Donald Trump has wreaked havoc on global trade; upset the free world’s co-operation and defence alliances; ignored International laws; threatened America’s traditional allies; and, used the US military against his own citizens.
In the case of Canada … the Mad Hatter has done ALL of the above .. and shown no real interest in resolving current disputes, or even re-opening negotiations.
So Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada’s Premiers are quite justified in reaching out/exploring/achieving new or expanded trade and economic trade deals with other nations.
Within reason!
Carney/Canada must not grovel at the feet of despotic, undemocratic dictatorships or even supposed “democracies” that restrict/ignore/violate principles, rights, values Canadians hold dear.
The Prime Minister’s visit to China last week … and his recent kissy-kissy make-up session with India really bother me.
Has Carney already forgotten the totally unjustified inhuman conditions/imprisonment China arbitrarily inflicted on the two Michaels for 1,019 days; China’s repeated actions to interfere in Canadian elections; China’s intimidation of Chinese Canadians?
And what about Canada’s principles that stood up/spoke out and acted against China’s disgraceful, aggressive human rights violations against the Uighurs, Tibetans; the government’s oppression of dissent, the shutting down of newspapers/arrest of journalists and its repeated threats and intimidation of Taiwan; its illegal seizure and media owners; militarization of the East China Sea; and, its economic support of Russia’s murderous war against Ukraine?
Then, there’s India.
How can Carney embrace Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister whose government sanctioned the murder, in Canada, of a Sikh activist … a Canadian citizen; ignore the evidence the RCMP provided to a Parliamentary committee about “Indian Government Agents’ Involvement in Violent Criminal Activity in Canada”; the Indian government’s repeated attempts to interfere in Canadian elections: and just days ago, an RCMP report that the Bishnoy gang, accused of extortion and murder-for-hire in Canada has been “acting on behalf of the Indian government” ?
What about India’s brutal treatment of its Muslim and Christian minorities; it’s restrictions, arrests and attacks on press freedoms under Modi; its suppression of protests, including extra-judicial killings of government opponents; and, the Ukrainian blood on India’s hands from its huge financial support for Putin’s war of aggression by soaking up massive amounts of Russian oil?
Canada need not abandon our own efforts to support democracy, principled, ethical human rights and international policies and kowtow to India and China now!
Trade agreements with those two countries now will encourage them NOT to change, NOT to cut back on their aggression, NOT to stop their abuses of human rights. NOT to stop their interference inside Canada.
After all, under Carney’s standards, they can get away with it!
I get it: our economy is hurting due to the tariffs imposed by the Mad Hatter.
But Canadians endured far worse challenges, sacrificing and suffering during the SIX YEARS of the Second World … much worse than anyone alive today can imagine …and emerged victorious, with our heads held high.
Surely, the current generation can hold on for 10 months … until the US midterm elections … when Trump’s powers/policies will likely be severely reversed by a widely expected Democrat takeover of both the House and Senate!
In fact, the US Supreme Court could even roll back many/most of the Mad Hatter’s shoot-from-the-lip tariffs within days … and Trump’s/Republicans’ ever-declining polling numbers will very likely on their own lead to substantial Trump trade policy backdowns as early as this Spring.
Let’s keep it real: Trump every day moves closer to being a lame duck President … or, as he could (but won’t) say “maybe the the biggest lame duck President the US has ever seen.”
Geography, history, democratic principles, business, cultural, personal and family connections across the 49th parallel make Canada and the US far more natural long-term partners and allies than lowering ourselves to the morals/mores of China and India!
Hang in there, Canada … Trump’s days are numbered … and declining every day!
We should only trade with India and China on our terms … without selling out our principles, turning a blind eye and going silent to their brutalities, or forgetting how they have disrespected, mistreated, spied on and even murdered our citizens … and tried to subvert our democracy.
Harv Oberfeld
(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for free, First Alerts to new postings on this BC blog.)
I’m not so sure Trump is a passing phase.
How long as Putin been in power?
How long did fascism run Germany?
How long did Pol Pot murder citizens in Camodia?
For many getting through Trump years maybe more difficult for many especially is there is job loss.
I’m not crazy about deals with India because Modi is P.M. and he is a nasty piece of business.
