At our local co-op, I regularly find many Canadian products,not because they are less expensive than comparable American products but because they are of higher quality and consistently meet the demands of the specialized marketplace---vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergen-free, GMO-free, etc. Though I lack the statistical information, I suspect that the upstate New York and Ontario economies are closely interwoven. Until recently, we even had a Tim Horton's coffee and pastry kiosk in some of our local supermarkets.
58
Wow, we might lose Canada? So what?
15
You might find out to your dismay.
128
Trump is a wrecking ball - hell bent on wrecking the environment, trade, alliances, civic spirit, race relations, and American unity. He has the reverse Midas touch: Everything he touches turns into a stinky mess. Trump revels in being an unpredictable jerk - but he is not unpredictable, he is just a jerk.
As should be obvious now to even the most die-hard Trump supporters, Trump is not capable of "acting presidential." He never was, he never will be.
80
America will lose Trump before it loses Canada.
41
Instead of flying back to America, Trump should carry on to Vietnam, at the taxpayers' expense.
The last time he had an opportunity to go there at the taxpayers' expense, some nasty bone spurs appeared.
70
Hello Wisconsin...please tell Mr Trump that the 25%
Mexican tariff makes your Costco cheddar and mozzarella uneconomic for my restaurant.
I am looking for Mexican suppliers.
Mexico is the biggest US export market for dairy products.Cheese is probably the highest value added US food export.
The US exports pigs ears, snouts and trotters to
China. Definitely not high value.
Please read "Why Goliath Can't Export" written by an American with long experience in Asia. In short,
Americans don't understand other cultures.
(Economist circa 1985)
51
I don't think that the "War of 1812" statement was a joke.
I think that Trump is ignorant of history
88
Responding to the title "Will America lose Canada", let me answer in a way that reflects the attitude of Canadians as people to Americans as people. The answer is "Yes". It's not irreversible. But you're getting close. Let me point out that my great-grandmother was from Iowa; her brothers fought during the Civil War. My grandpa's brother settled in New York, and I know his descendants. My ancestors have deep roots on both sides of our border, so I've viewed our peoples as one family living under different political systems. We smile when we find ourselves the brunt of jokes on late-night TV shows about our mild, apologetic nature ... but our good nature is intelligently measured ... we can get our backs up, we're prepared to deal with fools, and we are more resolute than you may believe. We fought in both world wars and the Korean war. We (including my dad and uncles and other relatives) fought in World War II earlier than your country (you were dragged in unwillingly) ... one uncle lost a lung when he was machine-gunned off his motorcycle as a dispatch rider; another was murdered as a P.O.W. I come from a history of miners and loggers and smelter workers, as well as homesteading farmers. My home town manufactured "heavy water" (deuterium dioxide) for your Manhattan Project during WW II. We're tough; we're loyal; don't get our backs up. Get your President under control. You'll rue the day when we begin to seriously question our affection for you as neighbours.
154
Oh please. Lose Canada? In the 1860s annexing Canada was still openly considered in the United States as the natural evolution of the country's manifest destiny. As late as 1938 Roosevelt warned Canada that the United States had the right to invade to protect itself against any other power having undue influence. A country of 36 million where most of the population lives within one hundred miles of the United States with a population ten times larger, and whose prosperity depends on access to the US market, has very little bargaining power. Canada has benefited from multilateral treaties and institutions because in any bilateral negotiations with the US Canada is always in a weaker position. It isn't far from the truth that Canada is a historical accident, and even today survives by the grace of the United States. In the emerging world of regional hegemonies Canada has no alternative but to put up with most of the US dictates. What would be the alternative, turning to Russia for help? Trudeau the first was right, the correct metaphor is elephant and mouse. And don't forget it.
9
It's hard to know which of your absurdities to address first, but I guess I would start with the fact that Canada is bound by defense treaty with most of Europe. Invading and annexing Canada, as you cavalierly and foolishly suggest, would not be an easy or painless undertaking. The least we could expect is a trade embargo from most of the developed world that would be economically devastating.
Besides that, the article goes into great detail about how significant the US-Canada economic relationship is to Americans. If that relationship ended, millions of Americans would lose jobs and the US would almost certainly face another recession. There's no question Canada has significant leverage for a trade war.
84
I am always impressed by how diplomats to a person always favor good relations over bad even when the interests of the two countries diverge. I am tempted to conclude Mr. Kelly is a beta male put off by Trump's alpha, but maybe it is just Mr. Kelly's need to use the revolving door at State to make his living as a Canadian lap dog, I mean, lobbyist.
1
and I am always depressed by those [of whatever ilk] who worship the almighty dollar above decency.
75
I find that one thing I have taken from my past is in time one gets to leave the kindergarten bullies behind and take the best revenge possible - 'Live well!"
I take further comfort in seeing that most Americans I meet, while they may wish to put America First, do not quite care for his style.
I have also been developing a kinder reflection towards the Bushes and even Reagan.
My sympathy for Andrew Scheer, since it is his job to call Trudeau dishonest and weak.
9
After applying equal and measured counter tariff on American imports, the first thing Canadian government should do is to pull all military personnel working with American military overseas immediately. Why risk the most valuable Canadian asset to assist such ungrateful & unsavory characters? Next, cancel all military purchases from American Military-Industrial complex. Canadian tax dollars should only buy from countries who appreciate Canada as a favored customer. Finally, Canadian consumers should look at the product labels carefully and decide if their own wallet should support a country dead-set on punishing a friendly nation.
73
Trump is ignorant about all things. His “businessman” credentials are worth nothing when you consider a large portion of his wealth was made through corrupt means. He’s a grifter, a phony, a con man and a hateful, immoral fool.
79
And the elected President of the United States. The American people elected him, he isn't a king who got there by divine right!
8
Though he appears to think he is....
33
As someone who has loved visiting Canada and it's people for half a century, I can't begin to explain how embarrassed and ashamed for my country this state of affairs makes me. We have a ruling political party that doesn't appreciate Canadians. Unbelievable!
80
USA and Canada have a very profound bond that I do not think this president, or those around him, can destroy. This is all rather disappointing I think for and to both sides - but I like to think that rational minds and shared respect and interest will continue to form the basis of any relationship - trade, foreign policy, etc. I for one am a big fan of the US.
14
Ironically (and there is way too much irony with this administration), Trump's economist Navarro claimed that German car companies assembling cars in the US didn't count as beneficial to the US because the components were made in Germany. What do you think they are assembling in Canada or Mexico? American cars! These guys can't even keep their story straight except that somehow none of this trade stuff works to our advantage.
48
Will America lose Canada? No. The American and Canadian peoples will be be friends and allies long after Trump and his foolishness are forgotten. How could good neighbors not be?
25
"America" has already lost Canada. Job done! Good work! The G7 rant of your president and his subsequent unadulterated threats to make all Canadians "pay" for the supposed insult has convinced many that the friendship is over, if not the required cohabitation of a shared continent. Something truly broke in the Canadian psyche this weekend. We feel like Poland in 1939, knowing it will only get worse. The #ThanksCanada hashtag is a nice effort, but it will change nothing of the horror of the war to come, be it about trade or otherwise. It's been nice to know you. Sorry it had to end this way. We'll be moving on now. Don't bother to write.
47
Oh my goodness, get a grip. Sure, we'd like our American friends to change a few things (truth be told, quite a few things), but we're not about to turn our backs.
11
I thought that the American system was one of checks and balances. Why are there so few checks on this megalomaniac and apparently little to no balance in the current american political system?
Let us hope the midterm elections provide some relief to this absurdity.
49
It's all about "the base" as the Meghan Trainor song goes. This "base" of about 5-10% of the electorate control the Republican party and have been whipped into a tizzy for years by the likes of Limbo and FoxNews. Remember, 40+% of Americans don't vote in the presidential election and for other elections, it's even fewer.
Same thing happened in Russia in 1917 with the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks...
21
"He called the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, dishonest and weak."
Aren't there always two sides of every story?
6
Here is the other side of the story: Trudeau rejected U.S. tariffs on its steel, autos, etc. and pushed back. For that, "how dare he", Trumpetts blared. There is a special place in hell for Trudeau, his protectionist trade representative shouted. In other words, no there really is no there, there. This is just Trump being Trump, the Ugly American President - something he seems to relish.
51
The U.S. administration may lose Canada, but U.S. citizens won't.
25
Trump was thwarted by Justin Trudeau at the G7. He does not take kindly to not being the star of the show; such is the nature of a narcissist. He is such a petty individual that it now seems possible to me that he also resents Trudeau, for being, as someone else has commented ‘young, fit, handsome, articulate, informed, progressive, honest, compassionate, well-regarded’. And always wears great shoes!
I love my country; it is truly one of the best places on earth to live. I am so proud of how our government is handling this odious situation.
We have indicated to our financial advisor to not invest in American firms that have a link to any companies that do not treat Canada fairly; we are being vigilant about our purchases, and will eschew travel to the US. We have to back up our government and its position and stand up for our country, through even these admittedly small efforts. With many others in Canada doing the same thing, hopefully your ‘leader’ will get the message that we will not roll over.
Thank you to all the commentators who have expressed dismay over the situation and support Canada.
By the way, if anyone had any doubts about how self-serving your Great Dissembler is, CNN has just aired a clip of Trump extolling the beaches of North Korea and how great it would be to have beautiful hotels overlooking them…….
Nuff said!
71
Trump is not “a man with a business background”. He has a lifelong background in lying, cheating, and stealing — including the 2016 presidential election and his subsequent administration. Which is how they do “business” in, say, Russia. Have you ever heard the term “oligarch” without its accompanying descriptor “Russian”? Who else but Trump could so spectacularly fail to make money running a casino? As several historical figures have written, we get the government we deserve.
41
This is what you get when you elect a businessman to a political position. The language of diplomacy has evolved to where calling someone "unhelpful" is a major insult. This allows politicians to disagree in public statements while not leaving entire populations insulted and demanding war. Trump, the businessman, has swept this diplomacy aside and used direct language to throw meat to his base.
The result, predictably, is that Canadians are outraged and the trade war has already started. The long tariff list created by Canadian politicians will be meaningless and generate no revenue. Canadians will not buy any of the products on the list, or anything else from the US, for any tariffs to be collected. Already started. Done deal. Our politicians couldn't turn off this trade war even if they wanted to. Good job Mr. Trump. You have been most unhelpful.
46
We have a transitory commercial dispute that could be settled easily. You know very well that our military alliance means that an armed assault on Toronto is the same as an armed assault on New York. Don’t play games.
3
A brilliant piece that needed to be written that includes many telling details (not just because I live in Canada). It's more than a shame that certain people in the US (hello #45 supporters) choose not to be informed.
23
Canadians will be hurt disproportionately more than Americans in a trade war, that is for certain. Many Canadian will endure self inflicted economic harm by avoiding USA goods and travel destinations, like I will. There will be great pain in Canada, but in the end, the world will not stop and Canada will rebuild itself with a broader international network of partners. Fortunately, Canada does have a good safety net to weather the storm; accessible education for re-training, single payer healthcare that will help those without an income, and a worldly and entrepreneurial drive. As the saying goes; short-term pain for long-term gain. Buckle up, it is going to be a bumpy ride!
54
Canadians are not AntiAmerican.
But most of us ARE very Anti-Trump!
We despise, with overwhelming contempt, everything his socially, politically, and environmentaly-vandal backers and supporters represent. I work in the liqour and wine retail business on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast and increasingly, Canadian customers are informing me they're making a point of not purchasing U.S. products. Same comments are being made by visitors from Europe and Australia etc too. And likewise from a few American's summering up here... Very sad for US wine producers; they, and the vast majority of the US people, are not our enemy; they are our family!
40
I find it hard to get too outraged when I understand that, despite all the puffery about how great these deals are for trade, the G6, NAFTA, PTP and other treaties are written with the express intent of enriching the already superrich international companies and benefit only them. Trump, Trudeau, May and Macron do not represent the people of their countries, they represent their business clients.
Or as Johnny Winter said: "It ain't nothin to me."
2
That is an over simplification. Just look at autos, they are so integrated between the two economies they'd be impossible to separate. NAFTA allows those parts to go back and fourth freely several times during the manufacturing process, take that away and it's front line workers who will be unemployed.
