The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday edition that to end 18 months of economic uncertainty, Canada needs a trade deal. The Post's guest columnist Joe Oliver writes that getting one, however, means making compromises with a president who mistakenly believes Canada is ripping him off. Fifteen-per-cent auto tariffs and possibly a 25-per-cent tariff on heavy trucks were clearly a bridge too far for Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
President Donald Trump's threats have made Prime Minister Mark Carney more popular than ever. Public opinion has shifted to the view that no one can deal with Mr. Trump.
As a result, the PM is pursuing trade diversification, government direction of the economy, multilateralism, closer alignment with the European Union and middle-power co-operation against the major powers. This represents a major change from the path we have followed for at least the last half-century. To judge whether it is wise or even possible and to compare it with alternative programs, we need details about the deal Mr. Carney rejected. We also need clarification, after a decade of relative decline and division, about what is achievable in view of our still close commercial, social and security ties to the United States.
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