Elizabeth May is not amused by comments from U.S. President-elect about Canada.
The leader of the federal Green Party actually finds it astonishing that Donald Trump’s first order of business even before taking office is to bash Canada and suggest the country become a 51st state.
“I’ve been thinking back over previous presidents, can’t think of a single US president who has ever thought a good way to start a relationship with their single largest trading partner is by insulting us,” says May.
May still thinks Canada has to take Trump’s threats to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods coming into the U.S. seriously.
May sees any response must be seen as a united one.
“We are in this together to have a unified front to make sure that going into negotiations, the United States understands that we’re not wannabe 51st staters here.”
Mays adds it is important the to show the Trump administration that the goods and the resources exported to the U.S. benefit its economy.
May suggests reopening the playbook used when Trump was last in office.
“We worked hard on U.S. allies where we knew we had them, governors from states that would be hurt and were hurt by increased tariffs on Canadian goods. We worked hard to make the case, and we brought in some countervailing tariffs of our own that were targeted and sent the message clearly. We worked through it, and then we ended up with a renegotiated USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) that landed Canada, (26:12) I think, even in a better position than the first NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement).
May warns though that any new trade agreement with the United States will not abandon its support for Mexico which is also a huge trading partner for Canada.
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