26
They get rich by selling you the products you want at prices you can afford. Funny how that works out.
6
Reading these posts is so enlightening. Despite living in the U.S. for some time and having often visited I never felt Americans had much love for Canadians. We do have faults. I guess I was wrong. Thank you for all your kind words and best wishes. We may be in for a hard time but we will prevail. We have immigrants from all over the world and they love and appreciate our country more than some of us. Maybe more people in both our countries will VOTE?!
37
There won't be a boycott of American goods by Canadians, though some may exercise this preference. Canadians won't stop travelling to the US either. But the process of Canada weaning itself from economic dependency upon the US (the recent trade pact with the EU and continued participation in the TPP are examples) will accelerate. If Trump insists on imposing tariffs on Canadian products, we can seek other markets. When Canada imposes retaliatory tariffs on American products, we can purchase from others. Overall, despite certain short-term adjustment pain, and there will be that, diversification of Canadian trade relations can only benefit this country. Just as the pain of the OPEC production reductions in the 1970s caused America to address its energy strategies, so Canada will emerge stronger and more vital as a result of Trump's actions. In the long term, the country that will suffer most from American isolation is the US.
25
What are you talking about, people are all ready boycotting the USA and choosing to travel elsewhere. I know people who have changed travel plans when traveling abroad to avoid transferring flights at US airports.
35
I and those I know certainly aren't buying American fruit and vegetables. We are flying Canadian Flags on our cars. @2.50 at the dollar store.
1
I hate to disagree with a fellow Canadian, but I will not travel to the US until he is out of office. I said that when he was elected and I'm sticking to it. Also, just got back from the grocery store and actually was able to buy all Canadian products. And yes, I may have spent a couple of dollars more, but it was worth it.
43
Recent actions of Trump and his administration have been very offensive and and very badly taken in Canada. The response has been so strong that Parliament has just UNANIMOUSLY endorsed a though and detailed motion supporting Trudeau and Canadian government responses to Trump's tariffs. This motion contains language far stronger than anything floated by Trudeau, yet every last MP (and by extension, every party) supported it.
I
38
Including a provision that makes it near impossible now for any government to dismantle Canada's supply management system. So exactly what Trump was asking Canada to do, is off the table for good.
21
Someone in an earlier reply stated the price of a gallon of milk in Canada cost $6.38US whereas in the US it cost $3US. I don't know where that number came from, probably Fox news, but I just did the calculation on what I pay. Allowing for the difference between 4 liters and a US gallon and the current exchange rate I estimate I pay $3.30US per US gallon of milk. A small premium to insure the product is not contaminated with growth hormones and other adulterants.
49
Apparently St. John's has the highest milk price among Canadian cities due to distance and small market. By my calculation, we pay about US $4.50 per US gallon.
Whoever said Canadians pay an average of US $6.38 seems to be unaware that Canadians can do math.
34
As well, we don't pay taxes to subsidize an overproducing dairy industry like the US does. $6.8 BILLION dollars in tax money went directly to US dairy farms so they can continue to overproduce. The more I read, the more math I do, the more I'm coming to appreciate the Canadian system. Factoring in the tax paid for subsidies, the average person in Canada pays less for milk than Americans do. Better milk too.
1
If Trump thinks a domestic steel industry is vital to national defense then how much more so must be basic foods like milk and eggs. If the highly subsidized US producers were allowed to dump their products into Canada at prices well below what it cost them to produce when subsidies are removed then our domestic industry would be wiped out. Now who is being unfair Mr. Trump?
28
One can only assume that the other members of the G-7 will let Trudeau know they have Canada's back. That, along with filling the vacuum Trump is leaving with China and Mexico trade and diplomacy, should provide opportunities for Canada to blunt Trump's belligerence.
25
You mean G-6, don't you?
One of the 7 countries reneged on signing the documents.
13
Trump thinks this nonsense is all part of a transaction to renegotiate NAFTA. He fails to understand (or perhaps care) that he is destroying a 200 year relationship through his idiotic tweets and sound bites.
And could he be more classless than to insult his host via tweet AFTER he leaves the meeting? At least be a man about it and insult the guy to his face. This guy doesn't seem to get that this isn't the Apprentice anymore.
Trump thinks the rest of the world only cares about money because HIS world only revolves around money, and that once a new trade deal is done all will be forgiven and forgotten. Soon to be ex-wives and mistresses can be paid off in Donnie's world, but our allies in Canada and the EU will not forget this garbage the next time we need a vote at the UN or want them to send troops to help form a coalition that is in our interest.
51
This is what happens when we 'elect' a vulgar, ignorant, dishonest clown because he appealed to our basest instincts, and we were too stupid to see through his con.
'A great businessman'? Yes, if you count six bankruptcies as positives.
48
Yeah - and the fact that inherited 41 million dollars and it has been said he failed to pay those who worked for him!
17
Man that Trudeau is a sharp dresser. Says a lot about him as a person.
14
He's also a great everyman who'll do almost anything to make people smile!
5
I hope Canadians will realize that the incoherent rants of a lunatic who is unable to speak in completely formed sentences do not represent the sentiments of most Americans. You are still our best friends.
62
Numerous photos depict DJT leaning forward with his hands in a "self"-protective position and also covering the nether regions of his too-long necktie. What is he communicating?
11
It is the style of the con man pathological liar with zero governance skills to insult others. This is the mafia style he used in his real estate deals. The man came to the White House by fluke and Vladimir’s help. The incompetence is at its max in the White House. Tradeau is a world leader and widely admited. Whereas, the mentally unstable man is a joke. Canada is our most trusted partner- anyone with any sense would not use vulgar language to insult Trudeau as done by the con man. Simply, he is a disgrace - a vulgar incompetent con man not suited to serve any office.
35
I've gone to both grocery stores in my town and told the managers I will not be buying American products if I can. Gas? Husky or Petro Canada will do. Fruits, vegetables, meats etc. all easily switched to local or South/Central American suppliers, just as good.
I'm on fixed income, this will hurt, but as long as Trump is POTUS, we are at WAR and there will be sacrifices. Canadians have BRAVELY fought and died next to Americans, in all their bloody wars and to be be chastised by a draft dodging idiot is the insult
79
In Trumpworld, everyone and everything is the equivalent of another job-to-job sheetrock company in Newark waiting to get stiffed or sued for no reason. We are 500 plus days into this circus and there are still people who cannot fathom the depths of a narcissism so malignant that he would willingly jeopardize the welfare of 325 million Americans to salve his pathetically insecure ego. This has never happened in this country, although there is a long list of egomaniacal disaster starting with Nero and Caligula and working through all manner of mentally disturbed despots. our system of governance is apparently so fragile that all it took was one illiterate con artist, helped immeasurably by gutless and nutless Republicans in Congress, to destroy it. All this treason for what? So that a fat, crude, crass, bigot can play out his daddy issues? Pathetic.
50
I suppose Trump could ask reality-based experts like Stephen R. Kelly to join his cabinet, but your dotard, self-absorbed president would never listen to his advice.
10
Let's face it. We have a world class idiot for a president, and white working class voters in the middle of the country are responsible for this, along with our out-dated and undemocratic electoral college. He did not actually win the popular vote. Nothing to do until this complete idiot is not re-elected, and some sad democrat is going to have to clean up the mess. I am just hoping that the mess does not involve another global war. Trudeau should treat this man with the contempt that he deserves, and we should be embarrassed.
45
Trump has no true friends, so he has no comprehension of what an honest and mutual friendship looks like. Relationships between nations and countries are far beyond Trump's adolescent level of comprehension. This is why he cannot possibly understand or manage any relationships with anybody----sadly including his own family. This is the behavior of a completely dysfunctional, narcissistic sociopath, and it will not end well for any of us, including those who voted for the willfully ignorant, sadly alone Mr. Trump.
20
Trump's treatment of Canada can be likened to his shooting someone on 5th Avenue and getting by with it. His supporters are going to give him a pass on whatever he does, no matter how outrageous. This is a dangerous man, and we live in dangerous times - make no mistake about it. Only time will tell whether America embraces this demagogue or rebels against him. Right now, they have their arms around him in an embrace when it should be to strangle him. Will our racist bigotry do us in?
See: RevolutionOfReason.com
TheRogueRevolutionist.com
17
I'm not saying I agree with the theory that Trump is a Manchurian Candidate kind of president. He may just be an idiot who has no idea what he's doing, or an impetuous toddler who is taking out his anger at his daddy never saying he loved him on the rest of the world, or a wannabe authoritarian who loathes democracy and not being able to do what he wants, when he wants.
That being said, if you DID have a Manchurian Candidate type take power with a nation like Russia pulling the strings, he'd probably be doing exactly this sort of thing.
26
Shattering our most important 2 century old international relationship because of our neurotic and psychotic short-sighted, ignorant egotistical President is even more reckless and dangerous than his risk of being taken for all he's worth by Kim Jong Un.
22
It is not that an imbecile who usurped the office of the president of the US is spewing venom towards Canada. It is the fact that his approval rating goes up with each evil deed he does that is a matter of great concern.
Are his supporters this disconnected from reality that they cannot discern what their best interests are? To insult and threaten your best trading partner and most trusted ally is akin to cutting the branch beneath your feet and fall head first; an infected, miserable head I might add.
America has been infected with so much hate and its haters supporting this demented man are destroying whatever goodwill the forefathers have built; they are destroying democracy around the world while pandering and succoring dictators, are an embarrassment to humanity! This is definitely America at its nadir!
32
Will the US lose Canada...short answer is no. Canada is already lost! The average canadian citizen is quite clearheaded, unlike our cousins to the south. we know who our friends are! Trump is a fool, who plays to the lowest common denominator. A minority of the electorate in the US don't get it. They have been duped by the conservative jingoism, abortion, guns and flag waving. Sad! My only hope is that he does not take the rest of the world down with him. We'll see what Putin says!
25
Stab in the back? Stab in the back? Hmmmm. Now where have I heard that before?
9
Canada, Putin wants you to hate us. i am betting you are wiser and more patient than that. Boycott us, snub us, but please help us recover when this takeover is over.
30
Let us all apologize to Canada for Mr.Trump's boorish behavior.The leaders now know him for what he is, a transactional bully.Mr.Trump insults everyone including his cabinet and the FBI and CIA. He does not believe in American ideals.Mexico and Canada have been criticized and insulted and so have many of us.Just think of the abuse the press has taken.We are sick of this nastiness.He owes us all an apology.
21
Apology accepted.
10
Trump is a nightmare. A narcissistic buffoon who had many bankruptcies and "stiffed" every contractor in NYC. I had a repairman do some work for me this week...his opening remark was "I'm from NYC and we all hate Trump . He never paid anyone for work done." Now he is doing the same thing to Canada and our allies. He thrives on destruction and chaos. He chooses dictators over friends...he is not comfortable with decent, honorable people. Decades of careful diplomacy thrown away. So says my husband who is a retired senior Foreign Service diplomat.
26
In the picture of this article , you can see one leader. We all know who that is?
The Guy with brown shoes.
11
See the look of contempt and disdain on Trump's face in the photo with Trudeau. A day or two later, Trump's expression turns to one of admiration and respect when face to face with Kim Jong Un.
Trump is an utterly disgusting individual and clueless man. I won't call him a leader because he is not one. He just plays one on TV.
33
Trump ascends because you are all giving him permission; when was the last protest? Letters to the choir at the NYT don't count. Until your country has a sudden attack of common sense, which seems increasingly unlikely, you are dead to me.
39
Mr. Trump seems to find pleasure in treating our long time allies in the same manner in which he treats his former lady friends in houses of ill repute.
He is simply a bully.
16
Canada...I'm sorry.
16
When I think USA and Canada. I think always two brothers.
We ( at this moment of history) clearly proved that we are the spoiled brat.
Fr that we all should be gratefull to our great leader Trump.
4
I've read elsewhere that Trump's tweety-tantrum at Trudeau was most likely simply a stunt in advance of Trump's meeting with Kim Jong Un. If so, all I can say is it's playground stuff, and pretty stupid playground stuff at that.
