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Canada considering charging for road access from USA to Alaska

washingtonstatestandard.com

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Re: Canada considering charging for road access from USA to Alaska

#31

Post by watwut »

BobbyJo wrote: post #23
a-priori wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's incorrect to think of Canada as being "cornered" here nor having "nothing to lose". It's the US that's isolating itself. Canada isn't 'cornered'. It has the entire rest of the world to talk to and make deals with. It has everything to lose by continuing to rely on the US, which is why you're seeing such a hard pivot toward Europe and Asia.

I wouldn't color relying on a historical ally that either produces, or is the transit corridor for, most of your food with "everything to lose". The current trade spat is an issue, and Canada should react accordingly, but the reality is that, even with tariffs, the US still represents a very profitable trade partner, especially when they can levy tariffs of their own.

The issue is not limited to tariffs. There is consistent hostile rhetoric against Canada by multiple members of administration. And by hostile I mean threats of annexation, demands that Canada gives USA parts of its land and false accusations.

Tariffs are only part of the issue. They seem the be the first USA step meant to weaken Canada economically before USA proceeds to steal from from it.

Re: Canada considering charging for road access from USA to Alaska

#32

Post by Brusco_RF »

What a lot of commenters cheering this headline might not know is that there is only one single internal road connecting east and west canada which regularly closes. Most commercial routes go through the US. Don't believe me? Route Ottawa to Vancouver in google maps.

This move would amount to throwing rocks from a glass house.

Re: Canada considering charging for road access from USA to Alaska

#33

Post by magneticstain »

dave4420 wrote: post #22
andy_ppp wrote: post #7

I’m surprised all the countries the US is trying to bully aren’t considering moving to the Euro as the reserve currency (even China might go along with this). It would be so damaging for the US they might actually understand they have been benefiting from a win-win situation since the end of the Second World War.

I suspect many countries would prefer a Chinese reserve currency to a European one, due to past bad experiences of being ruled by Europeans. But even on a purely economic level… does the Eurozone even have a larger economy than China? I can see countries moving away from USD, but I don’t see them coalescing around a single alternative.

I would suspect that some countries would definitely go to China due to the more sizable economy. But a large number of others - especially those with more democratic idealogies - would go with the Euro.

Re: Canada considering charging for road access from USA to Alaska

#34

Post by kps »

kolanos wrote: post #13

[flagged]

If the US leadership hadn't started threatening Canada, there would almost certainly¹ have been a government open to cutting trade barriers by the end of the year. Canadians haven't been thrilled with some of our protected oligopolies, like groceries and telcos.

¹ https://338canada.com/federal.htm

Re: Canada considering charging for road access from USA to Alaska

#37

Post by cmrdporcupine »

vkou wrote: post #19
kolanos wrote: post #13

[flagged]

How much dairy does the US import from Canada? Answer: there is essentially no dairy trade between the countries. The US is, of course, free to have a reciprocal tariff policy.

The US already has heavy agri subsidies, so it's a completely hypocritical comparison. And a pointless one, as you pointed out.

It's fascinating to watch the spread of official propaganda talking points through online media. This one started two-three weeks ago, presumably from Trump. People who knew nothing about the Canadian dairy market suddenly "experts"

Re: Canada considering charging for road access from USA to Alaska

#38

Post by sjsdaiuasgdia »

BobbyJo wrote: post #23
a-priori wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's incorrect to think of Canada as being "cornered" here nor having "nothing to lose". It's the US that's isolating itself. Canada isn't 'cornered'. It has the entire rest of the world to talk to and make deals with. It has everything to lose by continuing to rely on the US, which is why you're seeing such a hard pivot toward Europe and Asia.

I wouldn't color relying on a historical ally that either produces, or is the transit corridor for, most of your food with "everything to lose". The current trade spat is an issue, and Canada should react accordingly, but the reality is that, even with tariffs, the US still represents a very profitable trade partner, especially when they can levy tariffs of their own.

If it was just the trade spat, you might be right.

But there's also Trump repeatedly talking about annexing Canada. That goes well beyond a trade spat, and I would absolutely expect Canada to do more in response because that is in the mix. Including actively working to reduce their dependency on US-sourced or US-transiting products.

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