Canada PM indicates he will not bend on key NAFTA demands at talks

[webfact]

Canada PM indicates he will not bend on key NAFTA demands at talks

By Julie Gordon

 

FILE PHOTO: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau answers questions from the media in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, August 8, 2018. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi/File Photo

 

SURREY, British Columbia (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated on Tuesday that Canada would not compromise on key demands at high-level talks this week with the United States to update the North American Free Trade Agreement.

 

Senior officials from both sides are due to meet in Washington on Wednesday in a bid to settle major differences amid pressure from Washington for a quick settlement.

 

"There are a number of things we absolutely must see in a renegotiated NAFTA," Trudeau told reporters in the Pacific province of British Columbia.

 

"No NAFTA is better than a bad NAFTA deal for Canadians and that's what we are going to stay with."

 

U.S. President Donald Trump - who signed a NAFTA side deal with Mexico last week - has threatened to impose auto tariffs on Canada or exclude it from the three-nation pact unless an agreement can be struck quickly.

 

Trudeau made clear, however, he would insist on keeping the so-called Chapter 19 dispute-resolution mechanism that Washington wants to scrap.

 

"We will not sign a deal that is bad for Canadians, and quiet frankly, not having a Chapter 19 to ensure the rules are followed would be bad for Canadians," he said.

 

He also said existing protections that ban U.S. media firms from buying Canadian cultural industries such as television stations and newspapers must be maintained.

 

(Writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by James Dalgleish and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-05

[300sd]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"No NAFTA is better than a bad NAFTA deal for Canadians and that's what we are going to stay with."

Good statement from him, for a change.

 

In other words, <deleted> Trump.

 

When this nafta agreement began, I recall that it was a struggle for many in business.....in the old days.

 

 

[canuckamuck]

His sexual orientation is irrelevant. The real problem is that he is an idiot. Hopefully he will let some of the older kids in his cabinet make the decisions about NAFTA. He is better off prancing about in costumes and virtue signalling to humankind about his socialist vision. Trudeau is way over his head in negotiating with Trump.

[mfd101]

22 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

Trudeau is way over his head in negotiating with Trump.

Given Trump's obvious prowess in dealing with the Kimbo boy, Trudeau must be REALLY bad!

[bobbin]

37 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

His sexual orientation is irrelevant. The real problem is that he is an idiot. Hopefully he will let some of the older kids in his cabinet make the decisions about NAFTA. He is better off prancing about in costumes and virtue signalling to humankind about his socialist vision. Trudeau is way over his head in negotiating with Trump.

Is this the same Trump that numerous high-profile aides have described as an idiot, with a schoolchild's grasp of international affairs?

 

Canada's negotiating team is comprised of professionals, as are the American and Mexican teams. We'll get the best deal we can, and we have ammunition.

 

Please support our country better than this. The results affect every Canadian, not just the ones you politically disagree with...

Edited September 5, 2018 by bobbin

[pegman]

40 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

His sexual orientation is irrelevant. The real problem is that he is an idiot. Hopefully he will let some of the older kids in his cabinet make the decisions about NAFTA. He is better off prancing about in costumes and virtue signalling to humankind about his socialist vision. Trudeau is way over his head in negotiating with Trump.

I'm a socialist and Trudeau is no socialist. The Liberal Party of Canada has been looking after the interests of big business since it's beginning. NDP is the social democratic political party in Canada looking after the interests of our working class. I worked for Bob White in the 1990's and on numerous occasions went before Parliamentary Committees and had full out brawls with the Liberal MPs there. They hated us because of the work we did for the NDP.  I've never voted Liberal and never will but this is about the interests of Canada. Back stabbers to their country like Harper and yourself know no shame.   DON'T MESS WITH CANADA!!!!

[canuckamuck]

2 minutes ago, pegman said:

I'm a socialist and Trudeau is no socialist. The Liberal Party of Canada has been looking after the interests of big business since it's beginning. NDP is the social democratic political party in Canada looking after the interests of our working class. I worked for Bob White in the 1990's and on numerous occasions went before Parliamentary Committees and had full out brawls with the Liberal MPs there. They hated us because of the work we did for the NDP.  I've never voted Liberal and never will but this is about the interests of Canada. Back stabbers to their country like Harper and yourself know no shame.   DON'T MESS WITH CANADA!!!!

Harper was the last good leader Canada is likely to see. Canada needs saving, the mess is already made.

[pegman]

15 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

Harper was the last good leader Canada is likely to see. Canada needs saving, the mess is already made.

