American officials have taken the “highly unusual” step of rejecting Canada’s bid to take part in senior-level NAFTA talks between the U.S. and Mexico later this week, sources familiar with the trade negotiations said Monday.
One person said attempts by Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland to get a seat at the table in Washington Thursday were either ignored, or spurned outright by the office of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
Another source said the request to be at the meeting was made in a low-key fashion “so as not to spark a diplomatic incident” and was followed by “a retreat to diplomatic silence.”
Is there anything this government has not been an abject failure at since its election? Deficit control, resource and industrial development, immigration, trade negotiations are all failures.
What should the government have expected? Negotiations like this require adult behaviour. PM Surfer Sox, et. al., behaved like spoiled brats and, therefore, were treated accordingly by being sent to the table for the little kiddies.
Ineptitude and incompetence have been the hallmarks of this government since it took office.
Jason tried to stab Trump in the back with his trade demands,
Now Thump has him twisting like a turd in a pickle jar.
you are being much more complementary to sock puppet than I am.
I still maintain this current Liberal government does not consider itself a failure. All those things you list are considered successes by Butts, Trudeau and Morneau.
No resource development? Check. Oil sands pipelines halted? Check. Borderless migration? Check. Trade negotiations? Check, election strategy in place. Now why don’t all you worry-warts and nervous nellies just go away, we’ve got our familly fortunes to take care of.
Very perceptive, Robert; I agree entirely. It’s not clear that at any point Canada has engaged seriously in NAFTA negotiations. Almost from the outset, the approach of Freeland et.al. was not to engage the US administration directly. Instead the effort was directed at undermining the US negotiating position by lobbying Congress, various departments, state legislators, key US industrial lobby groups, and the like.
The same sort of approach has been taken over illegal border crossings. Any time any criticism has emerged, it’s immediately been labeled racism. What these issues show is that the government’s strategy is NOT to engage. Rather it is to simply attack any opposing view.
However, this strategy works only as long as the government has a propaganda arm in place to support its views to the Canadian public. That’s where the compliant MSM comes in. By and large, the MSM has completely supported the government in all these areas. Given the persistence of left wing support for the government, it seems clear that the strategy is working at least to some degree.
I agree. The various members of the Laurentian Elite cabal working in lockstep.
Come on, cgh, for crying out loud: everybody knows that “there’s a cost to be Canadian.” Don’t they? Don’t they?
Oh, wait…
Sadly, you may be right.
“all failures” Ken (Kulak) ?
OR, all successes? This long consistent string of “failures” can’t be incompetence. It has to be the objective.
Failures to us, but successes for butts et al.
Trudeau and the Grits’ definition of success is them winning and retaining power. Nothing else matters.
Marijuana decriminalization, Ken: a solid success.
By July 1, 2017. Or was it July 1, 2018? Oh, wait a moment…
Hey, why doesn’t the Nazi Grandaughter Freeland put on that purple cocktail dress (purple being the colour of the Soros revolution) thats 3 times to small for her fat ass summon her S-Club 7 millennial hipster squad and goosestep right back to Washington demanding that Mexico include special status for Indians and free mandatory tampons for men and State imposed “feminism” or whatever in any new trade deal with the USA… maybe the Mexicans are as incompetent, vapid and lost up their own asses as the Liberal children and grandchildren of Nazis and Nazi sympathizers… that”ll show Trump who’s boss… Hugs! Girl Power!
When you’re dealing out kumbaya bull$hit don’t be surprised when you’re no longer invited to the party.
What part of “No multi-lateral deals” does Trudeau et. al. not understand? Trump has been quite clear about this all along.
Also, the suggestion that the US investigator has personal animus towards, or distaste for, the Canadian negotiator, our very own Economical Barbie, is worriesome.
It’s as if Economical Barbie is feeling jilted.
that the US investigator has personal animus towards, or distaste for, the Canadian negotiator, our very own Economical Barbie
Gee, wonder how he got those?
Any bets on if NAFTA is scrapped Trudeau will blame Trump? It’s all he’s got left.
