We re “deeply intertwined”. Sacred line. But what does that actually mean?I m sure for people versed in economics and business it s clear as day. For some Canadians, this being pushed against the wall is getting to a sticking point. For all the Prime Minister talks about maybe putting US booze back on the shelves if things go well with CUSMA, the decision to stop buying US is from us common folk, not the politicians who were flying after us to catch up.
And so what if we also drew a deeper line. Well a lot of us already are, but I bet the latest tariffs have persuaded many more to avoid more american goods. I cancelled netflix and amazon over. a year ago but what if more of us went there? Especially if we start getting great foreign films arriving here. Bring me Nordic Noir from the North!
And what is that inextricable stuff or services or jobs? What if that range keeps getting smaller and smaller? What do they boil down to? Maybe we could be fine on our own or at least choose the hurts we go through while recovering our independence.
I agree with everything you say, Bev. Frankly, unlike my polite comments on Canadian/US matters, I am in a foul mood. Thanks to the American extortion of OUR bridge and the latest tariffs announced. This unprovoked trade war with the US will only worsen.
Our family has purchased American produce or products only when necessary or not available anywhere else. No we’ll join the diehard Canucks and boycott every product shipped across the 49th parallel to us.
To repeat what another Canadian said on Substack “Canadians have two phrases, ‘Sorry and you’ll be sorry’”.
This suggestion may seem simplistic but sometimes the most effective actions are the simplest ones. Canada should enact a, let's call it an "Export Tax", on all goods exported to countries imposing what are considered "unfair" tariff practices. Also, an environmental tax should be applied to all electrical exports in the same manner, to help in the fight against climate change and damage.
There's certainly an argument for responding in kind, Ron.
My only caution is that every countermeasure has a cost.
An export tax might put pressure on the U.S., but it could also make Canadian products less competitive in other markets if we're not careful.
Canada's strongest long-term strategy is probably a mix of targeted retaliation, expanding trade with other partners, and steadily reducing our dependence on any single customer.
The catch, Fred, is "unfair " tariff practices. Any country the does not fall under that title would be exempt (favored status) of the export tax. The days of playing nice have to be cast aside in these dire times, whether we like it or not.
“Healthy partnerships work best when neither side feels trapped”. An appropriate comment in your great article, Fred. As one of 41 million souls, I’m done with healthy relationships. Trade with the US, mandatory and necessary while diversifying anywhere but across the border.
Trade will normalize at some point and I believe our relationship with the US will hopefully become exactly transactional. And forget and discard all the feel good Canada/US amity and nonsense we have convinced ourselves to be true. Sorry, but not sorry.
IMO Canada should do nothing. Every day that CUSMA is not settled increases the pressure on all Republicans who are hoping to be re-elected to their seats in November. Mr. Greer says Canadians talk but don’t give in and that frustrates him because, I assume, Trump will not allow the American team to make any concessions. Mr. Navarro calls Canadian negotiators “backstabbers”. How is that possible? This is not a wrestling match. It’s adults sitting at a table talking numbers. Trump never caves so it’s a stalemate until the Republican politicians dethrone him. Elbows up!
I’m of the opinion that all those things left off this list ARE very important to the USA’s survival and it’s those portions that we should be slamming massive export taxes on and I do mean MASSIVE.
They should make buying a barrel of oil cost twice s much as a barrel bought at market value for the simple reason that as of this moment in time Canada is the ONLY country the USA can buy heavy oil from thanks to their own idiocy in Iran, and what with draining their own reserves down to zero and not getting anywhere near enough after they stole Venezuela! They NEED that oil because almost every refinery they have requires that oil to be able to manufacture gasoline and diesel.
And we should stop selling electricity to ANY US state, based on our own SECURITY issues!
It really is explained by economics 101: 'don't put all your eggs in one basket'.
Given our PM is a master economist, that is one of the reasons he's been working non-stop to establish trade deals around the world and why he's also working with Premiers to get Canadians building again - infrastructure, businesses, mining, a cross-Canada electrical grid, etc. This is a new positive chapter in this country. This new focus in CDN will soon leave the US in our productive dust and perhaps engaging in a bit of self reflection - or not. None-the-less, yesterday is not tomorrow. The page has turned.
We re “deeply intertwined”. Sacred line. But what does that actually mean?I m sure for people versed in economics and business it s clear as day. For some Canadians, this being pushed against the wall is getting to a sticking point. For all the Prime Minister talks about maybe putting US booze back on the shelves if things go well with CUSMA, the decision to stop buying US is from us common folk, not the politicians who were flying after us to catch up.
And so what if we also drew a deeper line. Well a lot of us already are, but I bet the latest tariffs have persuaded many more to avoid more american goods. I cancelled netflix and amazon over. a year ago but what if more of us went there? Especially if we start getting great foreign films arriving here. Bring me Nordic Noir from the North!
