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Felicity Estrin's avatar

I completely agree and while we’re at it, could we please throw in dairy?? I’m so sick of these extortionate prices and crappy butter.

LM's avatar

I think it also helpful to point out Trump's reasons for the tarriffs. Not only did the US have a huge trade deficit, it has an enormous national debt. Trump is trying to get the country back on sound footing in case of a kinetic war with China. If you don't think the latter is a real possibility, you are poorly informed. Our "strategic partnership " with China is undoubtedly a poke in the eye to Trump as well. Our responses to date, particularly by Ford and Carney, have been anything but effectual.

G.  Rhodes's avatar

He's also trying to get manufacturing back to the States. It was a bad move letting manufacturing in Canada move to China, etc.. At least Trump is trying to get it back unlike Carney who could care less.

Kevin 🇨🇦's avatar

If this is true then why did Australia get hit with tariffs of 12.5% when they have a trade DEFICIT with the US? Trump is arbitrary (not to mention irrational) but he HAS to win, no matter who he is dealing with. There is essentially NO possibility of a fair deal with the US, only a level of capitulation.

Kat Vodden's avatar

If only Carney truly wanted a deal Brian. I believe you are correct & it can be achieved. To do that though we would actually have to sit down at the negotiating table & Canada has been unwilling to do that. Carney wants to continue to make Trump that bad man cause there is so much TDS in Canada it has worked well for him at the polls. I truly believe Pierre could & would do better.

Ron Albertson's avatar

You've hit the nail on the head with this comment: "Mark Carney has been playing political games with the Americans because, even though he knows it hurts the Canadian economy, he also knows it helps him and the Liberals politically." Canadians must address their long-standing anti-American sentiments. Confess to it, and change it, STAT. That attitude is not helping us, nor is it hurting Americans. In fact, I think Pres Trump is rubbing our noses in our anti-Americanism. and enjoying the show.

Kevin 🇨🇦's avatar

Canadians need to confess their long-standing anti-American sentiments? WTF does that mean? Do you mean go grovelling to Trump and beg for forgiveness? Good luck with that.

Ron Albertson's avatar

No, that's not what it means. What it does mean is that we (you, for example) need to get over ourselves, get out of our own way. Stop shooting ourselves in the foot because 'trump trump trump trump'. Change attitudes. Sadly, for far too many idiots that translates into 'grovelling to Trump'. Read Brian's column, get your head straight.

Kevin 🇨🇦's avatar

Stop getting in our own way? We are already selling them oil, natural gas, potash, uranium, steel, aluminum, on and on and on. That doesn’t mean we should take Trump’s tariffs without pushback. In case you hadn’t noticed, Trump is tariffing the world so the US can “win”. Australia has a trade deficit with the US but they get hit with 12.5% tariffs for the privilege of selling some of there goods to the US. Just like all other “allies” of the US. Is this rational? No, it’s not. Other countries don’t need to just capitulate to Trump, they just need to pivot away and work with each other. I’d say that Carney is doing a good job of that - and I don’t need trade “experts” like Lilley to go on and on about how we can’t get out of our own way. And no one is saying to cut off all trade with the US, just reduce the level of our reliance.

Mike Canary's avatar

PM Carney’s to hire an American Democrat to run our Canadian PMO, and opening up our market to China electric cars to spite the Americans have paid great dividends for the Liberals. For Canadians - Not so much. These two idiotic moves are proof positive that Carney and the Liberals do not want a trade deal with the world’s largest by far economy. You had best believe that all of the armchair trade experts on social media with pensions and paid off mortgages could care less if the Canadian economy continues its slide to oblivion. They won’t be affected. 👍 As long as they can get their jollies from fighting the bad orange man. 🤦 🤦‍♀️

Bonnie Carvell's avatar

I agree Brian. The political posturing of the Liberals is very detrimental to trade negotiations and they are using it to stay in power.

Lord Chancellor's avatar

We should resurrect the Energy-East pipeline (or something similar) so we can send our oil to Europe who badly need it. Getting access to European markets is long overdue

Kevin 🇨🇦's avatar

Europe doesn’t want our oil. Quebec doesn’t want it either. But we can build an LNG export terminal in Churchill and ship that to Europe. That project should be next on the to do list.

Mike Canary's avatar

And when is this project going to break ground? In 2050 when the Liberal High Speed Rail has sucked 10s of billions of $ from taxpayers to Liberal insiders, and the maritime Liberal rocket launch pad is sending rockets to Uranus? By that time - Canada as we know it will be long gone. “Building at speeds never seen before” indeed 😵‍💫 We are no longer a serious nation.

Michael Woods's avatar

You are spot on. This whole mess began with Trudeau’s globalist, anti American policies, exacerbated by the mom existent China/fentanyl cooperation, and then the cherry on the top with Carney running for PM on an anti Trump platform. You have identified nearly every hot point and the strength of Canada’s position as a partner in achieving the common goals and benefits to both nations. Please consider running for PM next election. You bring exactly what Canada needs. Common sense and the vision of what’s important and possible.

Emily's avatar

Perfect, Mr. Lilley. 👍

Jose Pinto's avatar

Wise words. Let's hope someone in the Canadian Government listens. It's time to do what is right for both partners.

Martin Dixon's avatar

Should put you in charge of the negotiations.

Maggie Crawford's avatar

Carney doesn’t want to negotiate and Canadians pay the price for

His arrogance and mismanagement.

Dewayne Fisher's avatar

Open up all borders provincial and federal and don’t be afraid yo compete!!! This will than be to teal free trade and dump the supply management system

sandi ross's avatar

I am not anti-American, I am anti-liberal. Carney is a arrogant self-serving snot. Canada is not his priority. He thinks he's such a clever economist & negotiator but he keeps proving everyday that he's not. We don't need this European in our country..time for him to go

PB's avatar

From your mouth to a completely deaf Carney’s ear…

Thomas's avatar

Wouldn't that be something, if our government could just exercise common sense as was so clearly laid out? We might even start being prrouctive and growing our GDP again, without scamming the numbers with uncontrolled immigration!

The only point I would ammend, is to utterly purge the supply management scheme that has been a sticking point for the US, as well as an inflated expense for Canadian consumers. And for what? To protect a relatively small number of dairy and poultry producers. It's time to end it, and stop dumping milk, and let them compete like every other industry. ALL parties need to grow a set and just end it!

Denyse I O'Leary's avatar

Why do we assume that Carney wants a deal? The failure of negotiations will harm Canadians but there is no political cost to him or his party if most of them proceed to blame Trump. Is his own wealth not mostly elsewhere?

He prefers Europe and he has made that clear. He may be underestimating the cost of alienating the US and allowing China to believe it can penetrate even more deeply into Canada.

No Big War has ever been fought here but there is always a first time.

Ted Gamble's avatar

Brian if you contact me I can explain the apparent paradox in regards to nickel. How do we do that. Check twitter and follow me there. Ted