Doing with business with China, I’m o.k. with. We know the game. We know they spy on us, have their version of police offices here, but if we are simply looking to do business, I’m o.k. with it. Canadian farmers will be able to ship goods to China and China can ship up to 49K ev.s to Canada. Nothing says Canadians have to buy them.
Between Putin, Trump, Modi and Xi, I think Xi is the most stable. May not like what he does but at least seems sane. Modi is a Hindu extremist, Putin is more like a gangster and the whole country is run like a crime organization. Putin is short and keeps thinking if he tries to invade other countries he might grow taller. some one should tell him that isn’t going to happen. Trump, well who knows. He is mentioned in the Epstein files several thousand times, he has ICE acting like the Gestapo, he has ICE put children in concentration camps, he violates his county’s Constitution, he invaded Venezuela and kidnapped their President and killed a number of people because they were on speed boats. We do not know this will ever change and he still has plans for taking over Canada, ya no business with him.
(Response: Writing a blog called Keeping it Real, I know we have to deal with China, India and other countries whose values we do not share. BUT we must caution against believing that China and India could ever replace the US as our Number One trading partner … and, once the Mad Hatter is gone, the American people/businesses once more our primary friends, allies, travel destinations and even the country with the closest educational/social/family ties. Ho)
Well Trump just proved Carney’s point. He has threatened Canada with 100% tariffs if we make a deal with China. I don’t know what he means by a “deal”. Is it something more substantial than the recent agreement that drops tariffs on Chinese EVs for a drop on tariffs on our canola. Hard to say when it comes to Trump.
But this is what Carney is getting at. It would be nice if we didn’t have to rely on China and other countries that are not our allies. But right now we can’t even trust our largest trading partner who has taken over Venezueala for the oil, threatened to take over Greenland, is back to calling our Prime Minister governor, has some of their politicians salivating over a possible Alberta referendum on separation and is now telling Canada who we can or can’t trade with.
And while Trump is willing to threaten Canada over some ” deal” with China he conveniently forget to mention that China is a huge customer of the US.
And yes it would be great to trade more with middle powers like Denmark and Sweden but we can’t ignore India and China who make up 33% of the world’s population or the USA who makes up by itself about 30% of the world’s economy. China lags at about 20%.
Lastly, there was much gnashing of teeth when it was revealed that Biden was being propped up by people closest to him. There is no doubt in my mind that Trump is in serious decline and it’s guys like Bessent, Lutnick and Miller who are actually calling the shots. Trump could die tomorrow and things would stay the same with Vance.
Things are not healthy below the border.
(Response: no doubt things are very unhealthy south of the border … from both a domestic and international perspective. The Mad Hatter is looking, sounding and acting particularly mad these days … from both an emotional and mental health point of view. You almost have to check the headlines hourly to see who he has most recently insulted, disparaged, threatened, and attacked.Truly mad!! However, my point is exactly that: all of this relates to Trump himself; I really doubt that his successor, whether republican or democrat, will reflect the same ideas, attitudes, and policies. They are not all crazy down south … just intimidated so much, few dare to poke their heads up! Solid, positive relations between Canada and the US go back 100 years and will go ahead another hundred years… Well beyond Trump‘s term in office into the era when almost everyone will be mocking him, erasing many of his policies, ripping away his name from his various ego projects and apologizing to countries and peoples around the world. Better in Canada’s long term interests to hang in there for another year or two for the US te regain its sanity than tie ourselves too closely or too tightly to China and India. Ho)
I’m not surprised that Prime Minister Carney is turning to China. After all, Brookfield has a large loan from the Bank of China, Michael Ma was on the trip to China, former MP Paul Chiang has close ties to the CCP, and the Liberals don’t care about foreign interference in past elections because it has been to their advantage. Japan and South Korea aren’t happy that he skipped them during his trip, but I doubt he cares.
Conservative MP Steven Bonk released a video in which he stated that Brookfield has cleared a lot of the Amazon rainforest, In fact, the damage is so extensive that it’s even visible from outer space. Brookfield was fined by the Brazilian government for treatment of its employees who were found in slave-like conditions. My guess is that will never be reported by networks like CBC.