Meanwhile, back in 1993, Jean Chretien promised to scrap NAFTA if he was elected Prime Minister of Canada. He won the election but then ratified the agreement anyway. You would think the Liberals are overjoyed that NAFTA is likely being scrapped for them.
https://winnipegsun.com/2017/01/23/it-took-political-left-25-years-to-realize-free-trade-was-good/wcm/fad98fea-ad12-454d-af08-a3450913fd08
– And yes, it is Trump’s fault – and I say “More power to him!” He’s doing exactly what he said he would – and something that hasn’t penetrated the Ottawa mindset is that Trump is not in business to see that “Canada is treated fairly” ( – whatever the Liberals define “fairly” as, at any given moment – ). Trump is there to see that the U.S. gets the best possible deal, in everything – and to he11 with every other country on Earth, especially those that won’t sit at the table and negotiate in good faith – and that’s precisely what he was elected to do.
And Canada’s social justice virtue-signalling is mere extraneous noise – shut up and deal the cards!
Y Knott: I agree with your thoughts! Just in Tru groper reminds me of a spoiled child…his way or NO WAY…stamps his feet and cries. I have this image in my mind and I can’t stop laughing!!
Same with Justin and the TPP . All though he did insult them by missing a meeting. Wardrobe malfunction ? But he had stellar negotiations with China . The lame stream media and the pundits just can’t figure it out . Trump gets things done and values personal interaction. This flies in the face of the rules of ” diplomats ” who want endless negotiations so at a minimum live large at the expense of taxpayers and in all likelihood have time to make sure the appropriate parties benefit.
The Liberal Government is running full steam ahead and the stupidity of the voter who put them in power will be verified again next year. Its Harper’s fault. Its the Conservative’s fault. Its Donald Trump’s fault. Every time a Liberal makes a ‘mistake’ its someone else’s fault. It’s the Liberal Way.
“Their whole charm offensive, which I think was a good idea, Lighthizer views as an end-run.”
So, apart from being a disaster, it was a good idea…so sayeth a “person”.
Canada’s kidding itself if they believe they have any skin in this game. Trump’s tired of being ganged up on by his supposed “allies” that have abused multi-lateral trade deals by allowing others like China in through the back door. If you show contempt to your partners don’t be surprised to see it returned in kind. NAFTA has to be shown to continue to be a win-win-win for all three partners in comparison to other forms of deals or it will (and should) end. I’d expect no less if Canada were the ones wearing America’s shoes. Trade deals only last when everyone feels fairly treated and actively work at protecting their relationships. Selling out has consequences not that our current Gov’t of leftwingnut bozos gives a crap.
Um, Canada has an enormous amount of skin in the game here. We are talking about entire Canadian industries being put at existential risk. Billions of exports, hundreds of thousands of jobs. You could hardly have more skin in the game than we do.
The risks to Canada are staggering, which is why the handling of the entire mandate by the Liberals has been so disastrous.
I believe what you and Martin call “skin” are different.
You mean what happens at the negotiation table matters a lot to Canada. Of course. But I think Martin is saying Canada has very little influence as to what is actually going on at that table. Putting the two together, more the reason to believe idiots are running Ottawa.
They are doing exactly like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Even while NAFTA is slipping away from them, which they need a lot more than the U.S. does, they are still talking about sexual, native, and immigrant rights. Why that have anything to do with NAFTA I have no idea, unless they want special agreement to protect those entities. They are acting like they are the ones who call the shots. Sean above referenced that clip of Freeland marching down the street as though she were the head honcho. Hilarious.
Yes Stomping down the street like Henrietta Himmler followed by the grade nine class. No wonder the US thinks she is expendable when negotiating with Mexico. You can be sure that the Mexicans are working hard to get their hands on manufacturing some of those automobiles that were formerly built in Oshawa,Windsor and Oakville. Meanwhile PM Butts sits up in Ottawa telling Justine that everything will work out just fine. Everyone knows that budgets balance themselves and the good guys always win! After all Quebecs Dairy cartel must be protected at any cost.
