So close, and yet so far. Only last week, Canada and the US were finally on the cusp of reaching a long awaited trade deal. Already Trump had announced the joyous news on Truth Social, already Canadian prime minister Mark Carney had celebrated securing the “best terms” for Canada and called for provinces to lift the ban on US alcohol.
Then, somehow, defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory. Late last Friday, Carney told Canadian negotiators to walk away, saying Washington was offering “a bad deal.” Trump promptly reimposed the 50 percent tariffs on goods imported from Canada that had been put on hold pending the signing of the deal. On Tuesday, August 25, Carney announced dollar-for-dollar retaliation, in what some are calling “the dumbest trade war in history.”
Carney has cynically stoked fear of America and fear of Trump
In the meantime, jaws were dropping all across Canada. Manufacturers and business leaders wondered what outrage could have occured in the closed-door negotiations that could possibly justify shutting down negotiations with Canada’s closest neighbour and number one customer. But details were hard to get. Carney resorted to emotional language to justify his decision, saying Canada had been “attacked” and saying the country was “at war.”
