I received calls from the President of Mexico and the Prime Minister of Canada asking to renegotiate NAFTA rather than terminate. I agreed..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017
Global News: Trump sounded satisfied that his peers had agreed to negotiate swiftly…
Related.
Meanwhile, the president’s battle to restore U.S. competitiveness is just warming up, right when Canada’s is looking weaker than it has in a long while. Business investment in this country is already anemic. As Jack Mintz noted last month, private investment in manufacturing and services, averaging less than eight per cent of GDP in recent years, is lower even than in economic basket-case Greece, significantly lower than in the U.S. and U.K., and less than half the level in Germany and France.
No investment- couldn’t have anything to do with Red Rachel and Loser Wynne, socialist sisters who brought economic grief on their constituents that was unfathomable a few years ago. When you try to milk the economy for a radical political agenda, you scare the bejeezers out of business. It’s a big world out there for investments.
As O’Leary says: Godzilla versus Bambi.
turdo responds….uh uh uh uh uh I uh uh
We are so screwed.
Interesting the U.S. is playing hardball with Canada given that the U.S. has a trade surplus with Canada.
https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/canada
Art of the deal. Trump is smashing down any chance for Canada or Mexico to play up their grievances and whine in front of the cameras. Negotiate with the nice, 800 lb trade gorilla, or he’ll just take your agreements and smash them to a pulp. Now: are we going to play nice and pay attention?
Trump needs to be seen as a winner. It’s what feeds his ego. When it comes to winning in the zero-sum game of misunderstood economics, there’s no lower hanging fruit then Canada, particularly under the Spawn.
Canada lost this Trade Deal and any other deal when the voted to LOSE Canada on Oct 15 2015.
The majority of todays Canadians lost much of what evolution awarded them somewhere around 1968. This is the result.
The target is Mexico, not Canada. Adding in Canada to the NAFTA negotiations just makes it seem even handed. It’s not.
And stop complaining about electing women. If you’re married or even if you’ve just dated you knew what you were getting. But you did it anyway……
Remember a few short months ago when Trudeau, the Mexican president and the peanut gallery of “sober political opinion-makers” said that NAFTA couldn’t be re-opened? Yeah…I think Trump won this round.
There is only ONE way Trump should “renegotiate” NAFTA … the Federal Govt. should severely PUNISH any American Corp. that displaces American workers with CHEAP foreign labor … or moves factories/operations out of America. Severely PUNISH … selling out … the American Middle class.
At some point it will sink in that it is not business as usual in the USA. Many people are over simplifying the problem as being a somewhat irrational Donald Trump. No matter what he does it will be quickly undone by subsequent POTUS.
IMHO the issue is not Trump he is the system. The issue is the ongoing deterioration of the American Middle class. It is inherently destabilizing. Technology is disrupting the importance of COLD WAR allies like Canada and Euro Nato allies. Combine that with a debt crisis that exists globally.
What geopolitical reality is coming to pass? The value of capital has been under attack for decades. Automation and AI are reducing the need for human labor. The USA is the most powerful economic force in the world. It has been a relatively benign force since WW I. A force for global security and thusly economic growth. If economic prosperity is threatened do political forces within the USA see retaining their economic dominance through a more aggressive trade posture. The USA can tell Canada that these are our rules and if you don’t like it go elsewhere. They know Canada will find that a very hard alternative.
How many other ways can the news say “Justin is an incompetent ass” without actually saying it?
The issue is bigger than Canada, the USA has about ~12% communist activists who are hell bent on destroying economic development in the World…
The “Mission Statement” of the New World Government requires that all developed Nations are choked down & become more equal….The fallacy is that without leading technology (R&D) we don’t have any idea of what will be the best future for all of mankind.. We have more failures than success..We will all become equally stupid….
The Global Warming UN mandate is a fraud and those that take the bait destroy what-ever economy advantage they enjoyed.. Ontario has a zero chance of surviving Stage 4 of their electrical take down…The Alternative Power Sources will not support future development needs…They are a have not Provence…Alberta joining fast
Trump must re-develop the USA economy that has been lost to the deliberate policies of those that support the Communist New World Order. We all need understand what is at stake, and it’s not just ego…
Come on, you guys!
