Post by @PaulBusch@cosocial.ca

Some after coffee thoughts on the collapse of U.S. - Canada trade talks. (Rant incomming)
This document is all over the news this morning, and shared widely on #MastodonCanada. Some were surprised by the collapse of discussions, primarily media and businesses, but there was a slim chance of ever achieving a deal.

#CanPoli #Tariffs

Statement by Prime Minister Carney on Canada-U.S. trade negotiations | Prime Minister of Canada
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2026/08/21/statement-prime-minister-carney-canada-us-trade-negotiations

Prime Minister of Canada

Statement by Prime Minister Carney on Canada-U.S. trade negotiations

We have recognised from the beginning that America has changed, and that we will not return to our old relationship. Our government understood, before many, that America is altering all its trade relationships. Putting tariffs on its closest allies and charging for access to its vast market.

#mastodoncanada #canpoli #tariffs

4 Replies

3 Boosts

Innocuous In Innisfil

@PaulBusch@cosocial.ca 2 days ago

Trump is quoted regularly that his favourite word is "Tariffs". The likelihood that he would alter his misguided approach to trade policy is close to zero. He sees money pouring into the government but doesn't understand the damage done to his economy or impact felt by U.S. consumers. Because he's also incapable of learning, his trade negotiators weren't going to change his mind. As long as he remains in office, tariffs will remain central to his trade policy.

#TrumpTariffs

Innocuous In Innisfil

@PaulBusch@cosocial.ca 2 days ago

The reference to the "last minute changes in the U.S. proposed terms" is typical Trump. He talked about the tactic in his book, Art of the Deal (that he didn't write), where you get close to a deal and then throw something outrageous onto the table. His deals are not good for both sides, standard practice for achieving stable longterm partnerships, but must be an overwhelming win. He has to dominate the partner in order to feel he is winning. Canada was never going to get a fair deal.

Innocuous In Innisfil

@PaulBusch@cosocial.ca 2 days ago

There's the whole issue of trust. Trump is capricious, has obvious signs of cognitive decline, doesn't care about partnership (except with Russia and North Korea...) and was just as likely to trash any agreement if some upset billionaire dropped a few million into his pocket. The current U.S. - Canada trade deal, #CUSMA, was negotiated in Trump's 1st term and he's referred to it as the world deal negotiated in history. He's not sufficiently self-aware to realize he's trashing his deal.

Innocuous In Innisfil

@PaulBusch@cosocial.ca 2 days ago

Thinking about retaliation. Applying reciprocal #Tariffs is the stated next step. That will raise prices for us and makes it more important than ever to #BuyCanadian. Our government needs to work on a strict labeling law that makes it easy to identify Canadian products, and stop importers from #MapleWashing their goods. Push that legislation through immediately.

#TeamCanada

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