already have the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), while Trump’s push for a new deal and comments about making Canada the 51st state fueled Canadian outrage. Wolfers said Carney had little political room to avoid retaliation. Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich called the escalating trade dispute irrational and warned that higher Canadian wood prices could worsen the US housing market after new-home sales fell 10.5% in July. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Canada would be foolish to believe it could win a trade war with Trump and predicted Carney would return to negotiations as tariffs pressure Ottawa. Canada has vowed to match US tariffs dollar for dollar starting Sept. 8. Former Vice President Mike Pence separately warned that the measures could hurt American consumers and businesses, emphasizing that American businesses and consumers pay American tariffs and urging negotiations over confrontation.