Don’t you realize that we now have the perfect Federal Government for dealing with the incoming Clinton administration?
What? Oh yeah…
…always believed that Canada had the best Social, Economic, Cultural system in the World…I’m sad now, not different than what we have in the US.
Justin says he saved NAFTA. I think it was more like “please, please don’t kill me.”
Now don’t forget, lower US taxes are bad for Canadians, because Americans would never spend any of their tax savings on our imports.
Lower US taxes reduce our competitiveness. Isn’t that a “subsidy?” Government must save us again, like crushing the housing market.
Remember: without government we are nothing. Well at least we’re headed that way in a hurry.
Actually it’s the other way around but politicians and voters seem oblivious to that, instead retreating to their statist safe places.
Before they come around, they’re willing to take an economic beat down before swearing off their self-imposed serfdom.
Like Bill Good once opined. Voters pick Liberals until they get mad at them, then they pick Liberals to replace them.
Harper was but an anomaly, held close to the axiom of big, bad government.
The present PC crowd look to me like a bunch of Liberals wanting to replace Liberals.
I’ll take liberalism, the real thing, not the egalitarian BS of progressivism, any time rather than this tax, spend & borrow bunch.
Wider perspective again.
Trump set the bar on negotiations. If a new deal can’t be reached he has the executive order ready to sign. The other side is still not learning they take him literally but not seriously.
Nothing gets action like the prospect of a morning execution.
Art of the deal for certain. Trump has the upper hand and he knows it. I wonder, does Trudeau even know he’s being played?
Trump reminds me of some of the old horse traders, more con man than business man.
If there is a new nafta, it’ll be identical to the old….the con is getting the vote and power.
Create a problem, provide solution…trump is just a cog in the wheel.
He’s talking up the tpp again…NATO and the un suddenly good again…
People fall for it over and over.
Relax,Chrystia Freeland said we will be “polite but firm” in our trade negotiations with Trump.
Hm, you’re right. We’re screwed.
We can hope Trump is easily swayed by the tears of an ugly woman.
So this loud-mouthed arsehole walks into a bar, and he says to this silly little tit sitting there….
its almost like most are rooting for trump as he bullies Canada into submission. Weird.
northernont >
“its almost like most are rooting for trump as he bullies Canada into submission. Weird.’
Or maybe, many Canadians are sick and tired of Progressive Liberals allowing Canada to be bullied and beaten by Islam and the EU/ UN. It’s nice to see a qualified leader tell Trudeau to STFU.
To many, at least Trump represents something good against the worlds Socialists and other Totalitarians, even if it is (again) an American beacon of light. I’m betting everyone here would equally welcome Le Pen or Geert Wilders kicking Turdeaus sorry Islamic appeasing Ski bum, pot smoking, ass all over the place as well.
Sorry not everyone drank the Shiny Pony Drama Teacher Extraordinaire Kool-Aid, now those that did get to see a little of what everyone else knew already.
“Just not Ready”
Just say’n 🙂
Well said! And, I might add, sick of the commie lites trying to destroy our economy.
“Remember a few short months ago when Trudeau, the Mexican president and the peanut gallery of “sober political opinion-makers” said that NAFTA couldn’t be re-opened? Yeah…I think Trump won this round.”
Actually, no. Because never said that.
In fact, the day after the US election, the Liberals welcomed reopening up NAFTA for renegotiation: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/politics/macnaughton-nafta-trade-softwood-1.3844460
Bongo needs to shut up and quit commenting. He doesn’t comprehend what is going on. The heavy lifting is done behind the scenes by bureaucrats.
Canada should be fine unless the US asks for fresh water. It’ll be give and take and as with any deal you don’t always get everything.
So no problem if Trump destroys it as long as he is your type of people. Right. Got it. I guess we’ll have to wait for Trump to go after energy and wheat/barley before we get a rise.
Trump grabbed Trudeau by the pu$$y and gave him a golden shower.