As for the wholesale alienation of our allies, I honestly think Trump sees Germany, France, the U.K. and the rest of Europe just as he looked at the many and various vendors that he stiffed during his long, failed business career.
He embarrasses the country every day. And now, more than likely, he's about to get rolled by Kim Jong Un. Why? Because, by his own admission, Trump hasn't bothered to prepare for the meeting, perhaps because he's "like, a smart person".
God help the U.S.A.
20
The stab-in-the-back claimer got a stab-in-the heart yesterday. Keeping fingers crossed for more just rewards, regardless of how mean that might be.
5
Yes, it is a despicable thing to say. But I regrettably can't say that same thought hasn't passed through my mind, so it's hard to hold it against you!!!
2
Canada -- On behalf of all Americans who see you as a friend and ally, we humbly apologize that our Bully-In-Chief has turned on you. We cannot control what he says or does, but please know that most of us very much regret this insult to your country. You should be very proud of your leaders for standing up to this abysmal behavior by American leaders.
9
Kudlow just had a heart attack soon after the "Justin stabbed us in the back" tirade.
And the Karma-Train keeps on moving!
19
It's becoming clearer that many of us up here do not go for those short and fun trips to the "States" and spend money and enjoy friendly people anymore. Your country is no longer that fun place, it seems. It's not that we can't take some insults from your president, it's more that we often are unaware of how regular citizens are not informed well about issues concerning Canada. The dairy industry has many but very understandable issues that would make sense to Americans if they knew it. A trade war will hurt us more than you but it needen't happen if Americans knew what the facts were. Your president lies and knows little about basic economics and it's up to Americans to get rid of the problem somehow. It's up to you, not us. And moving here is not all that easy, byw. We wish you luck and know that what DT does affects the whole world, not just you.
37
How the mighty have fallen. The US had much to be proud of until it showed the world how parochial its leadership was - Bush and his daddy complex, McConnell and his anti-country obstructionism and now Trump and his ignorance that he covers up with bluster and threats.
Trump hates what is good. He can't help his compulsion to destroy it. Trudeau, the American ideals, the Western cooperative alliances, whatever. He has more power than the public realized the presidency could give to one man. While the rational try to understand, Trump is tearing down what he can't be. Fighting this insanity requires isolating the virus not feeding its ego.
13
Re: "It is therefore strange, especially coming from a man with a business background, that Mr. Trump would treat his best client so shoddily." Let's dispel this myth. Trump does NOT have a business background. He has a background in fraud, organized crime, bullying, lying, and cheating. He's a con-man and mobster with one or more severe personality disorders.
27
Maybe Americans should take a knee and sing, "Oh Canada"?
11
Canadians are border huggers and until they stopped contributing to the “Military Industrial Complex.” D Eisenhower, they were funny and acceptable. No more under present circumstances. “Tet” ‘68
1
As a Connecticut Yankee (and granddaughter of a Nova Scotian) who has lived abroad for almost 40 years - my sincerest apologies to our wonderful neighbor to the North, which does not deserve the rude, shoddy treatment from the imbecile currently sitting in the White House. I am ashamed of how our President acts, and in particular of his rude and ridiculous statements he made against the leader of the United States' closest ally. I would have serious words with any kindergartner who acted like Trump does to others.
I usually don't bother voting in the presidential elections - Connecticut is reliably democratic anyway, and getting a ballot from abroad takes some time. This time, however, I voted - as did my three children - because making sure that Trump would not be elected was important to me.
20
As a Canadian, I have to say that I really do feel sorry for Mr Trump and his merry band. After all, can you imagine the humiliation they must feel with that big bully M Trudeau, Canada's answer to The Hulk (or perhaps Godzilla), pushing them around and telling all those lies about the open, friendly, welcoming, generous, self-sacrificing administration currently in DC, slaving away day and night for the betterment of all humanity?
I mean, where do those Canadians get off? What do they think Canada is - an independent nation?
p.
28
Canada did not burned the White House in 1814, it was Great Britain. But the USA did burned York (now Toronto) in April-May 1813.
14
Canada, I'm offering my sincere apology to your Citizens, for the actions of
the Presidential Apprentice. One glorious day, HE will be gone. In the meantime, do NOT come to the USA and spend your Money here. Do NOT buy American products. Boycott the USA, completely. It's the only thing these fools understand. I will be visiting you, whenever we can.
My very best wishes.
31
That is very sweet. Thank you!
7
I guess my answer to your headline is...do Americans really care if they lose Canada. You know nothing about our country and we only pop up on your radar when something goes wrong. I lived in Connecticut for 10 years. I could count on the fingers of one hand, the people that knew we had a Prime Minister, let alone what his name was. That knew we had more than one University - McGill...and, that we actually fought in the Second World War (before you got into it, but the way).
23
There are rumors that Kim Jung Un may be brought in as the mediator to resolve the conflict that is brewing between the USA and Canada.
4
Reality TV, professional wrestling, beauty pageants, casinos and now our highest elected office have all fallen to our greatest blowhard. He will go down in history and I just hope he doesn't take what used to be our great nation with him.
The world will never accuse our citizenry of being too well educated.
16
The United States doesn't deserve Canada. Canada needs to assign itself with the EU and against the United States and Russia, the new "Axis of Evil."
11
Watching from a distance, even from a relatively safe distance Trump is still a terror. Living in Australia It’s like being a hobbit in Tolkien’s middle earth. Relatively safe down here in the shire but bound to be caught up as the darkness gathers.
12
Lose Canada?
America has lost America.
44
Timing. Trump slaps tariffs on Canada - high enough to cost thousands of Canadians their jobs. Then he attends the G7 in Canada. When he leaves, the prime minister states that he won't let the US push Canada around. Now Trumps and his sycophants blame the prime minister of Canada for incompetence and trying to hurt the summit with Korea. We really can hold the sequence of events in our minds.
15
Justin Trudeau is everything Trump is not - young, fit, handsome, articulate, informed, progressive, honest, compassionate, well-regarded.
Trump loathes him for it. And that, in TrumpWorld, forms the basis of our nation's relationship with Canada. Because at the end of the day, all politics aren't local - all politics are about one loathsome man named Donald J. Trump and his cult of personality.
25
We have the Deplorables to thank for the coming global economic disaster. They're going to get their comeuppance big time. Unfortunately, the rest of us, who voted for the right candidate who lost due to Trump's illegal conspiracy with Putin, will also suffer.
6
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and many of my best friends are from British Columbia as well as my business partner for the past 3 decades and I am embarrassed to say the least. My friends to the north know this Trump phase will pass and they can wait for things to get back to normal, but to publicly call out Trudeau the way he did is pathetic. What a pathetic leader we have created for ourselves.
18
Putins plan is working perfectly.
17
Poor Canada. Starting a fight it can never possibly win.
Trump is right. Lets do target practice with Canada, before we go after bigger fights, like Germany.
These so called "allies" have been propped up by the US and now the free pass is about to end. No wonder they are making silly comments.
3
These propped-up, so-called ally sent a brigade to Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks to support your government. And we did it because it was the right thing to do -- a concept with is obviously lost on the current American administration. It certainly wasn't because of any security risk to Canada. And as a result, several hundred Canadian soldiers died holding down Kandahar (Afghanistan's second-largest city) so that American soldiers wouldn't. Your response -- that we constitute "target practice".
I think it safe to say that no Canadian government will ever again put our troops in harms way on your nation's behalf. Mission Accomplished!
17
This "so-called, propped up" ally sent a brigade to Afghanistan in order to support your government after the 9/11 attacks. Canadian troops held down Kandahar (Afghanistan's second largest city) and several hundred of them died while doing so -- casualties which would have otherwise been borne by American soldiers. But now we are just "target practice".
I think it safe to say that no Canadian government will ever again put our troops in harms' way on your nation's behalf. Mission Accomplished!
6
The "bigger fight" would be not only with Germany, but the whole EU - 28 countries with half a billion consumers, the majority of which is really fed up with Trump and the ignorants supporting him.
8
I apologize to our neighbors to the north for the words coming from the current conman and his enablers in the White House. Please remember, this to shall pass
8
As usual, Trump's behavior at the g7 was appalling. The man was
obviously brought up in a barn! The Trump voters wanted someone who would "tell it like it is" - Unfortunately , this guy tells it like it
isn't. They must be so proud of their aberrant, grotesque selection
of a President. The rest of us are ashamed to be American today with this miscreant at the helm.
19
Stand strong Canada and please know that the majority of Americans respect, honor and wish to preserve our valuable relationship with your country and your people. Please remember that the majority of Americans DID NOT VOTE for Donald Trump. His presence in the White House is an aberration largely due to Putin & Russia's interference and the controllers of Social Media's lack of respect and value for ethics. Yes, the United States is now governed by a narcissistic nutcase who envisions himself to have the power of a Dictator. Unfortunately, he is an adept liar and feels not an ounce of guilt about it. But... one can only generate so many wicked lies before on has to "pay the piper" and Trump's time to do so is rapidly approaching. (Many of us support and believe in the integrity and hard work of Robert Mueller and his team.) We understand your anger. Many, many people of all ages and cultures in the USA are angry about Trump, his dishonest words, his deplorable actions. His Presidency is about to self-destruct. What isn't about to self-destruct is the majority of American citizens loyalty, respect and honor for Canada, Canadians and all of G8/G7 Countries and People. Please hang in there with us, the nightmare will soon be over and the insane one and those that now support Trumptopia will either be in jail or rendered powerless.
21
Yes, America will lose Canada for as long as corrosive Trump is in power. A shame, really. And totally unnecessary, as the abyss was Trump's creation...out of thin air.
12
maybe canada should build a wall to keep the people from the USA out. with the usa paying for it of course.
another fun option would be to no longer purchase US weapons. after all the canadians are a security threat to the usa.
haha.
8
But Putin will love us in return. Seems like a fair trade. Just because no sane person in the world trusts Putin doesn't mean Trump cannot profit from this situation. And isn't that what America electorally voted for? (Yes it is. MAGA!)
4
I can only hope that the rest of the world sees Trumpism as an aberration that will pass. And I can only hope they are right, and that Trump and his obscene gang of thieves and crackpots end up on the ash heap along with Joseph McCarthy and Jim Crow. Trump is not us... I hope.
10
No great loss
1
Are you seriously trying to justify this man's behaviour?
In any event, I think that the fruit and vegetable growers in the southwest might disagree, when they see their northern market evaporate. The boycotts have already started. And then there is that 60% of your imported oil that we produce and send south at sweetheart prices. The Chinese government will be more than happy to finance the pipelines to Vancouver.
17
You *have* to be kidding.
4
The Trump foreign policy. Alienate your friends and neighbors. Cozy up to your enemies. Russia and N.Korea. Maybe Trump should read a book on history including both world wars.
5
Only one problem: he doesn't read.
7
It's likely not Mr. Kelly's work, but the headline "Will America Lose Canada?" is disturbing and offensive. Is Canada a patronizing America's to lose? I'm a bit surprised that this comes from the Times, but then journalistic standards are slipping everywhere.
5
Maybe we should threaten to bomb American cities, that would get the President admiration and good words for our country.
We must now considere the US President as the most important national security threat. Find ways to isolate and eliminate him.
He is an adversary and all of them who support him. That is where we are.
13
At this point retaliation seems due the USA if only for inflicting Donald Trump onto the world stage.
Just wait until after I've escaped to the more normal northern neighbor before Canada cuts off all diplomatic relations. (Another term of Trump & Canada will need a wall to contain the US exodus).
Meanwhile, Mr. Trudeau should know that the Donald doesn't speak for this American! Big respect here for Mr. Trudeau, big fan of Chrystia Freeland.
O Canada, with glowing hearts we see thee rise.
16
Trumps come, and Trumps go. Relax folks. This is just a bad dream. Wake up now.
2
Mr. Trump first alienates Americans from fellow Americans to the point where he equates white-supremiscists and anti-fascists in order to roil the pot. He has his minions eagerly separate babies from their mothers at our borders, apparently mostly for spite. He alienates America from its closest supplicant states--that's what they really are, although they tend to be referred to as the closest allies). Then he feigns to build new love interests among those who have been most alienated from us, thus alienating our adversaries from one another, which clearly is a master-stroke for an alienator. His personal history is one of alienating spouse after spouse from him, although he still could take lessons from his supplicant, Mr. Giuliani, in alienating his own children from him. There is a consistency in all of this: Mr. Trump is a master of alienation. The group he seems to have united includes only those who are united in their alienation--his so-called base.
