Starlink was arrested in the middle of Trump’s trade war

The trade war began to obtain a character of Eileon Musk. At the same time it is He invited the best trade consultant for President Donald Trump “Close to a Brick bag,” Musk will lose hundreds of millions of dollars in Canadian subsidies to serve online via satellite, Starlink.

It was a troubled month for Starlink and Canada. On March 4, Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford Starlink A $ 100 million contract. Quebec, which has spent 130 million dollars to provide citizens with the STARLONK service that has been released over the past three years, He told the Financial Times It will not renew the contract when it ends in June. On April 3, Prime Minister Yukon said that he would follow his example, eliminating the largest possible number of stars.

“Mr. Musk is part of a threat to our sovereignty as long as it helps and incites President Trump,” Jeff WhiteThe Executive Director of the Defense Center for the Public Authority told CNET. “I think we need to take a serious look on whether we want this company to provide the service at all.”

The documents reviewed by The Financial Times show that Bell Canada – the largest communication company in the country through revenues – and its subsidiary Northwestel pressed the Canadian government to maintain Starlink from obtaining subsidies to serve remote northern regions in the country. According to Starlink, the company has ended 400,000 subscribers in Canada As of June 2024.

The situation reminds us of Starlink 900 million dollars in granting the American wide range Three years ago. This offer was finally rejected because Starlink could not show that it could fulfill the FCC speed requirements. Since then, the company has turned into the United States. After musk He spent 132 million dollars To elect Republican candidates in 2024, Starlink is now preparing to receive up to $ 20 billion in rural wide support.

While Trump announced a temporary stop for 90 days in the definitions on Wednesday, it is unclear whether Canada will retract it. Starlink was a great benefit for Canadians in remote areas without any other reliable internet options, but it was also criticized because of its high price. Starlink costs $ 140 a month in Canadian dollars (currently $ 99), compared to $ 120 per month in the United States.

A representative of Starlink did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Other countries are taking a more reconciliation approach

The customs tariff was not a guilt death penalty for Starlink elsewhere in the world. Before Trump’s “Liberation Day” on April 2, Vietnam granted the approval of Starlink to work in this country on an experimental basis until 2030 – a step Some analysts offer As an effort by the country to avoid exposure to American definitions due to its great bilateral trade surplus.

Bangladesh also highlighted Starlink a few days before its imports were hit by 37 %. On April 8, Brazil Starlink allowed the operation of 7,500 additional satellites in the country – more than multiplied by satellites 4,408 Starlinks currently allowed to work there.