What makes you think the Liberals care about that? Trump – as a maniacal inflated balloon – is the PERFECT diversion and political cover for the backroom boys. Stalled energy projects? Blame Trump. Perfect excuse to get away from dirty oil and enter the job killing, er make that job creating Nirvana of sustainable energy … no matter how many animals, forests and ecosystems have to be destroyed in the process. Unemployment and rising cost of living? Grab your Canadian flags, protest the US embassy and sneak off to Starbucks when everyone is pledging to buy Canadian.
Yes indeed the Liberals are here to save you from the imperialist Trump and save you from yourselves. After all it’s their mission to milk, pardon, enable the middle class.
still about martin B.
Lighthizer has guessed, correctly, that Freeland’s only coherent foreign policy goals are furthering the Chinese Communist plot to take over the world and the destruction of Russia and Israel.
Meanwhile, the organized criminals who control the Mexican government already have what they want from Canada—visa-free travel and a way for Mexicans to enter the US illegally through Canada, allowing them to sidestep any southern border wall. Free trade? Thanks to Canada Mexico has free trade with the US for the only industries where it has a genuine comparative advantage—drugs and illegal immigrants.
Lighthizer knows that, and frankly has had enough. He did the right thing to tell Freeland to join her grandfather in hell. Pity the rest of us must pay the penalty.
This ignorant commie self-adoring entitled lazy turd, did not fall far from his fruitcake father’s ass!
Why don’t you tell us how we really all feel?
It’s ‘Les Deplorables’ ‘Los’ is a Spanish prefix of sorts … Los Angeles for example.
“The blogger does not have a clue” Tim
“..the most uninformed idiotic website” Allan S
That was just yesterday.
You know Tim and Allan, sometimes the Canadian media doesn’t give you all the information you require.
AWOL: Stupid Liberal Justine.
…-
“Itinerary for Tuesday, July 31, 2018 Ottawa, Ontario”
British Columbia
Personal”
gc.caca
BC is where PM Adulterer’s girlfriend lives. He’s been banging someone there for some time now.
HER is doubtful….
yeah, has anyone seen Trugropers stupid wife these days… maybe she’s back on the Aga Khans private Island or maybe the Groper left her in India. The good news is that the Media doesn’t care about anything the Groping Turd does or doesn’t do… remember when a 16 dollar orange juice was an existential threat to our democracy”? The Groping Turd got some free PR from his Media yesterday and all it took was for a 10 year old girl to get shot in the face and slaughtered by one of the Turds Muslim buddies… as I understand from the Media the Turds photo op in Danforth makes him a hero.
Its obvious that all the strategy being used by the liberals is now seen as trying to run out the clock till the midterms. That gives the impression to the Trump administration that our side isn’t interested in a deal but something else. If the talking points are “we want to negotiate” but the actions by Freeland and her team is to not agree to anything, Trump takes that as bad faith negotiating, and he has no time for such shenanigans.
If the liberals are trying to derail Trump and found out to be working with the DNC on this I have absolutely no pity for what their fate will be.
If we could do this all over again Trudeau would have announced that Canada was increasing its NATO spending to 2% “in an accelerated manner to support our closest partner the United States of America” while Trump was flying back to the States and the end of the G7. Trump would have seen that on TV and when he landed he would have tweeted “Thanks to our close friends in Canada. America won’t forget this”. This would have given Canada the much needed leverage it seems to have whittled away.
Instead, Trudeau dissed Trump barely hours after they met in what was a message to Canadians that Trudeau could be counted on to oppose Trump. Then Freeland end-runs around the NAFTA negotiator to members of the US Congress directly, many who publicly dislike Trump and would sympathize with Canada’s position – maybe even vote to throw us more crumbs.
Funny thing about this extremely pathetic negotiating strategy by Canada – it will never be taught in business school (top 10 things you don’t do when negotiating with your largest trading partner – #1 no back stabbing, #2 don’t forget who the decision maker is, #3 put your trading partner into proper context, #4 don’t try negotiating with the smaller partners until you’ve secured an agreement with the largest trading partner, especially when the largest trading partner is unhappy with those countries you are dealing with, #5 do not force virtue signalling into a trade agreement, #6 if they don’t like your negotiators, get new negotiators). This stuff is self evident.
