The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, Oct. 28, edition that many Canadian companies are caught in the tariff crossfire with President Donald Trump, including some who do not export any goods at all to the U.S. The Globe's regular guest columnist Gordon Pape writes that one example is Descartes Systems Group. It is in the business of providing a wide range of information and solutions for companies involved in global trade. Its stock, which posted a 47-per-cent gain last year, is off 17.4 per cent year-to-date in the light of what chief executive officer Edward Ryan referred to the "very challenging market conditions" faced by Descartes and its clients. Despite respectable gains in revenue and profits in the first half of the year, Descartes's stock is viewed negatively due to concerns about slowing global trade impacting future business. Mr. Ryan, however, believes this will not happen, despite escalating trade wars. Descartes faces a paradox: As global trade rules grow more complex, its services are in higher demand, yet lower trade volumes reduce potential demand. Mr. Pape originally recommended Descartes on Oct. 30, 2017, at $37.83. It closed Friday at $135.61. Mr. Pape rates Descartes "hold."