Few are able to succeed so thoroughly in nurturing any skill as well as Mr. Trump has in succeeding in alienating so many so quickly. He has united the world in alienation from him, and from one another. Two years ago not even Mr. Trump believed he could pull off anything like this truly amazing feat of anti-accomplishment. A job truly well-done, Mr. Trump. An infamy truly earned that will long be remembered. Congratulations on having left your mark on history. Ratings, after all, are all that matter.
6
I'm a Canadian, born and raised. I am now living in Canada again, after twenty years in the U.S. I have always had a lot of "truck and trade" with the Yankees.
An old friend of mine (Canadian) used to regularly declare that Canada should cut off diplomatic relations with the U.S. She was not trying to make sense, but rather to express her disgust with American policies and behaviour over-all. Pushy self-righteous selfishness and violence never really export all that well.
Recently I have been thinking that we should unveil our secret nuclear programme, and lob a few at the U.S. in a surprise attack. No more Mr. and Mrs. Nice Guy. Sorry. That would show them. Show them something. I don't care what.
Unfortunately, the sober truth is that, as several other commenters have pointed out, we're stuck here, next to each other, as intimate as Chang and Eng. Lots of trade is inevitable. Lots of everything. But — okay, seriously — I do think that all aspects of Canada's U.S. policies could use serious toughening-up, to make us more resistant and independent from The Big Neighbour. After all, you never know when the U.S. might elect a vicious, uncontrolled and violent lunatic as leader. Can you even imagine the chaos that would ensue?
8
In the latest poll I saw on CNN, 44% of registered American voters approve of Trump. It's not an anomaly, folks. This. Is. America.
14
To the PM Trudeau and all Canadian citizens:
This U.S. citizen offers my apologies for the actions of the disgusting, mentally unhinged man currently leading our nation. He is an abomination, and I cannot imagine anyone more unfit for the office he holds. This of course is now patently obvious to any sane person.
But please know this. At some future point, our nation will return to a decent, stable democracy, led by people with integrity. There will of course be disagreements among nations, as there always have been. But nonetheless, at some point we will have a president who works with leaders of other nations in a manner showing respect and decency, and an understanding of issues facing many other peoples throughout the world.
Sadly, I cannot even begin to guess when this will be. In fact, it isn’t entirely certain that Trump will let future national elections be held here. We may need to overthrow a dictator before this horrific chapter of American history is over. As awful as it must be for leaders and citizens of other nations to have to tolerate an unhinged tyrant like Trump, it is by orders of magnitude worse for us here, who must live under his autocratic rule.
But remember this. Several million more of us voted for Trump’s opponent. The majority of Americans are still decent, intelligent, caring people. And at some point, we will take back our country. When that happens, we will return to the international community with humility, integrity, and respect.
11
Until now Trump has escaped punitive consequences for his bullying, erratic and irrational behavior. His domestic supporters forgive him lies and verbal abuses as long as he trashes the political “enemy”.
In the recent months he rid himself of his “adult care givers” and he relishes trying the same abusive tactics with foreign and allied dignitaries. Initially they were stunned and let him get away with breaking diplomatic norms, they brushed over his lack of manners and they hoped that charm paired with informing him about the complexity of issues will eventually pull him back into the long line of presidents who advanced the liberal world order.
But no such luck, liberated from any restrains of initial insecurity, he lashes out at anybody who does not agree with him. Nobody can reason with him. He behaves like a petulant teenager. His ignorance makes him a prime example of the Dunning–Kruger effect, “a cognitive bias in which people of low ability have illusory superiority and mistakenly assess their cognitive ability as greater than it is.”
But the international arena will show him the limits of his overconfidence that has its source in his staggering incompetence. As the G-7 summit has shown, democratically elected heads of governments of the most powerful, innovative and prosperous nations in the world will serve as the opposition that will deliver the blows under which he will deflate and collapse. Go Canada! You and the other five please save the US democracy.
12
Still, with 87% of Republican voters loving Trump, it would be hard for Congress to do anything even if they wanted to. Canada and the U.S. are joined at the hip whether Trump likes it or not. Most disturbing, and a number of NYT columnists have said this, is Trump's love of dictators, and disdain for our (former?) democratic partners. What is his real goal here? His sycophantic administration is likely behind this since Trump can make few decisions on his own with that "me first" brain of his.
7
Collateral damage of bluster and bombast.
While tariffs will be the obvious repost, I would expect Trudeau to be more creative. My guess would be a fact offensive, and an open invitation to Congress for talks on renormalizing relations when they call Trump on his usurpation of Congressional powers by his ridiculous claim of a national security justification.
3
I hope the Canadian tariffs hurt those in congressional districts that voted for Trump and his party. Those who voted for Trump and his party must feel the consequences of their vote.
15
Maybe the northeast and west coast states should secede from the US and join up with Canada. They seem more compatible with Canada than with most other US states, not to mention the present US government. It might prompt extending the proposed wall around the whole of what's left of the US but that wouldn't be their problem any more.
7
The crucial issue is not that Trump assailed Canada and Trudeau, but that the United States has manufactured a con to deter the USA from signing the agreed-upon joint communique, thus rupturing the G7.
Trump's latest Théâtre du Grand-Guignol has accomplished two previously unfathomable things: American responsibility for fracturing the G7, and uniting all of Canada's main federal parties in forthright support of Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau.
12
I am proud to say I am a Canadian though ashamed to say I live in the US. I hope the long warm relationship between the 2 countries will survive Trump but I worry if it can survive the arrogance of a nation that elected a despot like Trump. The president has brought North America to a very dark place simply because he was having a hissy fit that the other members of the G-7 were not pandering to his lies the way his "government" does. Prime Minister Trudeau happened to be the host - therefore an easy and obvious target for trump's pique. The current leaders of the G-7 are , with the exception of trump, honorable, intelligent and praise worthy. American "exceptionalism" has gone from a positive descriptive statement to a very negative one in the eyes of the free world.
15
Canada is a wonderful country. I wish I could move there, but I am sure they can't take in all the American refugees that want to head north. Maybe they should build a wall?
12
There is the now classic photo from the G-7 in which Angela Markel and the other national leaders are talking to an impassive Trump seated with his arms crossed in front of him. This, as nothing else, shows the current state of the Western alliance. A picture of dissension and mistrust. Apparently, something that Trump appears to be aiming for.
There also, from around the same time, is a picture of Putin and Xi smiling and toasting each other.
One must ask; are they drinking to the success of their Manchurian Candidate?
8
Seeing Trump with PM Justin Trudeau one is struck by how old, angry and insecure he really is. Trump is old guard, Trudeau & Macron are the new.
The sooner the US moves into the 21st century, the better off we'll all be.
20
Dear Neighbors,
Hang in there! Please make an end-run around the "U. S. dotard" who now occupies the White House, to quote Kim Jong-eun. That could entail direct engagement with members of Congress, or just waiting until Trump is primaried in 2020 or impeached or indicted beforehand.
If it's any consolation, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen and Arkansas Republican Tom Cotton met just this past week regarding legislation requiring Congressional review of any tariffs imposed for so-called national security reasons. Chris Van Hollen. Working with Tom Cotton. I realize our Congress is pretty ineffectual but still.
If you're hoping for a return to the status quo ante, that makes two nations!
Respectfully,
Your fellow North American
10
I am stuck by the most famous of these "the loss of China" in 1949, now formulated like this.
Or maybe the having is like when you say, "you had me at hello".
I think Mr Trump sees a future in which a strong Russia and America dominate the weaker countries, of which the Canadia is one. From his perspective, it is better for the perceived strong to dominate than to dither with the weak.
If Jianada is gonna be a strong separate country maybe it's good for them to put some distance. Alternatively in a redivision of English speaking North America maybe some of the western provinces and the red states would be happier together.
1
I don't think you've analysed the situation correctly. While our prairie provinces are generally somewhere to the right of the coastal and central provinces, they are still on the moderate left by American standards. Our oh-so-evil "socialized" health-care system, for example, originated on the prairies and there is absolutely no way that any Canadian province is going give that up to join their red state "compatriots". To even suggest abandoning it for any of the American alternatives is political suicide up here. So, should things really go south in the 'states, I think that a more likely scenario would be for some of the northern states to join us.
12
Bullies don't always win. Or when they do, they win the battle but lose the war. The bullied show a unity and resolve which can only be considered self preservation. Canada will be fine but I'm not sure we will.
5
Born in the USA, I stand with Canada. It's just as easy to shop at amazon.ca as at .com. Just decided where to take my vacation next year, too.
15
Russia is Trump's best client, not Canada. That's why we can't see his tax returns.
9
We will not be traveling to the US this year as we’ve done for the past 10 years in a row mostly to Florida. Every year it seems to just get a little more terrible standing in front of a smug US customs agent being as rude as humanly possible to - you know - people that just want to spend money on a vacation. Every year you get a deeper sense of getting away with something just by crossing the US border. There is literally nowhere else in the democratic world that treats you and your family like that. Bye bye mon cowboy.
28
Americans who oppose Trump should boycott everything made in a red state, from milk to soy to whatever else. And in addition to that, the world needs to boycott everything with a Trump label on it ... steaks, water, wine, hotels, whatever Ivanka "makes," the golf courses, the works, the fancy hotel in DC. And boycott all the companies whose buildings bear the tacky Trump logo. Don't punish Americans who voted agains this freak show, but make those who did feel it. Elections have consequences, remember?
7
As furious and hurt as we feel right now, you can be sure the USA won’t “lose” Canada.
Our joint history is too long and deep, our cultures too intertwined for that to be possible.
The outpouring of apologies from US citizens who are more shocked and appalled by the actions of your lunatic President than we are is gratifying and reassuring.
We know that this bizarre period in history is an anomaly and that reason will prevail again.
In the interim, though we may mutter, we’ll likely be as quiet and courteous as usual.
Sometimes you make it difficult, but, despite your faults and failings, your sometimes bizarre beliefs and habits, we truly like you.
We will of course, spend a lot of time laughing at you, but that’s something we’ve done for more than a century. We’d hate to lose that.
7
Actually, America has already lost more than just Canada. As the saying goes, a reputation takes a lifetime to build but an instant to lose. Trump and his sycophants, grifters and enablers are that instant.
At least as far back as WW II, through Desert Storm and 9/11 America could count almost blindly on its Canadian, European and other allies. Trade is a by-product of that solidarity; an important one for sure, but one that rests on mutual trust and respect---even though as the proverbial 800 pound gorilla the US unarguably has the most favorable terms. Cherry-picking specific line items such as dairy products is disingenuous and dishonest.
As a Canadian who has lived abroad for over 20 years, including many in the USA, I am deeply shocked and saddened by how quickly and deeply America has lost the world. No amount of short-term window dressing with North Korea will change that.
American friends, please fix yourselves first. End your civil war and the institutional racism, poverty, lack of basic human rights (read health care) and over-weaponisation you still suffer from. Once you have your own act together again and have regained a truly representative democracy and a functional congress, perhaps the civilised world will regain confidence in you. I sincerely wish for that to happen. The vacuum Trump and the current feckless Republican party have created on the world stage is just too tempting for others to fill.
28
I would like to add to the listed acts of Canadian friendship their help during the Iranian anti-Shah Islamic revolution in 1979. Some readers will recall that revolutionary forces captured the US Embassy and took many Americans hostage. During the attack, a number of American citizens escaped the Embassy compound and were taken in by the nearby Canadian embassy. The Canadians went on to assist in smuggling the US citizens out of Iran when that was a very dangerous thing to do. Again, Canada came through for us, as neighbors and friends.
There is no excuse for the bombastic, arrogant and ignorant abuse now being directed at such friends.
20
Trump Unites Canada!
Thank-you, Mr. President for bringing us all together.
(It would be nice if you could do it for America too.)