To many, at least Trump represents something good against the worlds Socialists and other Totalitarians…
Heh, two wings of the same bird…they veer left awhile, veer right awhile…all the while heading in the same direction…if anyone has noticed the world becoming less socialist/third way through this constant careening left to right to left like a drunken bird, I haven’t seen it…the ultimate direction is always the same.
Don’t worry northernont – I’m quite sure Trump isn’t after your windmills and solar panels.
Actually Trump approved the Keystone XL pipeline which will move our energy to a new market … something you commies don’t like much. BTW: The US is going full tilt with shale oil … they don’t need our energy.
How did wheat/barley enter this conversation?
Are you retarded?
Actually Trump approved the Keystone XL pipeline which will move our energy to a new market …
…they don’t need our energy.
Cognitive dissonance much?
I stand corrected? Now they’re getting what they wished for…GOOD AND HARD. I have a bad feeling that Canada will be taken to the cleaners…because if I was an American businessman, I’d look at the two potential customer populations and I would put my money and effort in winning business south of the border not north.
You sir are as ridiculous as your argument. I am far from commie and probably more a conservative then you are. My support of Trump ends when he attacks my country. Patriotism and all that.
“Cognitive dissonance much?”
Understanding how business works is not one of your strengths then?
Northern front if your conservative then you believe in accountability, if you beleive in accountability then you understand and agree with trump holding Canada mexico and NATO accountable for the contracts they agreed to .
I don’t like trump attacking Canada but all we do in Canada is mock Americans we piss all over them treat them like shit every time we can , call em all red neck inbred sister fuckin hillbillies with ther gunzn bi blllz….we mock them call them dumb as shit spit in their faces …having lived down here in Arizona now for two years I have met and seen some of the kindest most honest most unbelievable people I have EVER. Met they have treated me and my wife like royalty , from giving free pizza for being late on a delivery and apologizing and giving a small in store credit , to fixing my truck at a dealership and NOT charging me for it , I have never seen the kind of volunteerism and charity events as I have here ever in Canada …. here is the best part ….they love Canada and Canadians and are happy to call us neighbors …yes they carry firearms openly here old ladies to gangster thugs and everything in between that’s called freedom no one cares it’s not a big deal here yet in Canada we mock them and call them a bunch of savages and neandrathals , did you know that from tooth picks to tires the USA consumes roughly 75% of the stuff we produce ?
They are 10x our population , they protect us with their military our military is a political tool for election time now because we are lazy and selfish as Canadians.
It always shocks me to see Canadians bok at America calling them retards and idiots in one breathe but when serious surgery we go to the USA or we need military protection we in the same breath demand the USA provide it …the entire Canadian military could not defend the bc coastline but yet you get your neck outta joint because trump called out a disgusting PROTECTIONIST practice being used in Canada to snuff out USA rightfully entering ultrafiltered milk into our markets, these stupid inbred sister kissing retards have the most advanced medical technology on the planet , the most advanced military on the planet , the best firewall and internet surveillance and protection on the planet , have some of the highest and most respected institutions of higher learning on the planet ….but go on tell me about Cletus screwing his sister in alabama….did you know there are more interracial long lasting marriages in the southern USA than anywhere else yet the south is racist ….lol I’m so tired of seeing Igornorant Canadians always posturing as though we are just soooo much better than Americans …they don’t think like that of us at all …unless they are liberal or democrats ….this is just tiresome now.
God bless America god bless Canada may our relationship lead to 100% free trade across the board no PROTECTIONIST unionist crap on both sides .
Trump bluffed, Trudie folded as expected, and now Trump will re-structure NAFTA to benefit America just like he said he would. CBC tries to spin it to make Trudie look good, but anyone can see what really happened. Trudie got Trumped again.
Unfortunately being a patriot doesn’t mean supporting an idiot that fellow Canadians voted in … it also doesn’t mean supporting the idiots that voted him in.
A deal has to be fair, including NAFTA, to all parties involved. If it isn’t, shit will always happen. It’s not that complicated.
It really doesn’t matter how conservative or patriotic you think you are … if I’m trying to frick you over – you won’t like it. The Americans don’t like it either.
