Canadian negotiators are engaged in “extremely intense” discussion with the US in Washington Wednesday. They have Donald Trump’s gun to their heads on numerous issues related to the take-it-or- leave-it deal struck with Mexico. Ottawa is in a corner. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says “the Canadian economy can’t survive very well without a deal with the U.S. They’re too dependent on us.” And so, the dispute mechanism by which Canada has won countless disputes over softwood lumber is set to be tossed.
BOSOM BUDDIES? FORGET IT
Protection for dairy farmers (which many Canadians consider excessive) is under intense pressure. It’s the apparent end of a nearly 75-year road in which we’ve become used to thinking of ourselves as bosom buddies with the Americans. Forget it. In fact, we are apparently now expendable. Although Canada can make it tough for some US customers, the retaliation will be excruciating. The prime minister says that no deal is preferable to a bad deal. That has to be bluff because no deal will be very bad indeed. CBC