Harper brought us the biggest budget deficits in our history and continual racial divisiveness. After getting out of school he went straight into politics and never had a real job and it showed. All ideology  all of the time.

Canada has never been better. It's changing some but it always has been changing ever since my ancestors first stepped on this continent in 1631. 

 

 

 

[welovesundaysatspace]

4 hours ago, bluesofa said:

 

I thought I read in the press the was gay, my mistake. Was it perhaps another head of state who recently said that, or am I losing my marbles?

Maybe just don’t post irrelevant offtopic?

[DoctorG]

Canada could offer to drop the dairy tariff, but I never see this considered.

[blazes]

2 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Given Trump's obvious prowess in dealing with the Kimbo boy, Trudeau must be REALLY bad!

He is.

[stevenl]

8 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

Canada could offer to drop the dairy tariff, but I never see this considered.

You mean the tariff that is countering the US dairy farmer subsidies?

[AsiaHand]

As long as Trump stays in office he will have to bend and accept a new deal.How Vice President Pence would handle it if Trump is gone is another case.

[bristolboy]

51 minutes ago, AsiaHand said:

As long as Trump stays in office he will have to bend and accept a new deal.How Vice President Pence would handle it if Trump is gone is another case.

Actually, Congress is opposed to a separate deal for Canada. It authorized trump to negotiate a new NAFTA deal with both Canada and Mexico. Not separate deals. And there is also a question of whether Trump has the authority to nullify the present agreement on his own.

[bristolboy]

1 hour ago, DoctorG said:

Canada could offer to drop the dairy tariff, but I never see this considered.

"In other words, Canada props up its dairy industry through quotas that cap the amount produced, and imposes heavy tariffs on imports. The U.S. subsidizes its dairy industry, resulting in lower costs for U.S. consumers, but a supply glut."

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/06/trump-canada-dairy/562508/

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

You mean the tariff that is countering the US dairy farmer subsidies?

In a fashion yes but not for the publicized reasons.

Canada's system of supply quota management system allows specific commodity sectors like dairy, poultry and eggs to limit the supply of their products to what Canadians are expected to consume in order to ensure predictable, stable prices. The government wanted to make farming sustainable on its own.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-supply-management-explainer-1.4708341

Canada does allow a small amount of dairy and poultry imports into the country duty-free or at very low tariffs to meet small shortages in Canada's domestic supply chain.

The US provides dairy subsidies to encourage its dairy farmers to produce as much as possible with a substantial excess forced to export markets. With unlimited cheap imports of over-produced US dairy products (for example) to Canada , it will essentially destroy Canadian subsistence farming by commodity "dumping." The very same strategy used by China against the US that is criticized by Trump.

[stevenl]

12 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

In a fashion yes but not for the publicized reasons.

Canada's system of supply quota management system allows specific commodity sectors like dairy, poultry and eggs to limit the supply of their products to what Canadians are expected to consume in order to ensure predictable, stable prices. The government wanted to make farming sustainable on its own.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-supply-management-explainer-1.4708341

Canada does allow a small amount of dairy and poultry imports into the country duty-free or at very low tariffs to meet small shortages in Canada's domestic supply chain.

The US provides dairy subsidies to encourage its dairy farmers to produce as much as possible with a substantial excess forced to export markets. With unlimited cheap imports of over-produced US dairy products (for example) to Canada , it will essentially destroy Canadian subsistence farming by commodity "dumping." The very same strategy used by China against the US that is criticized by Trump.

As I said, but your post is much more detailed. Thanks.

[canuckamuck]

3 hours ago, pegman said:

Harper brought us the biggest budget deficits in our history and continual racial divisiveness. After getting out of school he went straight into politics and never had a real job and it showed. All ideology  all of the time.

Canada has never been better. It's changing some but it always has been changing ever since my ancestors first stepped on this continent in 1631. 

 

 

 

Trudeau, after dropping out of school Spent his time as a pampered socialite until he went into politics and then it was all ideology all the time.

[bristolboy]

20 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

Trudeau, after dropping out of school Spent his time as a pampered socialite until he went into politics and then it was all ideology all the time.

"Born in Ottawa, Trudeau attended Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf and graduated from McGill University in 1994 and the University of British Columbia in 1998."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Trudeau

Edited September 5, 2018 by bristolboy

[bobbin]

8 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

Trudeau, after dropping out of school Spent his time as a pampered socialite until he went into politics and then it was all ideology all the time.

You have had a couple of knuckle raps already but you want to double down?

 

Take your Trumpista-style political BS and find another place for it.. my suggestion as to where shall remain unmentioned..