And what is that inextricable stuff or services or jobs? What if that range keeps getting smaller and smaller? What do they boil down to? Maybe we could be fine on our own or at least choose the hurts we go through while recovering our independence.
You make a good point, Bev.
"Deeply intertwined" doesn't mean permanently dependent.
It simply reflects how our economies were built over decades.
The question now is how much of that dependence we choose to keep.
Every new supplier, every new export market, and every Canadian-made purchase makes that web a little less tangled.
We don't have to cut every thread overnight... we just have to stop weaving new ones that leave us vulnerable.
I agree with everything you say, Bev. Frankly, unlike my polite comments on Canadian/US matters, I am in a foul mood. Thanks to the American extortion of OUR bridge and the latest tariffs announced. This unprovoked trade war with the US will only worsen.
Our family has purchased American produce or products only when necessary or not available anywhere else. No we’ll join the diehard Canucks and boycott every product shipped across the 49th parallel to us.
To repeat what another Canadian said on Substack “Canadians have two phrases, ‘Sorry and you’ll be sorry’”.
I think a lot of Canadians are feeling exactly that shift, Scott.
This isn't about anger for its own sake... it's about trust.
Once trust is damaged, people change their habits.
Governments negotiate agreements, but consumers make their own decisions every time they open their wallets.
That's much harder to reverse.
This suggestion may seem simplistic but sometimes the most effective actions are the simplest ones. Canada should enact a, let's call it an "Export Tax", on all goods exported to countries imposing what are considered "unfair" tariff practices. Also, an environmental tax should be applied to all electrical exports in the same manner, to help in the fight against climate change and damage.
There's certainly an argument for responding in kind, Ron.
My only caution is that every countermeasure has a cost.
An export tax might put pressure on the U.S., but it could also make Canadian products less competitive in other markets if we're not careful.
Canada's strongest long-term strategy is probably a mix of targeted retaliation, expanding trade with other partners, and steadily reducing our dependence on any single customer.
That's leverage they can't tariff away.
The catch, Fred, is "unfair " tariff practices. Any country the does not fall under that title would be exempt (favored status) of the export tax. The days of playing nice have to be cast aside in these dire times, whether we like it or not.
Just put the export tax on the things the didn’t Tariff. Those are the things they need, and can’t get easily from other countries.
“Healthy partnerships work best when neither side feels trapped”. An appropriate comment in your great article, Fred. As one of 41 million souls, I’m done with healthy relationships. Trade with the US, mandatory and necessary while diversifying anywhere but across the border.
Trade will normalize at some point and I believe our relationship with the US will hopefully become exactly transactional. And forget and discard all the feel good Canada/US amity and nonsense we have convinced ourselves to be true. Sorry, but not sorry.
I think “transactional” is exactly where many Canadians have landed, Scott.
Trade where necessary, cooperate where useful, but stop confusing proximity with friendship.
Trust can be rebuilt... but it can’t be demanded after being repeatedly abused.
Thank you, Fred for your thoughtful response.
IMO Canada should do nothing. Every day that CUSMA is not settled increases the pressure on all Republicans who are hoping to be re-elected to their seats in November. Mr. Greer says Canadians talk but don’t give in and that frustrates him because, I assume, Trump will not allow the American team to make any concessions. Mr. Navarro calls Canadian negotiators “backstabbers”. How is that possible? This is not a wrestling match. It’s adults sitting at a table talking numbers. Trump never caves so it’s a stalemate until the Republican politicians dethrone him. Elbows up!
I’m of the opinion that all those things left off this list ARE very important to the USA’s survival and it’s those portions that we should be slamming massive export taxes on and I do mean MASSIVE.
They should make buying a barrel of oil cost twice s much as a barrel bought at market value for the simple reason that as of this moment in time Canada is the ONLY country the USA can buy heavy oil from thanks to their own idiocy in Iran, and what with draining their own reserves down to zero and not getting anywhere near enough after they stole Venezuela! They NEED that oil because almost every refinery they have requires that oil to be able to manufacture gasoline and diesel.
And we should stop selling electricity to ANY US state, based on our own SECURITY issues!
It really is explained by economics 101: 'don't put all your eggs in one basket'.
Given our PM is a master economist, that is one of the reasons he's been working non-stop to establish trade deals around the world and why he's also working with Premiers to get Canadians building again - infrastructure, businesses, mining, a cross-Canada electrical grid, etc. This is a new positive chapter in this country. This new focus in CDN will soon leave the US in our productive dust and perhaps engaging in a bit of self reflection - or not. None-the-less, yesterday is not tomorrow. The page has turned.