20
Perhaps a minor point, but along with our participation in both World Wars (over 100,000 Canadian soldiers are buried in France, the Low Countries and Germany) and Korea, several hundred Canadian soldiers were also killed in Afghanistan. This was a result of honouring our section 5 commitments of the NATO agreement, under which the United States "allies" came to its' aid after the 9/11 attack.
I wonder if anyone in the Trump administration is aware of this? Or would care?
13
President Trump claims that Prime Minister Trudeau's remarks to the press at the end of the G7 Conference left him no choice but to blow up the entire event for himself and six other countries in the destructively intemperate manner that he did.
A spoiled child would say that he had no other choice, but any rational adult would realize that he had a whole range of more constructive options. He could, if he chose, simply let the matter pass. He could seek a clarification.
He could acknowledge that there are several sides to the issue (and there are) and that he's mature enough to understand that obvious fact. He could admit that he fired the first trade volleys across the bows of our allied ships.
He could suggest the path of continuing the discussion toward a mutually satisfactory conclusion. Many more possibilities exist than this for a sentient grown up to consider. But the president of the United States is a colicky toddler, whose only tool of human interaction is to throw tantrums.
Unfortunately, the spoiled child has ultimate control over the world's most lethal nuclear force and he's too infantile to understand the meaning of that. Even sadder, he has a massive voting public eager to join him in his toxic daycare center for juvenile delinquents.
14
This is how an abuser treats his girlfriend. First the abuser flatters Trudeau or Macron. Then the abuser holds hands and they share laughs and words of friendship. Then the abuser berates the person for some imagined flaw or some minor flaw that the abuser magnifies. Then the abuser strikes out physically or with speech meant to humiliate and degrade, saying some version of "see what you made me do. You stab me in the back so of course I must fight back...." Then the abuser will seek reconciliation, only to repeat the cycle and seek to control and manipulate the abused.
That is what Trump is doing. Such a bundle of pathology added to his adoration of dictators. There is no amount of pepcid that makes me not sick to my stomach.
I'm buying Canadian and French and German flags tonight. I hope they will forgive us.
19
If our neighbors in Canada are looking for American products to boycott, do some research and target the states that actually gave us all Trump. It would be a shame to harm states like California that detest him even more than you do.
13
Unfortunately, the most obvious target is California-grown fruits and vegetables, if only because alternatives from Mexico are so easy to obtain. And the boycotts have already begun. I'm afraid that all of us, guilty and innocent, are going to be doing a lot of suffering before this is over.
9
my deepest apologies to my wonderful canadian friends... i lived there, taught there, etc for many years.. donald trump does not speak for many americans.. and not for me..bless justin trudeau.....
12
Yes, Tump is despicable. The Western Alliance may soon be in tatters. But the American People have themselves to blame:
1) The Media gave him far too much air time because he was great for ratings and brought home the bacon;
2) The Republican Party used to portray itself as the party of true patriots and alleged that the Democrats, more receptive to minorities, the poor etc., were somewhat defective in their patriotic pedigree. But the Republican party, for the most part, supports Donald Trump even though it is patently obiously that he is A) psychotic (He has delusions of grandeur); B) psycopathic (He has no guilt about anything and cares only about himself; C) has attention deficit disorder and D) has to his "credit" a litany of acts and liasions supporting the proposition that he works for a foreign power.
3) I don't think the Democrats will oust him. Bernie Sanders rightfully stressed economic equality and an agenda that poor whites could rally arount. However, the Democratic Party seems beholden to identity politics and many of its leading candidates will do hideously among working class white Americans.
4
It is sad that years of cooperation can be torn in a few tweets by a destructive egotist. I love Canada the country is great. We in the US are the real losers. The lesson will be learned and it will be a hard one.
11
Now I understand why Canadians go out of their way not to be mistaken for Americans when traveling overseas.
25
And not a peep out of this GOP Congress! That is what is so astounding. They sit there and watch Trump drive our country speeding downhill, destroying alliances with our allies, ridiculing the Press, and other important institutions. VOTE!
13
The 2 centuries of trust were not traded away by a spat between two egoist politicians.
1
We can never lose Canada completely. Two centuries of friendship & many shared values are too much to throw away so easily, but we can have a nasty disagreement between friends when one side (the Donald) tries to take advantage of their long time friend & that disagreement could really cost the US
3
Since the creation of NAFTA the US and Canadian economies have become increasingly integrated.
At the same time, American and Canadian culture and politics seem to be drifting further apart. Canada has become significantly more multicultural than the US, its much smaller population notwithstanding. As a case in point, 20% of Canadians were born elsewhere--50% in Toronto. Despite that diversity Canadians now hold much more 'socialist' views than Americans, actively supporting a much more extensive social safety net, universal health care, and highly subsidized public universities. Politically, the typical MP of Canada's most conservative federal party (the "Conservatives", naturally) would be to the LEFT of a typical Democratic member of Congress. In contrast, while everyday American political views have strongly shifted left over the past generation, the political class has lurched strongly right.
So in a sense Canada was 'lost' to the US a long time ago, economic integration notwithstanding.
17
Canada has become more like the Nordic countries, where the index of happiness and public health is higher, infant mortality, violent crime and religious affiliation is lower.
19
In the history of the world, has there ever been a nation that has fostered the removal of an extremely large population from another country to itself? Could Canada absorb a huge number of exiles and still remain Canada? Moving north to escape the deterioration of the USA has been something of a joke for decades, think: Reagan, Bush II. If things continue to go "South" as seems likely, it may no longer be funny. Disruption has been a theme for the last couple of decades, to pull off a mass migration such as that would be one for the ages. To go full circle back into the arms of The Commonwealth of Nations could alter the course of history, no messy civil war required. When global warming kicks in Canada's vast unpopulated areas will be the next frontier, might as well get a jump on the land rush. Go North, young people!
8
I have stopped buying anything imported from the USA. Until I started checking I hadn’t noticed how much of our food, including fruit and vegetables, comes across the border.
I avoid setting foot or buying from USA owned companies.
I went to the dollar store [Canadian owned?] and bought a $2.50 Canadian flag which is now attached to the back window of my car.
I won’t be going across the border to the USA anytime soon and most likely never again.
It is too bad but that is the way it is.
26
I understand. I'm a U.S. citizen who's in a state of grief and shock over what the leadership of my country is doing. I didn't vote for this illegitimate, corrupt president and do not support him. Quite frankly, I'd rather be Canadian and if I could (and if you'd have me) I'd move north. However, I, along with hundreds of thousands of other modest income United States residents, am essentially trapped here. What we're trying to do is change things in November. We're doing our best to fix this but it will be an uphill battle because the House and Senate (Republicans) are afraid of Trump or else are afraid of their "base" and are therefore enabling him. Additionally, during these past 10 years or so, the Republicans have radically gerrymandered our voting districts, creating a situation where many of our votes (generally in more progressive areas) simply don't count. So while we here in the U.S. are fighting this out, please accept my apologies for what Trump has done and probably will do. I'm more sorry than you can imagine, for your sake and my own.
37
That is very sad to hear Paulette. Not the first time I have heard it though. We have many Americans here and they are so upset and ashamed of Trump! I guess the easiest way to get here is to marry a Canadian but I'm not sure you couldn't just apply and get in. Hope your circumstances make that possible. I have lived in both countries and am so glad I am Canadian although Americans have attributes to envy too. Don't let it get you down - this too shall pass.
1
That has been my policy since the late 1980s - using one's money to buy American exports is a no-no in our household, as is crossing the any reason.I am happy to see that I am not the only patriotic Canadian putting her money where her mouth is.
6
Interfering with the present border crossings of our auto industry by Mr. Trump would cause a great disruption for American auto makers and further put them behind their competitors. Almost all autos manufactured in both of our countries contain parts from the other country.
Trump is the most uniformed person to ever occupy the White House!
28
"Will America Lose Canada?"
Have we got Canada? Do the Canadians acknowledge that we've got 'em?
"Mr. Kelly is a former American diplomat in Canada." This is a rather odd use of the term "American." Usual practice is to say "U.S." rather than American. I wonder what his "diplomat" job was. Why isn't he more explicit in describing his work?
6
Canada is so much more civilized than the USA .
Canadian society is so much more stable and just .
Canadians can count on an excellent education and healthcare system .
Don’t ket the bully narcissist sitting in the Oval Office push you around
The world is vast , new alliances with better and more reliable parterns can be achieved .
Thank you Justin Trudeau for standing up to your people .
31
This perpetual victim claiming is quite pathetic to watch coming from the richest nation on earth. America built the liberal world order for its own benefit and of all nations has always done the best out of it. To pretend that because the US does not get every single thing it wants then it is being robbed by its allies isn't just insulting, but wrong. Trump wants everything beneficial the US gets from the world order with non of the responsibilities that come with that power. It's childish, it's wrong and it's embarrassing to watch.
America is now "trusted to do the right thing" by 16% (from 60% under Obama). Putin by 36%. Think on that. The world in general loved Obama, not because he was a pushover but because he was a rational actor. He listened. If it could be shown to him that something was ultimately in Americas best interest, he may even change policy. But that was then, Trump cannot see further than the next applause, a mesh of personality disorder that is ignorant of knowledge and is unable to learn. Lead by this man, America is no longer a rational actor.
26
Here is one snowbird retiree who will no longer spend a couple of months in the sunny climbs of Arizona during the winter months. Places like the Bahamas, Cancun, Costa Rica and Cuba have suddenly become more attractive places to spend my retirement loonies.
39
Can Americans, without the president, repair the damage that Trump has done (much of it just this week) with our allies? I understand that there is a "shadow" coalition that attended the Paris meetings on Climate Change. Perhaps a group of influential corporate entities and governors could meet with the other members of representatives of the G7 meeting to find a way to shore up our long standing relationships until we can find a more reasonable "leader" for our country.
10
The chaos President wants to destroy alliances, agreements, and relationships, then "re-build" them with his own brand, known in private enterprise as the Trump brand. So what if there are casualties?
7
Perhaps Canada should reinforce the Trump administration’s view that Canada is a security threat by restricting its airspace to exclude US military and non-military aircraft. That might be a threat Mr Trump would understand.
20
Kim Jong-un by no means can match our relationship with Canada. Or for Justin Trudeau. But Trump feels more comfortable "saving" a brutal dictator than negotiating trade because he has an organized crime mentality that applies to his thinking across the board.
I see a very rough landing for our economy and maybe then, many will realize that a trade war is not easy nor something somebody wins.
15
Is it possible that Trump has bought into a divide and conquer strategy conjured up by Russia? In other words, what will happen if we need a close neighbor and friend in the event of an enemy attack?
8
It is difficult to read an analysis of Trump's behavior towards Canada as if there were logic to it and as if it could be seen out of context with the full round of insults he spewed at America's best alliances. He is so clearly and blatantly doing Putin's bidding - even going so far as to say Putin should have been invited to the G-7. I keep hoping the Preatorian guard steps in to stop him.
Given Putin's encroachment into our election, let's hope Canada has the will to stand up to Trump and take the risk of losing business. They are the only thing between here and Russia should Putin decide to manifest his cyber war into reality.
11
The problem is that Justin Trudeau and Barak Obama got along so well. How can Trump - who seems set to destroy anything Obama got near - be friendly with someone who liked Obama? Remember that feel good visit of Trudeau to Washington after he was elected? Now, It's like being at a family gathering where someone is apologizing for the drunk and unruly relative. Dear Canada, we are sorry. The Good news is that Canadians are a generous and accepting people - and so I am hopeful they will tolerate us until we can get this all sorted out- hopefully by November of this year.
23
Been wintering in Florida for 3 months every year. Just made arrangements for Portugal next winter. Starting to boycott made in USA products. There are other options for Canadian consumers then US products and services.
The decline of knowledge based decision making, the ridiculous political influence by special interest groups, the hypocrisy of Republicans, etc., etc., must be addressed by US. I’m astounded that US system is so easily taken over and that the system of checks and balances has broken down. Hope you can get it fixed but it looks like it will take years, if not generations. The majority of US citizens know this and we hope their better angels take over.
45
Gary,
You're absolutely right. And this U.S. citizen has frankly given up hope that our nation will be repaired in my lifetime. But remember, the majority of voters did not vote for Trump. He could easily win again with less than 50% of the vote, regrettably, under our system. This is why my family is purchasing a home outside the country and leaving. We want a future for our daughter.