 

When you are having an adult moment, consider the fact that first his party and then the electorate (by unexpected majority) rejected these ad hominum attacks.

[bobbin]

Ok.. having had a moment or to to reflect, I realize that I should have stuck with the issue at hand and not allowed myself to reply in kind to Mr. CA's post.

 

The issue is a dysfunctional American President trying to muscle an old friend and reliable ally into accepting a deal which is much better for one than the other.

 

 

[Tug]

Canada has been a wonderful alli over the years Donald is trying to bulley hold fast Canada Donald is trying to creat a problem to deflect attention away from his many faults costing all much treasure and trauma it’s what he does

[duanebigsby]

5 hours ago, Srikcir said:

In a fashion yes but not for the publicized reasons.

Canada's system of supply quota management system allows specific commodity sectors like dairy, poultry and eggs to limit the supply of their products to what Canadians are expected to consume in order to ensure predictable, stable prices. The government wanted to make farming sustainable on its own.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-supply-management-explainer-1.4708341

Canada does allow a small amount of dairy and poultry imports into the country duty-free or at very low tariffs to meet small shortages in Canada's domestic supply chain.

The US provides dairy subsidies to encourage its dairy farmers to produce as much as possible with a substantial excess forced to export markets. With unlimited cheap imports of over-produced US dairy products (for example) to Canada , it will essentially destroy Canadian subsistence farming by commodity "dumping." The very same strategy used by China against the US that is criticized by Trump.

 

4 hours ago, bristolboy said:

"Born in Ottawa, Trudeau attended Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf and graduated from McGill University in 1994 and the University of British Columbia in 1998."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Trudeau

And then worked as a teacher in Vancouver.

[duanebigsby]

The Canadian Dairy Supply Management system should not be undermined.

The dairy farmers are given a fair and guaranteed return while the consumer pays a 

reasonable price. The milk is superior to that of US milk, without chemicals and antibiotics etc.

 

The US system is that the American gov't subsidizes dairy to a huge extent, they over produce, and try to dump the glut onto the Canadian market. Inferior milk at cheap prices.

 

The price US farmers make is minimal as the over production causes prices to tumble. Why so many farms going tits up in Wisconsin? Obvious.

[Ulic]

Trudeau, is an idiot, Trump, is an even bigger idiot. The US subsidizes its agricultural industry to the tune of 24 billion dollars a year. The EU does the same. Canada supports the dairy farmers through a quota system ensuring price stability but which Canadian consumers pay a premium price for dairy products. (estimated at an extra $ 1,400 Canadian dollars a year for a family of four) The dairy farmers are no longer mom and pop family owned businesses. Milk quotas have been

consolidated by big dairy corporations. They make a fortune and have a strong political lobby.  They sell the support the small family farm message and hide the big agro-corporation reality. As for the US. They are nobodies allies. They change with the wind. If you agree/support their political view, you are an ally. The US supports only those who support their viewpoint. In the past 70 years, nobody has done more to medal in foreign governments/elections that the US.  South America, Central America, Asia, the Middle East. The number of countries that the US has installed or supported a coup de tat is endless. Russia simply plays on Facebook and there is outrage. As far as trade is concerned Canada is not Americas manufacturing decline problem.  Mexico, where the minimum wage is 65 cents an hour, and the auto industry pays $1.50 an hour  is. Big business wants to maximize profits. They don't give a crap about the American/Canadian public. Then there is China. Stealing intellectual property and forcing technology transfer. This is true, but I do laugh at the international corporations who complain. They could leave manufacturing in North America, and avoid these problems. But they want the cheap  Chinese/Asian manufacturing.

 

The problem is the regulations forcing local partnerships which split profits and transfer technology to people who will soon be your competitors. Companies love to complain, even when the solution is plainly in front of them. Keep manufacturing in North America/Europe.  Take Burberry as an example. They sell a scarf for 200 Euro/Pounds. It costs 5 Pounds to manufacture

the scarf in the UK. It costs only 3.50 Pounds to manufacture the scarf in China. So they move production to China to increase profits from an already exceptionally high-profit margin product.  Then they moan and complain about counterfeit products made in China. 

 

Personally, I don't trust any politician or any political party. They all have some good ideas but they are corrupted by trying to stay in power and doing there handlers bidding. In Asia/Africa it is about lining their own pockets. In Western countries, it is about staying in power. 

[Becker]

1 hour ago, alocacoc said:

Trump does a fantastic job. 

[Scott]

Off-topic and troll posts as well as replies removed.  

