Trudeau decided to go ahead with retaliatory tariffs even though Trump’s order includes a mechanism to escalate the rates if Canada retaliates against the U.S.
It seems to me like these proposed tariffs were just a way to get Canada and Mexico to come grovel and kiss Trump’s ring. Both countries naturally want to avoid such a destructive policy being put in place, so they’ll do what Trump asks for now. I expect these sorts of actions by Trump to continue throughout his term though. This begs the question, when will America’s historic allies finally have enough? I was thinking these tariffs would be the ripping off the band-aid moment that spurs Canada and potentially the rest of the west to start re-structuring its economy away from such an unreliable partner. I guess this tentative status quo will continue for now.
Oh the damage is done, there is no way Canada (not going to talk for other nations) will ever have as nice a trade relationship with the US. This was a wake up call for us and if we don’t diversify our trading partners then we deserve the pain the orange man will bring.
Keep in mind we have spent 50 plus years getting the raw end of the deal with the US (softwood lumber, coal, power, oil sands, water etc.) all well telling ourselves that this is building a strong bond with our neighbours, only to now have it all turn to ash.
Totally agree. If we can’t at least expect certainty out of the current arrangement, then we should stop with any sweetheart deals. It’s ironic that the gist of Trump’s views on international relations center on other countries pulling more of their weight, and it seems he will ultimately accomplish that, albeit by burning all the bridges established with said countries.
His obsession with trade deficits is really weird coming from the US that outsourced everything they could and became the largest consumer market. Its like he thinks other countries did that to the US and not you know what happened/is happening.
It seems to me like these proposed tariffs were just a way to get Canada and Mexico to come grovel and kiss Trump’s ring. Both countries naturally want to avoid such a destructive policy being put in place, so they’ll do what Trump asks for now. I expect these sorts of actions by Trump to continue throughout his term though. This begs the question, when will America’s historic allies finally have enough? I was thinking these tariffs would be the ripping off the band-aid moment that spurs Canada and potentially the rest of the west to start re-structuring its economy away from such an unreliable partner. I guess this tentative status quo will continue for now.
Oh the damage is done, there is no way Canada (not going to talk for other nations) will ever have as nice a trade relationship with the US. This was a wake up call for us and if we don’t diversify our trading partners then we deserve the pain the orange man will bring.
Keep in mind we have spent 50 plus years getting the raw end of the deal with the US (softwood lumber, coal, power, oil sands, water etc.) all well telling ourselves that this is building a strong bond with our neighbours, only to now have it all turn to ash.
Totally agree. If we can’t at least expect certainty out of the current arrangement, then we should stop with any sweetheart deals. It’s ironic that the gist of Trump’s views on international relations center on other countries pulling more of their weight, and it seems he will ultimately accomplish that, albeit by burning all the bridges established with said countries.
His obsession with trade deficits is really weird coming from the US that outsourced everything they could and became the largest consumer market. Its like he thinks other countries did that to the US and not you know what happened/is happening.