7
NATO is in peril: Trump will likely order a US military stand-down to any incursion by Russia (any such incursion with Trump's blessings - and probably fore-knowledge, of course). So Canada needs to tighten it's Western alliance even stronger ... and prepare for more hostilie acts (besides trade tariffs) from Trump. Don't wait for US November election results - sadly, you (and all other people who treasure freedom and democracy) might be disappointed with the result.
11
If Trump continues to destroy the Western alliance, I could see a North Atlantic Free Trade Zone with the EU + EFTA, Britain and Canada emerge. This could include extensive military cooperation.
The US will be an unstable and unreliable partner for a long time, its problems go a lot deeper than Trump.
16
There are some parallels with the collapse of the USSR a generation ago, except this tectonic shift may not be as peaceful. And their satellite states tended to suffer a lot. We may be looking at a Marshall Plan from Europe and China to rescue North America at some point.
1
Canadian flags are available at Amazon (and other places). I just ordered mine.
35
Canada has its own national security concerns. When decisions were being made about future economic policies, Canada decided that having small family farms was important. You might say it was about national security and sustaining culture.
The supply control system that evolved is at odds with free market ideology. There is a plan to curb oversupply and the boom and bust so prevalent in dairy farming here in the USA. As a result Canadian dairy farmers are making enough money to pay the costs of production. They are not losing their farms or committing suicide at increasing rates.
Overall, there is remarkable parity in tariffs among the G-7 nations. If you look only at the exceptions like the Canadian milk tariff, you wouldn't know that.
What does the US protect? I know that sugar is a biggie.
I remember when the EU was gearing up, there were discussions about products that the European nations wanted to protect. They figured it out and it works even if everyone is not happy. Changes can happen, but they will be slow enough to maintain stability.
23
America will not lose Canada … nor will Canada lose us.
However would we get through a month without our “hoser” “eh?” and “oot” fixes? However would Canada get through a month without the spur of an older, vastly bigger (in population and economic activity) brother to complain about?
At present, intense pressures give the impression of a brewing fraternal war, impelled by the opposed interests of trade participants in both countries. But just as with our other allies, subsidies were granted by us to them decades ago as part of building a united front against Communism, the USSR, and to heal a (mostly) destroyed West resulting from war. But today there is no USSR, Communism is practically extinct, their economies have been rebuilt and some have become dominant, and those subsidies have contributed to some extent to weakening the prosperity of our middle and working classes. The subsidies have become unaffordable, and it’s time to draw them back. That threatens interests. So, for a time, as we dicker in the unappetizing process of sausage-making to create a more even trade field, excessive invective will be heard as interests are defended on both sides.
This too shall pass.
The G7 meet-cute did not create “wreckage”. It opened negotiations requiring that some oxen be gored in the West to create that fairer trade field; and by doing that the Summit became far more relevant to a more sustainable, stronger and more unified West than almost all such meetings create.
The entrails of culinary canine that Trump is carving up with Kim Jong-un have nothing to do with this completely unrelated process with our allies, and it’s unreasonable to conflate them to support an argument that he is ignoring one to serve the other.
Canada and America always will be friends. Just TRY to get through a month without a “hoser”, “eh?” or “oot”.
Thanks for your reassurances. I can sleep better now knowing that all will be good!
1
Be careful who you take for granted!
6
The spat is an interesting exhibit on "Free Trade"
From the Guardian , 3 days ago
"Canadian cows are sacred, and the farmers who care for them enjoy outsized influence in national politics. Expert observers have said that Justin Trudeau’s government would abandon the treaty altogether before sacrificing supply management."
1. Reality is that politics, not economics, determines trade, and in the case of Canada, Canada is willing to lose US trade for the relative minor matter of $ 600 million in trade.
From The Guardian
"Representing a state suffering especially hard from farm failures and suicides, the US Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, recently echoed his Republican president in blaming Canada for the debacle. “Canada, when it comes to dairy, acts like China when it comes to trade,” Schumer told hard-pressed farmers in upstate New York. “They’re unfair. They put up barriers. They treat us bad.”
2. The spat is NOT confined to Trump. Mr. Schumer is the leader of the Democratic Party
The Guardian
"Canadian dairy farmers enjoy incomes 60% above average in the country. But to supporters, the uniquely prosperous, protected Canadian dairy industry stands as a model alternative to the increasingly disruptive and unpopular dynamic of unrestricted free trade in all things."
3. Tariffs up to 300% protect Canadian Dairy Farmers from "Free Trade". Peter Drucker predicted in 2001 why tariffs would spread to manufactured goods, Read it (The Next Society)
2
I'm sure that Trump is thoroughly versed on this subject and has read all of the references you provide.
1
You have to do some research. The US heavily subsidizes American farmers. It has done for years.
From the National Post October 2017:
South of the border, protections for farming have been fluid over time but omnipresent. Since the dust bowl of the 1930s, the U.S. has instituted a series of laws — farm bills — to help its farmers. The farm bill has been renewed roughly every five years.
A report this month by the Congressional Research Services assess the ramifications of the farm bill in its various forms in recent decades. The report says the first one included “subsidies and production controls to raise farm incomes and encourage conservation.”
Over the years, subsequent bills have morphed into “omnibus” bills that have been expanded to include a wide range of features including food stamps for the needy, research to help farmers be more productive, and crop insurance. The current bill will cost more than $450 billion US, according to the report.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the current bill “brought about substantial changes in protections for dairy farmers.”
4
What if Canada vastly expanded immigration and residency opportunities for Americans? The millions of talented and ambitious young workers who have been frozen out of their full potential in the US by crushing student debt and occupations and businesses closed off by hereditary privilege could find a good home in Canada and contribute to a country that still has the well-being of its ordinary citizens at heart.
40
We don't want a huge influx of Americans into Canada. Who would actually - the popularity of Trump tells the world a great deal about the character of the American people. And what presumption to think Canada would want America's escapees!
4
Canada is a great country. But its mistaken to think it it’s easier to be successful there, or that people could escape their debt by emigrating from the US,
1
In particular, I'd be rather pleased to see the 300,000 or so Canadians currently working in the US come home. The pay's not quite as good up here, but the leadership is better.
4
Canada is entirely inconsequential (even though it's GDP is greater than that of Russia, which some Americans actually pay attention to). But it has only one neighbour and one trading partner and the facts of geography dictate that that is not going to change anytime soon. Free trade agreements with other parts of the world are irrelevant. As for building pipelines to export oil to Asia, have you actually followed this issue in Canada? Further, a trade war is out of the question: Canada is totally dependent on its economic integration with the US. This is not the case the other way round. And Trump will insult someone else next week and all this will be forgotten. Eventually he will be gone anyway. Life in our northern Happy Valley will go on as before.
3
Canada is not entirely inconsequential to Canadians.
11
All one can say is that there is a special place for Trump and Navarro, who are too cavalier with their language and don't realize words have meanings and can have long lasting repercussions
48
"What would a split with Canada look like?"
It's already happening, as my family and most others that I know are making travel decisions the explicitly exclude the US.
For many years we have traveled frequently to the US, both for business and personal reasons. In my case, I hold a TN visa and have worked in the US on a regular basis.
Over the past 18 months that has come to an end, by choice on my part. I have no wish to spend time in a country with political leadership as offensive as your current president provides. This is exacerbated by the escalating gun violence that has turned travel to your country into something that feels akin to my past business travel to some of the most dangerous countries in the world.
I am sure there will be economic disruptions in the coming months and years as more and more of us make those choices, but it is a big, fascinating world out there and we have a lot more welcoming places to spend our time and money.
Good luck down there ... and get out and vote in November.
115
You are so right, and please tell others not to come here, either. Money is the only thing this administration cares about, and keeping tourist dollars out will make an impact. Unfortunately, it will affect blue cities worse than other places. How many foreigners are clamboring to see Iowa? But I also urge blue staters not to visit red states. Keep our dollars away from those who would support this maniac.
4
For anyone born in the 1950's we have been here before. We had our own auto industry prior to 1965. Imported goods came from the UK, Europe and even Japan. Travel to the US was expensive and inconvenient.
Today, we will expect more fruit and produce from South America, Asia and Africa. There will be imports from the UK and the UK. We will trade with South Asia. The US? Not so much. We will lose jobs, but perhaps that is the price for principle.
35
Canada isn't a mere neighbor, it's a sibling, the one who holds the family together after the parents have passed.
37
The President's background is in business, or so the story goes, and as everyone who has ever conducted business, except apparently him, seems to know, it is not in one's best interests to insult one's best customer. But then again, just because Trump has years of experience in calling himself a businessman, is that what he is? Isn't he a man who has five bankruptcies under his belt, who is a notorious deadbeat, and doesn't that diminish his standing as a businessman? Doesn't that tend to make him more of a conman than a businessman? That is not to say that he is not a salesman. In fact he is very good at selling himself and, as well, at selling us a "bill of goods," but I think we overstate his credentials when we call him a businessman.
86
... or when the medial paints him as 'a different kind of politician'. Trump is neither a businessman or a politician. He is an entertainer in chief, and a conman who will bankrupt this country.
4
Business ? That's a joke & always has been. To shout from a Reality TV show "I'm RICH. Look at ME " countless times does not make a person rich. His "riches have always been fantasy, or at some one else's expense.
Oh, I suppose now he is able to sack America through his crony's back door's, he will now actually become rich. But really - all he is, is the biggest Liar of them all.
4
I remember as a young man growing up in central NY when Montreal wanted to break off from Canada and form their own country I read that if this happened Toronto would apply for statehood to the US. I was so proud that a beautiful place like Toronto would want to join us .
Now I wish we could join them.
50
Canada should learn from New Zealand. For many decades we were too dependent on trade with Britain (the mother country) until 1972 when Britain joined the EEC (later to become the EU). Suddenly we were cut off, no longer part of the family. After weeping and wailing for a few years we got our act together and sought out new trading partners in our corner of the world. Now, the vast majority of our trade is with Australia, China and other Asian and Pacific Rim countries.
We are part of the TPP agreement that Trump pulled out of. There are plenty of people who are quite happy about that. Without the domineering presence of the US we have been able to agree to a trade deal that we are all happy with. No wants the US (especially under Trump) to join back in.
104
Brexit negotiations have shown how difficult it is for smaller countries to economically disengage from a larger neighbor. If the UK has problems, Canada has a huge problem. In addition to being dependent on the US for trade, they are also very dependent on the US for their defense. Canada is one of the lowest contributors as a percentage of GDP to NATO. So Mr. Kelly, take a chill pill. Canada is not going anywhere.
5
More Canadians have died per capita fighting in Afghanistan than any other nation so factor that in your calculation Dr. Comedy.
Every Canadian I know is reducing purchases from America and travel there. We’re a small country with strong ties to the USA and we recognize that Trump is an unsophisticated President who is in way over his head.
18
"they are also very dependent on the US for their defense"
Defense is a strictly a domestic US obsession, Canadians take a different view. We have an overbearing neighbour who will do what it pleases, so we make lemonade from lemons.
UNTIL NOW.
My post June 11th :"...Contrary to Trump's bluster, Americans ARE pushovers, and enough Americans depend on Canada for jobs that the pain of a trade war jeopordises Trump directly. 38 states have Canada as the #1 export market. That's a lot of senators (and less pertinent to Trump's personal power but no less important for down ballot congressional races, governors). The House is already looking shaky in the run up to November so Trump can't afford to risk the senate at the same time ( if he wants to save face and his ego is really all that counts here)
With no friends and no solution in sight, when Canadian countervailing tariffs bite and US plants start closing those horses will bolt for the gate. And Trump had better not be standing in the way of the stampede.
In contrast, Canada's prime minister is politically unassailable in federal parliament between elections and enjoys full sovereign control of trade policy. Trudeau also enjoys popular support in the face of Trump's bullying : appeasement of Trump is now equivalent to treason.
"Weak, dishonest", junior partner? May the best man win."
Want to go toe to toe, get nasty? The US is dependent on Canadian oil and electricity. Buckle up chump, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
8
Dependent on the US for defense from who?