[blazes]

6 hours ago, Ulic said:

Trudeau, is an idiot, Trump, is an even bigger idiot. The US subsidizes its agricultural industry to the tune of 24 billion dollars a year. The EU does the same. Canada supports the dairy farmers through a quota system ensuring price stability but which Canadian consumers pay a premium price for dairy products. (estimated at an extra $ 1,400 Canadian dollars a year for a family of four) The dairy farmers are no longer mom and pop family owned businesses. Milk quotas have been consolidated by big dairy corporations. They make a fortune and have a strong political lobby.

 

They sell the support the small family farm message and hide the big agro-corporation reality. As for the US. They are nobodies allies. They change with the wind. If you agree/support their political view, you are an ally. The US supports only those who support their viewpoint. In the

past 70 years, nobody has done more to medal in foreign governments/elections that the US. South America, Central America, Asia, the Middle East. The number of countries that the US has installed or supported a coup de tat is endless. Russia simply plays on Facebook and there is outrage. As far as trade is concerned Canada is not Americas manufacturing decline problem. Mexico, where the minimum wage is 65 cents an hour, and the auto industry pays $1.50 an hour is. Big business wants to maximize profits. They don't give a crap about the American/Canadian public. Then there is China. Stealing intellectual property and forcing technology transfer. This is true, but I do laugh at the international corporations who complain. They could leave manufacturing in North America, and avoid these problems. But they want the cheap Chinese/Asian manufacturing.

 

The problem is the regulations forcing local partnerships which split profits and transfer technology to people who will soon be your competitors. Companies love to complain, even when the solution is plainly in front of them. Keep manufacturing in North America/Europe.

Take Burberry as an example. They sell a scarf for 200 Euro/Pounds. It costs 5 Pounds to manufacture the scarf in the UK. It costs only 3.50 Pounds to  manufacture the scarf in China. So they move production to China to increase profits from an already exceptionally high-profit margin product. Then they moan and complain about counterfeit products made in China. 

Personally, I don't trust any politician or any  political party. They all have some good ideas but they are corrupted by trying to stay in power and doing there handlers bidding. In Asia/Africa

it is about lining their own pockets. In Western countries, it is about staying in power. 

 

Excellent summary.  It is all too rare on TV to find someone able to step back and view the big picture (rather than obsessing about everyday details fed to us by CNN and other "fake news" outlets- fake, not cos they are lying necessarily, but simply cos they fail to see, like here, the larger picture and feed us what is, essentially, propaganda).

[pegman]

As a responce to Trump's tariffs there was a call from many quarters for a Made in Canada campaign to start the day the tariffs hit, July 1.

https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/unifor-launching-i-shop-canada-campaign-1.3993132

 

In July the trade defiscet moved Canada's way by a whooping 56%. 

Canadain Consumers - 1

Trump's Tariffs.            - 0

I would expect the same for August. The same seems to be happening in the EU.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/05/us-trade-deficit-jumps-by-the-most-in-3-years.html

 

Young Justin needs to resist further concessions as Trump has little internal support on excluding Canada from NAFTA. I'm not a supporter of marketing boards that work like cartels. A dairy cow quota selling for >$25k is ridicules. I would hope the American subsidies and the Canada marketing boards and tariffs could be eliminated but the farm lobby in both countries are too strong. What Canada has done in other trade deals is increase the tariff free quota between the parties. That will likely seal a deal along with leaving the Chapter 19 dispute mechanism and Trump dropping the steel and aluminiun tariffs. 

[blazes]

11 hours ago, bristolboy said:

"Born in Ottawa, Trudeau attended Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf and graduated from McGill University in 1994 and the University of British Columbia in 1998."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Trudeau

 

If one includes the sentences after this reference (above), we will see this:

 

"After graduating, he worked as a teacher in Vancouver, British Columbia. He completed one year of an engineering program at Montreal's École Polytechnique, from 2002 to 2003, and one year of a master's program in environmental geography at McGill University, from 2004 to 2005. He advocated for various causes [sic], and portrayed a cousin [sic] in the 2007 TV miniseries The Great War.[7]"

 

Anyone who knows anything about university education will immediately see that little Trudeau is a dilettante....wandering from subject to subject, never quite managing to finish the course, a little bit of this, a little bit of that.... a rank amateur.

 

His original job as Drama teacher in Vancouver was the nearest kind of job to suit his personality and position in life....he is an amateur actor....a fake....and most Canadians who are not ideologically blind can see this.  

Edited September 5, 2018 by blazes