The Prime Minister recently stated that polls show Canadians are no longer so concerned with climate change. In other words, climate change hysteria is no longer as effective as it once was. If he were so worried about the environment, he wouldn’t agree with clearing so much of the Amazon rainforest. It seems he’s a corporate Marxist whose interest in environmental issues aligns with financial opportunities.
There are many countries that Canada can increase trade with. Even though none of them have the population of China and India, it’s wise to choose countries that we really get along with. Surely we can wait until the midterm elections to see what happens in the United States.
(Response: I really doubt Carney’s cozying up to China (and India) has anything to do with his own personal financial background or interests. I believe he really believes Canada/US relations are permanently ruptured: I do not. Yes, we’re in for more tough times as the Mad Hatter mind, statements and policies ricochet like a ball in a pinball machine. But, just like in pinball, his playing time will run out and I have every confidence that the next player… regardless of political stripe … will restore the big US machine from its current “tilt” unbalanced position. Ho)
Unfortunately, even after Trump is gone or politically emasculated….his legions of White House staff will remain.
The toadies and bath water drinkers in the media will also remain.
The conspiracy cesspool of the internet will fling mud from the swamp.
Trump will be gone eventually…but his poisonous, divisive legacy will live on for decades.
(Response: no doubt when Trump is gone, his legacy will live on for quite some time. However, the White House staff will likely change dramatically… Whoever winning the office bringing in their own group of toadies. Watching him in Davos … backing down … I kept thinking how hated he must be by all the leaders, who don’t dare say so publicly, but are no doubt waiting for a chance to get even. Ho)
In spite of some mildish comments from both men, it ‘feels’ like Mark Carney and Donald Trump are marching arm in arm for the time being.
(Response: as more and more time goes by and Trump refuses to seriously negotiate a new comprehensive trade deal with Canada, watch Kearney slowly, but steadily keep pulling Canada away from the United States train and enter into war and more agreements with our longer term enemies… Like China and India. Ho)
Right on Harv. The Dictator will do whatever he wants now … and is there anyone or country that can stop him? Don’t think so .. as you say, ride it out until the results of their mid-term elections.
No matter how you slice it, I am a very proud Canadian, not so much a Carney believer.
(Response: that does not mean Canada has to roll over and give into Trump: we should do what European nations are about to do start making deals for airplanes and military equipment with European Union countries or even Israel… But not with China and India! Ho)
I am no expert here. But let’s play devil’s advocate.
.
I get the reluctance of trading with China and India, but the US by far is our main trading partner. Quick google search. About 70-75% of our trade is with the US. China, the UK, Mexico and Japan follow with China second at around 5% and the others following. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to diversify – a wee bit?
And it isn’t like the US doesn’t trade with China. China, Mexico, and Canada are its three main partners, all being approximately equal.
As for waiting until November : The House is likely to flip but there is no guarantee and while the Senate is winnable for the Democrats it will be far more difficult. And Trump will still be President with his veto and executive power.
Besides, with Republican weakness and/or unwillingness to challenge Trump why would anyone trust a country even after Trump leaves. Venezuela was not taken over because of drug cartels. It was all about oil. Do you think Greenland is being threatened because the US is worried about security. Greenland has plenty of untapped precious metals. So does Canada. So does Iceland which the new US ambassador jokingly (I think) referred to it as the 52nd state. But notice he didn’t say 51st so I guess Canada is still in play.
Oh and the pipeline that we are all supposed to support. Aren’t China and India going to be big customers or should we ignore them when the oil is flowing?
Again, Harvey, I am no expert. Just throwing out an opposing view to see how it lands.
(Response: yes, absolutely a good idea to diversify… But with countries that are allies, not with India/China, nations with proven records as Canada’s enemies or even worse dominators than the US. H.o)
Ideally the US would still be a friend and partner. We have no choice but to seek out other LARGE markets.
(Response: Europe could be a huge market and so could many countries in South America combined… No different than combining the US states as an entity. I get that, but see no long-term benefit in cow towing to China and India, two nations that have no principles, no respect for human rights, and would also turn on Canada in a flash including violating our laws if it saw an advantage to so. Ho)
Too late the ship has already sailed with Carney and the Liberals leading us towards financial and moral ruin. But the Carnival leader doesn’t have to care as he can always run back to Europe with his company in tact. Unfortunately the rest of us can’t.