2
"Longer term, and likely to our detriment, Canada is looking to reduce its dependence on American goods. "
Canada are more than welcome to trade with Australia.
70
Trump does not have a business background. He has a bankruptcy background.
307
A Yelp Review:
I know that it it a very small gesture, but I do not have to travel to the States for holidays.
I enjoy skiing in the winter and golf in the summer with some of the best of both to offer minutes outside of my door. When you are under new management, I might consider returning in the future.
168
I can't say I blame you, and I do hope you return once the atmosphere down here becomes less toxic.
2
I second the "under new management" statement. I moved to Vancouver from Arlington, VA in 2005. I could not predict what would happen in the US in the intervening 13 years but one could say I felt it coming. I have been boycotting US visits since March, 2017.
4
Canada's vulnerability to US bullying is clear. Already our dollar is down a full cent against the US dollar since Saturday - the greatest two day drop in its value in recent memory. But some things are more important than money. During the Vietnam War Canada welcomed tens of thousands of America's draft dodgers as political refugees to the ire of Presidents Johnson and Nixon. Trudeau's father Pierre was Prime Minister back then - he wore Nixon's insults over his refusal to bow down to American bullying like a badge of honour and Canadians, who were divided on so many things (as always) rallied to Pierre's leadership just as they will rally to that of his eldest son, Justin. In the meantime, peace and good will to the vast majority of Americans who don't confuse the spoils of bullying with winning.
181
Relations with Canada will improve after Trump's re-election coincides with a Canadian election in 2020 featuring Doug Ford winning under the slogan "How Aboat We Make Canada Great Again, Eh?"
I'm only partly kidding. If you'll recall the last iteration of this cycle, Canada was held up as a shining beacon of liberal values during Bush's first term, only to elect Stephen "Canadian Bush" Harper, who pioneered things like the gagging of climate scientists and the suppression of their data. They kept him for nine years.
If I were Canadian, I wouldn't feel too superior to the US right now. A Trumpian PM is very much a possibility. Canada certainly isn't immune to the wave of right-wing populism sweeping the Western world.
26
Canadians don't feel "superior," they're angry and offended. If a wave of right-wing populism hits Canada soon, it may very well be anti-American populism.
41
Clearly possible, but nobody can run and say that they will be able to solve the Trump issue with some magic wand. Trump has so far succeeded in galvanizing support for how Trudeau has handled this so far. Trump has made it clear that complete capitulation is what he will accept. Only the most rabid Trudeau haters in Canada say he has erred in this area. Doug Ford gave his full support.
4
Clearly you know little about Canada or its politics. Stephen Harper and George W Bush had little in common. What passes for “right-wing” in Canada would be called “communist”in the USA.
1
Sounds a bit like a domestic quarrel where one uses the desire of one to make things work to their detriment.
My observations have been that when one partner uses threats to get their way, the relationship is often weakened beyond recovery.
To Trump, this style of conflict resolution seems to be his preferred choice.
It works! Until it doesn't work.
33
The question that matters is who will get to buy Canadian oil. If Canada builds its pipeline from the oil reserves to the Pacific — the less expensive option — then that will be China.
46
British Columbia is resolutely opposed to the pipeline, and that includes many BC native bands. They will tie it up in court forever.
1
The U.S. has plenty of its own oil. A Canadian anti-U.S. embargo will not affect U.S. supplies.
1
Ah, and will Trump come after the water?
3
I happened to be in Canada just after 9/11 (specifically, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia). I will always remember how everyone I encountered had genuine concern and empathy for what was happening in America. The attitude was that the whole Canadian nation had our back, as a good friend or neighbor would. It was unexpected and moving.
There have been many low points in Trump's presidency so it's hard to say that this is the worst one. But it's certainly another moment that is shameful. There are ways to work out trade differences without egregious insults towards an entire nation which has been more than just an ally.
184
One thing you can be sure of - if you think this is the low point in the Trump presidency, I have no doubt that he will find a way to go even lower. His ability to insult everyone and everything seems to know no bounds.
16
Canada isn't going anywhere, and as a Canadian i don't think Trudeau had any business making his "Canada won't be pushed around" comment at the time and place in which he made it, just as the summit ended. Who was he postruring for, Canada's dairy farmers? On the other hand that was a particularly brutal comeback from Trump and his advisors,much more than was called for under the circumstances, actuallty unprecedented. It is just too bad Trudeau kicked off the exchange with his own ill-considered remark
8
As an U.S. citizen, I thought that the PM's comment was totally justified. When those folks in the American heartland who run our farms finally discover what has happened to them as a result of Mr. Trump's bullying, perhaps they'll do the right thing the next time around.
247
Trudeau's response was mild compared to what the Trump admin and Trump himself had been doing and saying all along.
17
Canada has clung to its "supply management " policies in the dairy industry long after all other nations have abandoned similar arrangememtns, and has received constant criticism for it worldwide. It has been a sticking point in many trade negotiations, it is a bone of contention within the country, it is pure protectionism in favor of a small group in the agricultural sector while the rest of agriculture in Canada, and the rest of business in general, is left to compete as other businesses do. Trudeau's declaration that Caanada will "not be pushed around" was a remark made for Candian political purposes in the presence of an international audience - it was a mistake. As to whether or not Canada in fact will be "pushed around", we will see. The likely result of the NAFTA negiotiation will be compromises by Canada, and one of those compromises may be abandoning supply management in the dairy industry, which is a result that many here think would be in best lnterests of Canada domestically as well as in its relations with its trading partners.
Trump is a bully and his tactics and remarks in dealing with other nations are crude and undignified, uncharteristic of the US. The correct response from others is to take the high road, continue to behave as is the norm in negotiations of this kind, do not be drawn in to the same rhetoric. If you don't want to be pushed around, fine, don't be pushed around, just say no, but don't inflame the situation with superfluous comments.
.
Over a year ago our Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said this about the U.S. "The fact that our friend and ally has come to question the very worth of its mantle of global leadership, puts into sharper focus the need for the rest of us to set our own clear and sovereign course. For Canada, that course must be the renewal, indeed the strengthening, of the postwar multilateral order..."
So bring it on. Canadians are angry and united over the latest from Trump Circus Inc. The level of virulence and disrespect emanating from even this White House is shocking to us and believe me we’re more than happy to boycott American products, foods and the country itself!
213
We visited my brother-in-law in Mexico last summer. When shopping, he was very careful not to buy any US products, including produce. Trump doesn't like free trade, and my brother-in-law was quite happy to fulfill his wish.
69
A Canadian boycott of American goods might be the only thing to bring Republicans to their senses about the Frankenstein they've unleashed on the US and the world.
5
As an American, I am looking to boycott American products in favor of Canadian and Mexican one. After all, this is what America voted for, might as well join the crowd.
picking a fight with Canada is not the brightest idea to emerge this week. Dairy folks are upset. Tariffs will be a persistent bother. what is missing from this equation is a 3000 mile long unsecured, in any meaningful description of that word, border. the president is always yelling about the wall to the south and not once thinking about the northern border. i do not think Canada is going to invade. why would they? they seem to be a rather pragmatic nation with the belligerent neighbor directly to their south. they have gotten along to stay here and be a part of the modern world.
Yes this move this week will have deliberate ramifications if this silliness is aloud to continue for too long. mr president apologize and move along too, please.
29
daniel: "mr president apologize and move along too, please." Is there an instance on the record that we know about to indicate Trump has ever apologized for anything?
1
If I had a bipolar neighbor I would certainly ignore them. I sure wouldn't be relying on them to provide my food or goods.
78
I hope the delays in the Kinder Morgan pipeline in Western Canada are overcome quickly and we can start shipping our oil to China instead of Trumps America.
55
Catastrophe resulting from human-caused climate change will ultimately dwarf any problems created by a USA-Canada trade war, and the Alberta tar sands that your pipeline will exploit are a hugely significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. And maybe you're too far away from BC's Pacific coast to care about the environmental risks of substantial increases in oil tankers navigating our waters. But do you really think it's a good idea to fuel China's economic growth and tranformation into a global military menace?
22
Why would China evolve into a "global military menace"? Certainly Beijing is flexing its muscles and is rapidly closing the "gap" between the military capabilities of the United States and the PLA, PLAN and PLAAF. Its economy is being driven by domestic consumption and is far less reliant on exports, which nevertheless are significant. Particularly in high tech weapons sales to the Middle East. Australia has been a military ally of the US for 95 years. We are being treated with the utmost contempt by Trump and his cohorts even to the point that in over two years, Washington has yet to appoint an Ambassador to our nation. And we have had a gutful of a President that we have zero respect for, do not trust or like. Presently we are governed by a Federal Conservative "coalition " of two parties that have a majority of just one seat in the House. I am a financial member of that coalition with very conservative views. We have a weak leader and in my opinion, we are going to be crucified by the Australian Labor Party at the next Federal election. Quite apart from the fact a Labor government would decline to issue a Visa to Trump to allow him into Australia ( Melania absolutely as she is seriously hot) it is a major policy platform to terminate our military alliance with the United States forthwith and form an alliance with Asian nations. That is their policy. In my opinion, Labor will navigate a sharp right hand turn toward China.
Anything that replaces China's coal fired generating stations is an improvement.
The USA lost us a long time ago. We have gone off in our own direction a long time ago. The only thing that kept us close was our economy is only a satellite of America's economy and we are only 35 million people. Our values and ethics are very different we lock up the highest number of white collar criminals and although we have some corruption it does not reach the level of American pay to play. Our judiciary is apolitical and beyond reproach and you appoint political hacks into lifelong judgeships.
Our Civil Service is lead by generational membership where honour is the name of the game. We pay our teachers, firemen and police salaries commensurate with their responsibilities. We have committed to a strong safety net and educate as best we can. We believe in a better future than a past.
Economically we are in for a lot of short term pain but most most Canadians would happily escape your orbit for a little more sovereignty and a little less affluence.
John Ralston Saul a leading world intellectual and a two term head of Pen International says Canada is the least European country on the planet and the USA the most European. Saul is an historian and I would agree that the USA reminds me of some early 20th century European colonial powers.
The Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie provided the information for the 1812 incorrect history at least 20 years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7jlFZhprU4
68
Watched the video. It was very funny even if historically inaccurate. Lordy, I guess that is where Trump learned his history!
2
The very jaw-dropping outrageousness of Trump's behavior in Quebec (and in general) leads me to hope, with a high degree of confidence, that the historically close relations between Canada and the USA will survive this grotesque presidency. I predict that just as, in the UK, people still routinely date things "since the war [that is, World War 2]", future historians will use, and no doubt abuse, the term "since Trump", as in "the worst ... since Trump", and that they'll be criticized for exaggerating.
85
What a bizarre 'leader' Trump is, where only a day away from antagonizing long treasured allies like Canada at the G7 summit, as he sits sulking in the picture accompanying this article with Justin Trudeau, The Donald is today all smiles and openness with North Korea's leader Kim.
Meanwhile, his best friend Vladimir Putin sent congratulations to Donald for how he handled himself with allies at the G7, and said he would be happy to meet with the Imposter in Chief.
Trump loves other authoritarians, their rigid control of the press (a number one priority for Don), law and order people like the leader of the Philippines, who has had according to accounts, had thousands killed over various drugs offenses. The Donald is enamored of machismo men, those who like to throw their weight around and project bravado.
But dealing with thoughtful, cooperative men and women from the G7, the petulant president wants none of it.
119
Trump is on the hook for hundreds of millions to Putin and is likely compromised in other ways.
https://themoscowproject.org/
19
It was clear that Donald Trump never wanted to attend the G-7 meeting because he knew it wouldn't give him the great photo-op he's always seeking to promote his reality TV presidency. He couldn't think of anything but his latest bromance with Kim and the ultimate handshake.
Multilateralism just doesn't work for a super narcissistic liar who knows he'll never shine if he has to share the stage with more than one other leader and that his mendacious manner has a greater chance of being called out in a larger group.
That's why everything, from trade negotiations to maintaining our most important alliances must be bilateral. He cannot play nicely with more than one person at a time.
So, he arrived late, left early and when he was safely ensconced on Air Force One attacked the G-7, in particular Justin Trudeau, when no one could call him out face to face. He is such an awful coward and such an embarrassingly childish "victim" - everyone is against him in the alternate reality he lives in - that it still amazes that 40% of American voters would still follow him right off a cliff.
