The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition that there was little Ottawa could have done differently to avoid the Trump administration invoking national security to slap steep tariffs on steel and aluminum. The Globe's Barrie McKenna writes that the Conservatives are trying to pin the blame for this unfortunate state of affairs on the Trudeau government's handling of the trade file. The Tories have vacillated between accusing the Liberals of not being amenable enough and not being tough enough. Mr. McKenna says the Tory attacks are unfair. Chrystia Freeland has been clear with U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and other top U.S. officials that Canada regards the tariffs as illegal and harmful to both countries. Mr. McKenna explains that Canada's dilemma is that the United States' take-no-prisoners stand on trade is not about us. Mr. McKenna says it is about the misguided promises that President Donald Trump made to Americans to get elected. Canada is a convenient foil for a President determined to make trade a defining issue. The Globe says it is absurd to think that Ottawa could have avoided the wrath of Mr. Trump by acting any differently. No amount of defiance would have changed the course of events.