\nFrom what I understand, trade with the US used to be easy. I’m not saying it was always totally straightforward, but producers seemed happy enough with it. This might go back to the free trade agreement – FTA – from 1988. (It came to include Mexico, and to be known as NAFTA, as of 1994.)<\/p>\n
\nBack in the 80s, as I recall, a lot of people, including ones I knew, didn’t want free trade with the US. For example, one person never discussed it, but had a “No Deal” bumper sticker on their car. Those opposed to free trade with the US feared it would “take over” Canada. I didn’t understand what they meant; how could voluntary trade lead to a country losing its sovereignty? Nobody seemed to have a good explanation.<\/p>\n
\nPerhaps separately, some people seemed to worry that Canadian producers wouldn’t be able to compete with US ones; therefore, under free trade with the US, Canadian manufacturing would soon be gone. Interestingly, that didn’t seem to happen; rather, my impression was that both Canada and the US lost manufacturing to developing countries: by 1995, I seldom saw consumer goods made in Canada, the US, or even Mexico.<\/p>\n
\nDecades later, I can perhaps understand what Canadians who opposed free trade with the US, back in the 80s, feared: that once Canadian producers came to depend on free trade with the US, the US could then threaten tariffs to get other concessions from Canada. Such would represent a loss of sovereignty, and is perhaps the threat Canada now faces.<\/p>\n
\nIf the protectionists – as those against free trade were known – actually feared the situation Canada faces now, they did a poor job explaining it, as I recall. What’s even more interesting is that they seem quiet now.<\/p>\n
\nIt seems the president of the US has hinted at coercing Canada, by economic means, to capitulate to the US. Yet, it also seems that Canada is rich enough to stop depending on the US. There would likely be some painful change required, but sovereignty costs sacrifice sometimes. As it stands, one might sense the US is an unreliable partner; perhaps investing in that relationship no longer makes sense.<\/p>\n
\nSource:<\/p>\n
msn.com<\/a><\/p>\n georgetown.edu<\/a><\/p>\nJack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane,<\/a> Campbell River, BC.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Self-tutoring about trade: the tutor examines a relationship that might be disconnecting. From what I understand, trade with the US used to be easy. I’m not saying it was always totally straightforward, but producers seemed happy enough with it. This …<\/p>\n