To add insult to injury, he enlisted his nasty, lying cabal of enablers to go on TV and completely trash his latest made-up
enemy and our most loyal friend and ally, Canada.
I apologize to our Canadian friends for the horrendous behavior of Mr. Trump and his enablers and hope that a Democratic win in 2018 will curtail at least some of their sheer awfulness.
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Thanks Mary. We know Trump doesn't represent the values of many Americans and we too are worried that his approval rating sits stunningly at 40%.
He's the leader of a bizarre cult where the majority of your small 'c' christians kneel before him nightly during the worship service hosted by Fox News.
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Who cares is we lose Canada? That's been happening since Donald took office. Meanwhile, Trump is providing Trudeau with perfect cover. Now, Canada's version of Bill Clinton will continue to cuddle with the corporations while being able to say how much better he is than that guy with the orange hair.
What we have really lost is ourselves. It's not good enough that only about 55% of us can't stand the madman in charge. Hitler took power with a third of the voters in 1933. Trump would like nothing better than to be granted the privileges of a dictator, something that began in the Cold War, was heavily promoted by Kissinger, and gave us men like Trump, Nixon, and Bush.
The Democrats desperately need a strong candidate, or, better yet, a bunch of them. Bernie is great, but we need someone younger, if only to give the movement itself some longevity. Let's hope he or she is out there. If he's good enough- and real- the people will respond. There aren't any other good tactics right now.
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Mike, you know nothing of Canada. Not its' history nor its' leadership, past or present.
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Thanks for this column. Each year thousands of Canadians spend millions of dollars wintering in Florida and the Carolinas, red states that benefit greatly from this relationship. If Canadians are a security risk, perhaps that money should go to Europe, or to Victoria BC where I've heard the winter isn't so bad. Why is Canada allowing American custom agents in Canadian airports? That seems like low hanging fruit - as does a few months of data sharing and joint patrols along the St. Lawrence River. I'm going to try to buy Canadian as well - while I (still) live in the US.
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Trump's bullying tone will do more to further anti-Americanism than anything else in this country. I think Ottawa should show its displeasure at the insults to our Prime Minister by withdrawing our ambassador from Washington for consultations in Ottawa for a few weeks at least.
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Canada and Mexico should look to a trade agreement with China. Trump insults them and is looking for relations with Russia, so a realignment to a stable China would be beneficial to Canada and Mexico, as apposed to trying to establish a trade agreement with an unstable, egomaniacal, fascist lunatic who has no coherent trade strategy.
Trump, and his trumpkin heartlanders have a very poorly educated view of global relations. Single handedly, Trump has managed to fracture the rôle of the United States in this hemisphere.
What trumpkins don't understand, among many other things, is that his isolationism frees up the other nations in our hemisphere to look elsewhere for business. Trump is betting that they'll have to come crawling back to *him* for business. It's his egomaniacal fantasy, that from a man with six bankruptcies whose had to restructure his business to a branding organization. Illicit laundering of Russian money in his towers revitalized his company.
Nafta was a way to confront a looming Chinese trade hegemony. Trump is destroying that bulwark. TPP was designed to confront Chinese trade dominance on the Pacific Rim. Trump has destroyed that.
World trade is not reality TV, despite what trumpkins believe. They're taking us back to the '30's, but this time there is a China and a Europe that are far more economically viable. The Trump bet is that nations will bow to him, not the U.S. It creates an instability that could produce a new world leader in China.
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“Stable” China conducts trade strictly for it’s own benefit. Even companies who are able to sell products there give up more than its worth, just ask tech companies who see their trade secrets given to Chinese companies. Even under Trump, the US is far more open than China or the EU. And the opposition to TPP was overwhelmingly from Progressives.
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@Traymn, you'll have to see what Trump demands. And you'll have to see how China responds. I do love your confidence, but, if the U.S. is "far more open", then that would imply that the E.U., Canada and Mexico are having no problems with a Trump presidency, that is "far more open".
And you are also implying that Trump and his supporters are Progressives? Very interesting.
Well, that's my argument, isn't it? If China "conducts trade strictly for it's [sic] own interest," then it could become the new world leader against a Trump who conducts trade, strictly for his own interests.
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Thanks, Mr. Kelly for this essay. It is informative and fair.
If only you could give lessons in diplomacy to the needy.
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In one of the articles published earlier today many Canadians commented that there would be a widespread boycott of American products by Canadians. One said, if given a choice between American or Mexican produce, why would I buy American?
This threat of economic retaliation by Canadian citizens was the only bright spot in the news today. One hopes that all of our allies will make such commitments, either as government policy or as individual acts of protest.
The only thing that Trump supporters seem to care about is that the economy is strong and unemployment is low. The world will need to inflict some economic pain on America to bring Trump supporters to their senses. Money is the only language they understand.
My apologies to our allies if such a boycott will be a sacrifice for them. Please think of it as making the world a safer, saner place.
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Happy to accomodate!
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Sometime today, I either read or heard that some lovely American suggested flying a Canadian flag in the US on July 1st, our Canada Day. I have just returned from the Post Office where I mailed off some small Canadian flags to my American cousin who lives in San Diego, best part, she asked me to!
It is comforting to know we are still seen as good neighbours and
Trumps diatribe against our Prime Minister is just another day in crazy town.
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What a great idea. I live in San Diego and have some Canadian friends. I'll see if I can get a flag. Oh Canada!
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Three things for Canadians to remember:
-You are indeed still seen as good neighbors.
-A minority of U.S. Americans voted for Trump.
-Trump is temporary and sanity WILL return to the U.S.
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Please consider boycotting American products and urge your neighbors to do the same. The only way to bring Trump supporters to their senses is to inflict some economic pain on them. They must learn that what goes around, comes around.
My apologies to your great nation for American bad behavior.
I'm assuming Trump's 1812 comments came from the same place as his Fredrick Douglas comments. Who knew America had history?
I don't expect to see anything like a cold war. Canada probably isn't someone you want to upset right now though. In the next hundred years or so, if we're lucky, the American bread basket is going to climatically shift into Canadian territory. Add to this reality the Western hemisphere's major shipping routes will all be strategically owned by either Canada or Russia. America barely has a finger hold anywhere in the Arctic. Meanwhile, Trump is preaching isolation.
The national security threat is climate change, not Canada. The idea is laughable if it weren't so tragic. Right now, Trump is orienting the United States to lose big. Who wins? Russia of course. That's the calculus going on.
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@ Andy Salt Lake City, Utah
• Who knew America had history?
"America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between."
~ OSCAR WILDE
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I'm maddest about milk. Ontario has a regulated dairy industry which ensures stability in supply/demand, and our milk is good for us particularly because antibiotic-free. We also have universal health care. Wisconsin allows antibiotics in their flooded, troubled dairy industry; not good for our health. We're being browbeaten re proposed dairy imports which threaten (1) our health and (2) our own dairy! Stand strong, Canada!
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This Wisconsinite, in whose state dairy is symbolic but only a part of the economy--California passed Wisconsin in milk production years ago--stands with you and all Canadians.
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We in Quebec have a dairy agreement with Vermont which has got its farmers to not use hormones and antibiotics. We import tons of American milk to make our yogurt and consider it a win/win for our dairy farmers and the dairy farmers of Vermont.
We are lucky to have Vermont not Wisconsin as a neighbour.
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebec-and-vermont-sign-new-trade-agreement-...
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No one would force Canadians to drink American milk. But a gallon of milk in Canada costs on average $6.34 US while where I live it's $3. Guess what the majority would choose if given the choice.
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"Will"? Already have, the question remains what will it take to get them back? I'm reminded of the old business expression that it takes much more effort to get a customer back, than to win them in the first place. But what do I know, I've never bankrupted six companies like our businessman president, let alone sunk as many as he has.
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"Canada is looking to reduce its dependence on American goods".
I researched the brand names of American items in Canadian grocery stores. I'll avoid these, and support Canadian items and items from Canada's allies, as much as possible.
I'm just one insulted and irate Canadian. There are many others.
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It is important to target the products you boycott. Remember the majority of Americans did not vote for Trump. Research the states that sent electoral college votes his way and boycott all their products but don't punish states that would be happy to be rid of him. I suggest all Canadians start by refusing to buy any agricultural products from Florida. If you regularly vacation there please consider going somewhere else until Trump is removed from office.
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Gosh, good luck eating! I already refuse to buy anything from the Far East, most determinedly garlic from China (which purposefully flooded our market and zapped the Canadian garlic growers). You'll be okay buying nothing from the USA in summertime, but get out the canning jars or you will spend next winter enjoying our wonderful yellow gold potatoes, rutabaga, rutabaga and parsnips. Oh, and late winter, our wonderful apples.
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Most Americans understand how you must feel. We are embarrassed by Much of the action taken by Trump. Fortunately for both Canadians and Americans we can check his activities by the Nov. elections for congress. We will Resist! Hang in there with us.
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I was appalled to watch the United States elect Mr. Trump as their leader in late 2016. As advertised in his political rally’s, he immediately began an invective assault on the US people and the planet in general. The real tragedy is not how this man-child behaves in such a pathetic manner, but how the people of a once great country could manage to elect him.
Canada will take care of itself, probably by turning its back on the US and entering into trade agreements with other countries. My honest hope for the United States is that they will soon wake up, act like the country they once were and dispose of this garbage they call their leader. If not, it will be a long period of isolation from their many friends and allies.
Best of luck.
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Remember, three million more of us voted for Hillary! It's just our antiquated electoral system that propelled this arrogant bully to the presidency. I love Canada, even lived in Montreal for a year. Most of us value our northern neighbors!
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To our neighbor and friend Canada: As an American with deep Canadian roots (Nova Scotia and Newfoundland), I am deeply and profoundly sorry for the actions of our horrible president. He is a pathetic excuse for a "leader" and is unfit for the office but our republican representatives have put their party agenda ahead of the welfare of the citizenry and stand silent as Trump bullies. It is disgusting. On behalf of the millions of Americans who did not vote for him and do not support him, I am so sorry. I love Canada so much and I am ashamed that our president acted so shamelessly.
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This is what you get when you elect a business man to a political position. The language of diplomacy has evolved over hundreds of years, to silly baffle-gab like calling someone "unhelpful" being a major insult, so that entire populations don't get insulted and demand war when the politicians disagree.
Well, Trump has swept the baffle-gab aside and used direct language, basically throwing meat to his base. The result, predictably, is that Canadians are outraged and the trade war has already started. The long tariff list created by Canadian politicians will be meaningless and generate no revenue. Canadians are not going to by buying any of the products on the list, or anything else from the US, for any tariffs to be collected. Already started. Done deal. Our politicians couldn't turn off this trade war even if they wanted to. Good job Mr. Trump. You have been most unhelpful.
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"There's a special place in hell for any foreign leader that engages in bad faith diplomacy with President Donald J. Trump and then tries to stab him in the back on the way out the door,"
Mr Navarro manages to combine cliché, arrogance, sycophancy and of course falsehood in a single short statement.
He can't be suggesting - surely? - that engaging in "bad faith diplomacy" with Trump is inherently worse than doing so with anyone else.
No doubt like anyone who has to work for Trump Navarro can speak authoritatively on the subject of Hell - but my amateur opinion is that "a special place" is more likely to be found for lickspittles like Navarro who fawn to their master Trump and lie to the American public.
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OMG!! your my hero
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Yes, you will lose us. Most Canadians have urged PM Trudeau to aggressively develop trade with partners other than the U.S. We are already doing this, and will continue to do so rather than put up with more of Trump's childish temper tantrums. We have been patient, but enough is enough. The unfortunate fall-out of all this is that he will hurt U.S. workers as much if not more than he will hurt Canada.
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I don't necessarily agree with that Linda D., Although, Trump is, to be polite ( I don't want a special place in hell) unreasonable Most Canadians love their neighbors south of the border. I think all we need is a bit of patience. This isn't the first time things got shaky, Trudeau and Nixon got in to it for example. We got through it. We'll probably continue doing business with Americans as a people. Nation side it'll be dicy but we'll get through it, I'm sure.
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