Just for fun, you might try googling “BC NDP” “stump fees” “softwood lumber”.
Try to figure out why US producers might be a little pissed.
Oddly, they (the Americans) had no problem with NB softwood producers.
Enjoy your bubble.
No, I’m not really familiar with the common core inspired business model of aiding the competition to sell me something I don’t need…:-)
Unoeme I actually agree with you but I would go one step further , 100% free movement of people services and products between countries contingent on an agreed upon immigration standard and totally secured boarders. .
Also no criminals in either country are allowed to go into either country unless a full pardon has been granted, I could go on but it would be a massive explosion to our economies. We could tell OPEC to pound sand everything would get very cheap very fast.
There is no such thing as “free trade” between governments … they, all governments, always have a barrow they need to push. Unilateral free trade is a pipe dream … no such thing … will never happen. So why even fret about it?
I kinda feel in an argumentative mood tonight.
northernont
“Patriotism and all that.”
Does patriotism extend to supporting illiterate Third World immigrants over Canadian homeless and the poorly retired Canadian born citizens?
Trudeau does, as well as an unnaturally disproportionate demographic of mentally ill devotees.
Watch Europe, the advanced Liberal Progressive “policies” have brought it social unrest that will only intensify over time, potentially leading to civil wars. I’ll take a US Trump slapping down Canada’s parroted goose step behind Europe any day over following the traitourous multicultural Cult.
we have reached the equally stupid point.
Then you will likely be very angry over the next few years. Canada is likely to take a pretty big hit. Now, it could be an opportunity: encourage innovation and production, diversify, all of that. Then it could become the thing that creates a better future.
But you will need a government and a population that wants to move towards that goal. If you don’t, then the hit will be felt much more than it should. It would be nice if the Canadian government took this as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Don’t be surprised if at least wheat doesn’t become an issue down the road. I think it will be on the table, as I think (I don’t know however!) there will be a push for increased wheat production in the States. There is going to be a push for the U.S. to ramp up production (or at least bring back production) across the board — this appears to be part of the MAGA philosophy.
And I rather like the idea of having an old fashioned horse trader — I’ve done business with them; you have to be on your toes, but the best ones start out driving a hard bargain but are going for the end goal of a mutual win (I make a little profit, you don’t get completely burnt so you come back and maybe bring other business to me; neither of us gets completely screwed). And yes, they do operate from the standpoint of not needing you, but are always happy to do business with you. It’s a fairly sound business model if you think about it.
“But you will need a government and a population that wants to move towards that goal”
Dead on, Jenny R. And if the population wanted it badly enough, the politicians would have to move in that direction.
But that doesn’t happen in Canada, where in the last federal election, 64 percent of the electorate cast ballots for the Liberals, NDP, or Greens. So on everything from open-door immigration, carbon-taxes, silly alternative energy, and crushing public debts, we very much get what people voted for.
And I’m not letting the Conservatives off the hook. Their cowardly silence in Ottawa and the Provinces on things like the great climate change scam and the crushing government debt that our kids and grandkids will inherit has accelerated our downward spiral.
“The only really fair trade arrangement is UNILATERAL FREE TRADE.”
Sounds great. Say, perhaps Canada should try it sometime.
Starting with interprovincial trade.
So, he flipped on NATO, the Israeli embassy in Jerusalem, increased foreign aid to Hamas, flipped on China, flipped on Syrian invaders, flipped on the border wall, flipped on UN membership, flipped on attacking Assad, flipped on indicting Hillary, is not indicting Koskinnen or Obama, is not imposing sanctions against or attacking the Saudis, and now he’s flipping on NAFTA.
The really frightening thing is that so far, even with his embracing of globalism, he’s still better than Cankles, now he’s just like any other “conservative”, slowing the ride into totalitarian globalism down a tad.
YeahWell…>
Good observation.
Hopefully, some of the “flipped” positions are simply political delays. Yes, and still far far better than Hillary and her little sister Justine Turdeau.
JT is the political bootlicker that mega rich people like Trump have always sneered at. He joked about them at length during the conventions.
You just described John Chretien to a tee.