The liberals appear to be trying to make deals with some of the worst regimes in the world. Qatar and Saudi Arabia and China aren’t exactly paragons of democracy are they. And didn’t the Liberal actually say during the elections that Chinas was a horribly country. Why do deals with the Chinese then and run away from supporting Taiwan. At least the Conservatives were good enough to stay in Taiwan and not run willy nilly to China.
Also read a comment which kind of is telling. Somebody actually had the nerve to suggest that we let China take over our resources so that when the US invades us, they will come to our defense. The stupidity of some Canadians is absolutely astonishing to say the least.
(Response: it’s as if the world has gone mad and turned everything upside down: Trump let’s Russia get away with the most brutal attacks and murderous actions, while the US president now regularly attacks his best allies, and America’s proven and formerly trusted supporters! It’s absolutely crazy… If only Trump was a tough with Putin, as he is now with Canada, France, even Britain! Ho)
Sorry, I don’t agree.
It is not just Trump, but the politcal machine and the 30% of the population which are diehard supporters of Trump and his policies.
The American democratic process is badly flawed, as are the politcans who reside in the “exceptional” bubble of the American politik. In their minds, Canada is a backwater ripe for picking and is backed by the “Lord Ha Ha’s” and “Tokyo Roses”, spewing Trumps garbage from several news outlets, now including CBS News – Walter Cronkite must be spinning in his grave!
As an aside FOX news spent a great deal of time asking “Where’s Biden” and making it like he has something to do with the current state of affairs. Problem with that, Biden is a past president and has no function with the running of the USA, but still “where’s Biden”?
It is the state of mind of the average American and I cannot trust anything from anyone south of the border.
Carney is doing the best he can and even though dealing with China is not the best sort of thing, it is, in today’s world, far better than dealing with the Trumpian USA.
The human rights angle is gone with ICE, who can snatch and abduct people without warrant and install them in gulags, and treated like animals, sorry the USA is now liquidating people in the open without any sort investigation.
With Greenland and do not kid yourself, Trump must make a play for Greenland to once again get the public distracted from the Epstein files and the result will be catastrophic and trade with the USA will be zero.
We have a demented malignant narcissist as the US president, supported by both Congress and the Senate. Trump’s days are not numbered rather it is the standard the USA will reside in for the next decade at least.
I think Carney knows this and is acting accordingly.
(Response: i’m not saying that we must deal with the United States right now… Look for other suppliers, other markets, but with our allies who can offer us just about anything we need from products to markets to raw materials… Without kowtowing to China or India! Ho)
But Carney says it’s being strategic and pragmatic. Come on now. HAHAHAHAHA. Belly laughs from the audience. Oh well, that’s Canadas new dear leader replacement. Isn’t this kind of like that dimwit Trudeau. But just imagine if Freeland became PM. We would be screwed in real short order. It might take just a bit longer under Carneys Carnival.
Fantastic topic, Harvey!
The PRC is not a safe, ethical, sound or principled partner, whatsoever!
The PRC fifth column has meddled in our elections, imprisoned our citizens, committed industrial espionage, why would you celebrate any agreement with such a boorishly governed nation?
Liberals have long been fans of Chairman Xi, infiltrated by Chinese agents, none of this surprises me in the least.
Fleeing to Chinese trade deals due to a 4 yr. Narcissistic baby tantrum down south will guarantee pains to come. Once the orange scourge has run his course, the US will have to correct the madness, realize the world does not revolve around only them, and probably pivot to a position quite different from what is seen today. Will our flight to PRC trade accommodate or hinder a rebuild of Canadian/US relations once Trump is toast? What are the long term ramifications of this deal? Will the “laws of unintended consequences” bite us in the butt?
(Response: you are absolutely correct… The Mad Hatter is a passing phenomenon.. we can withstand his tantrums, stupidity and arrigabce for another year or even two or three… Without cutting off our nose despite our faces. The US , by virtue of geography and also market availability in normal times is Canada‘s best bet… We should not tie ourselves to China or India in the long-term. That will come back to bite us worse than the madness and we are dealing with now under Trump.Ho)
We hope he’s a passing phenomenon.