Joanna Smith

Reporter

Joanna Smith covers trade, particularly the Canada-U.S. relationship. She has been a journalist on Parliament Hill since 2008, including as a reporter for the Toronto Star and as Ottawa news editor and then bureau chief for The Canadian Press. She was most recently editor-in-chief of Kathari News, an online journalism startup with a focus on the global energy transition. She has also taught journalism at Carleton University and is on the board of directors at World Press Freedom Canada.

[email protected]

Articles by Joanna Smith

Trade deal with Mercosur would be a win for Canadian pharma, says Brazilian envoy

https://thelogic.co/news/trade-deal-south-american-mercosur-pharma/

By Joanna Smith | May 6, 2026

Talks with the South American trade bloc could wrap up by summer amid renewed push for an agreement

A shot of Mark Carney shaking hands with Lula, the Brazilian president, against a backdrop of trees and mountains.

Feds announce another $1.5B to help businesses hit hard by U.S. tariffs

https://thelogic.co/news/federal-funding-business-hit-tariffs/

By Joanna Smith | May 4, 2026

Ottawa unveils $1 billion loan program for firms exporting steel, aluminum or copper to the U.S., plus $500 million in aid for small and medium-sized businesses

A close-up of a worker welding in an industrial plant; there is a Canadian flag on the wall in the background.

Feds kick in $20M for battery-grade cobalt refinery in Ontario amid critical minerals push

https://thelogic.co/news/exclusive/federal-government-commits-20-million-electra-battery-cobalt-refinery/

By Joanna Smith | May 4, 2026

Electra Battery Materials is building what would be the first refinery of its kind in North America

An aerial shot of an industrial building in a clearing on a northern Ontario landscape. There are outbuildings and human-made ponds in the frame.

Canada tilts trade strategy toward investment as U.S. trade tensions persist

https://thelogic.co/news/spring-economic-update-canada-trade-trump-tariffs/

By Joanna Smith | Apr 28, 2026

Non-U.S. exports are rising, but the Liberal government is increasingly steering trade policy toward foreign investment.

Mark Carney emerges from a black van. A man wearing a dark suit and sunglasses stands behind him.

Briefing

Submarines to come ‘years earlier’ with procurement revamp, says Guzman

https://thelogic.co/briefing/submarines-to-come-years-earlier-with-procurement-revamp-says-guzman/

By Joanna Smith | Apr 27, 2026

Briefing

Canada’s Mint suspends buying ‘North American’ gold from Colombia

https://thelogic.co/briefing/canadas-mint-suspends-buying-north-american-gold-from-colombia/

By Joanna Smith | Apr 27, 2026

Siemens commits to keeping Canadian jobs after getting $23M from feds

https://thelogic.co/news/siemens-canadian-jobs-fed-funding/

By Joanna Smith | Apr 21, 2026

The German industrial giant says it will maintain at least 3,300 jobs in Canada in exchange for federal support of its battery R&D project in Ontario

A wide shot taken during a media tour of the Siemens display at Hannover Messe. The display is situated in a cavernous hall, and there are photographers with blue vests reading "Press" in the frame.

At Hannover Messe, Canadian firms try to turn Carney’s global trade talk into reality

https://thelogic.co/news/hannover-messe-firms-global-trade-reality/

By Joanna Smith | Apr 21, 2026

Germany's massive industrial fair is a showcase of high-tech wizardry. But for some Canadian firms, selling access to the U.S. remains the surest path to deals in Europe.

A high-angle shot of one of the pavilions at Hannover Messe, showing people lingering at a variety of robotics and technological display booths. Signs reading "Advanced Machine Engineering" and "Smart Manufacturing" hang from the ceiling.

How to get your robot on an airplane

https://thelogic.co/news/robots-on-airplanes-hannover-messe/

By Joanna Smith | Apr 17, 2026

Canadian tech firms dream of scoring deals at Hannover Messe, but just getting their gear to the world’s biggest industrial fair can be an adventure

Two women and a man in a trade-show pavilion watch a robot the size of a large dog jumping about a foot in the air. The man has his hands on his hips and one of the women is laughing.

Canada needs global partners on AI to counter hyperscalers, says Joly

https://thelogic.co/news/exclusive/joly-ai-trading-bloc-cohere-germany/

By Joanna Smith and Murad Hemmadi | Apr 17, 2026

Amid reports of a deal between Cohere and Germany’s Aleph Alpha, the industry minister calls for a “bloc” of like-minded countries to work together to help national AI champions grow.

A shot of Mélanie Joly on stage with the All In conference. She's wearing a white pantsuit and a headset microphone.

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Joanna Smith

Trade deal with Mercosur would be a win for Canadian pharma, says Brazilian envoy

Feds announce another $1.5B to help businesses hit hard by U.S. tariffs

Feds kick in $20M for battery-grade cobalt refinery in Ontario amid critical minerals push

Canada tilts trade strategy toward investment as U.S. trade tensions persist

Submarines to come ‘years earlier’ with procurement revamp, says Guzman

Canada’s Mint suspends buying ‘North American’ gold from Colombia

Siemens commits to keeping Canadian jobs after getting $23M from feds

At Hannover Messe, Canadian firms try to turn Carney’s global trade talk into reality

How to get your robot on an airplane

Canada needs global partners on AI to counter hyperscalers, says Joly

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Joanna Smith