TruDOPE and Barney Freeland had no intentions of getting a deal. Their strategy seems based on the mistaken belief that POTUS TRUMP is just one vote away from defeat, obstruction and impeachment. They’ve been watching too much CNN and PMSNBC, but then when they drink too many cocktails with Fauxcahontas and the like, it becomes an echo chamber.
We are witnessing the most inept Canadian government in decades. So far they have been lucky, with an economy that has so far, tolerated higher taxes and interest rates. But the Libs luck is running out, and it can’t come too soon.
Too bad Lighthizer didn’t publicly say to Freeland, “You’re not important!”
Even worse than his stepfathers…
Tidbits of voluminous importance:
Mexico recently approved a Free Trade agreement with the EU (either June of April, I forget). So, Trump went there first to work on a Mexican/US Trade agreement. Canada, on the other hand, has not approved a finalized trade agreement with the EU. There is one hold out on that agreement over specialty foods (something like 42 of nearly 300 products). That hold out…you guessed it, Italy. And, guess who was invited to the White House just yesterday? Well, that would be Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte of Italy.
Watch what happens next . 😀
I often wonder what Harper said in his trip to Washington. I hope he said that if Canada could hold out for a year, then the Cons could put in a real negotiation team – that has both countries best concerns dealt with.
tRUDEau and the LIEberals are just stalling – just like the pipelines.
Trudo’s chickens…are coming home to roost!
Trudo has committed one of the worst errors for any leader – he has shown himself to be very weak.
This Johnny come lately attempt to join the talks shows that he is panicking about how Canada’s being left behind in trade negotiations with the US Will harm the liberals in the upcoming election.
He had better pray the voters don’t notice this massive fail, and instead just dream dreams about the glories of “ Canadian “( Quebec ) dairy instead on Election day. Either that or he had better prepare some incredible concession to serve up to Trump on a silver platter that will gain Canada entry to trade talks with the United States again. But any concessions to the US at this point once again highlights his weakness and incompetence.
The one upside to this sorry mess Is that it shows Sche(m)er to be a useless swine, as well as Trudy.
Junior and company have really painted themselves into a corner , and now with a carbon tax Junior has created a potential perfect storm , particularly in Ontario and to a lesser degree in QC as I really doubt if Trump will back any trade deal that doesn’t address the dairy cartel (payback for back stabbing Trump after the G7)
No wonder the Junior is in hiding , as the only way to turn the situation around is a complete reversal of all his idiotic policies on trade , immigration and environment .. good luck with that given Butts remains as advisor and the Chinese influence remains intact.
With no apparent logical solutions and staying the current ideological course (virtue signalling on the environment , more “refugees” , security , Carbon Tax to the three (above) issues , I wonder how long before the Liberal knives will be unsheathed ?
I’ll bet Turdoo is tired of being prime minister. It was fun campaigning ’n stuff. but all this governing stuff is hard. It’s time to get back to snow boarding and teaching drama to middle school kids. That is his true calling.
Trudeau has ALL the requirements to be a full blown psychopath. Im surprised that Ezra and the like havent picked up on it.
he will soon be tired of doing the job with people expecting results , its all about the show. His fraggle rock misfit cabinet cant roll out even a dope law. A boy so stupid even the CBC has started to notice . they hide behind Trumps unpredictability .
when his party demands results ,he is likely to fold his cards and leave. or they may do an election like his father , where they just keep him quiet and hope the numbers make it with this gerrymandered country where a PEI vote is four times a western vote.
Wrt his chances at re-election.
If as the last election those that would vote against him hold to the notion of “how stupid do you have to be to vote for the Sockmonkey ” but feel confident that enough folks are sick of his foolishness to not show up.
Please consider that there are many still not paying attention until it effects them. How this issue makes that connection is that without the level of access we currently enjoy under NAFTA to the US market, this country will feel it economically in the form of reduced government revenues that fund all those social programs that “makes us Canadian”.
Then when that happens folks that don’t normally pay attention, pay attention and decide they need to vote the current government out of office.