Canada foreign minister will oppose U.S. border tariffs

[webfact]

Canada foreign minister will oppose U.S. border tariffs

REUTERS

 

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland at the State Department in Washington, U.S. February 8, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Canada opposes the idea of the United States imposing new border tariffs and would respond to any such move, the country's foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, said on Wednesday after her first meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

 

Tillerson's meeting with Freeland, and a separate meeting with Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray, at the State Department touched on the trilateral North American Free Trade Agreement, which President Donald Trump wants to renegotiate.

 

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Freeland said she made clear in the meeting with Tillerson that Canada would oppose the idea of border tariffs on Canadian goods in upcoming NAFTA talks.

 

"If such an idea were ever to come into being, Canada would respond appropriately," she told reporters on a conference call, stressing that Ottawa did not yet know what the U.S. opening position would be.

 

Both Canada and Mexico send the bulk of their exports to the United States and could be crippled by major changes to NAFTA, which Trump has called "a disaster."

 

Mexico's Foreign Ministry said that Videgaray discussed migration and security issues in his meetings with Tillerson and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly.

 

Both Tillerson and Videgaray said they would keep working on solutions to their public "differences," it added. Videgaray also told Kelly that the human rights of Mexicans in the United States was important, the statement said.

 

After their hour-long meeting, Videgaray told reporters that Tillerson had said he would visit Mexico in the coming weeks, according to a Mexican Foreign Ministry official.

 

The State Department did not provide a readout of either of the meetings, which occurred in Tillerson's first full week in his new post.

Trump made free trade deals a major target during his campaign for the presidency. He says NAFTA, formally signed in 1994, has harmed American workers.

 

The pact was aimed at removing tariff barriers between Canada, Mexico and the United States.

 

Canada is trying to persuade the new administration and senior politicians that its especially close ties with the United States mean the country should be spared protectionist measures.

 

"In making the case for how balanced and mutually beneficial our economic relationship was, I really felt I was pushing on an open door with everyone I spoke to," Freeland said.

 

(Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati and Lesley Wroughton in Washington, David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Christine Murray in Mexico City; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sandra Maler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-09

[Emster23]

Republicans used to be all in for free trade.... tariffs hurt the average American by raising price of goods (duh). It's a tax.... thought they were going to cut taxes? Oh, just for the rich.... my bad.

[kaleevala]

Tariffs hurt all consumers...like people in Thailand who can not buy imported goods because of high tariffs, and yes, the high dollar as well. 160 nations impose tariffs and other barriers to US imports. How come it's only "Protectionist" if the US threatens to do it?

[ilostmypassword]

5 hours ago, kaleevala said:

Tariffs hurt all consumers...like people in Thailand who can not buy imported goods because of high tariffs, and yes, the high dollar as well. 160 nations impose tariffs and other barriers to US imports. How come it's only "Protectionist" if the US threatens to do it?

Another false talking point from the right. What most of these nations have is something called a value added tax.  So what they do so as not to give imports an unfair advantage, is to impose the same value added tax in imports.  Imports are not being singled out for taxation. They are just being subjected to the same taxes as domestically produced products.

[kaleevala]

Sounds totally false

[ilostmypassword]

 

On 2/9/2017 at 10:07 PM, ilostmypassword said:

Another false talking point from the right. What most of these nations have is something called a value added tax.  So what they do so as not to give imports an unfair advantage, is to impose the same value added tax in imports.  Imports are not being singled out for taxation. They are just being subjected to the same taxes as domestically produced products.

58 minutes ago, kaleevala said:

Sounds totally false

I have some exciting news for you. You don't have to judge the truth or falseness of a statement based on how it sounds to you. You can actually use something called the internet to look up information and then make an informed judgement.

 

[pegman]

On February 9, 2017 at 9:07 AM, ilostmypassword said:

Another false talking point from the right. What most of these nations have is something called a value added tax.  So what they do so as not to give imports an unfair advantage, is to impose the same value added tax in imports.  Imports are not being singled out for taxation. They are just being subjected to the same taxes as domestically produced products.

That's what we have in Canada and it works as you say. It's a 5% vat on a new car whether it was built in Mexico, Michigan, Korea, Japan or Ontario. But then I'm watching CNBC and Larry Kudlow is lying his faceoff saying it only applies to imports and therefore hurts America. How pathetic that the host was too clueless to confront him.

[kaleevala]

So when the USA applies the same VAT tax to imports, what will you call it then?

[boomerangutang]

         A word of warning to Canadian, Mexican or any other foreign leaders meeting with Trump or his reps (note; I wrote 'his' reps, because they're not representative of the people of the US):    BEWARE. Trump and his reps will say one thing while sitting cordially with you, with eye-contact and smiles, .....but are capable of saying/doing much different things when you've left the room/country. 

 

       Trump has a long ugly history of breaking deals while heading his businesses.  He also proved, with Mexico's president and others, that he can claim one thing in the morning (when he's in your presence), and then adamantly claim something entirely different in the afternoon. Trump particularly does his two-faced bait-and-switch when he's speaking to his die-hard sheeple fans.  

 

        Just be forewarned, foreign reps, that any assurances you get from Trump and his associates are as firm as a film of wet toilet paper.   

[ilostmypassword]

13 minutes ago, kaleevala said:

So when the USA applies the same VAT tax to imports, what will you call it then?

For the USA to apply the same VAT tax to imports it would first have to have a VAT tax.  Currently, it doesn't.

[spidermike007]

Tariffs represent big government, and restricted trade. They end up hurting the average American by making products more expensive. They would slow down the economy. These proposals are the opposite of what the GOP is supposed to stand for, and would make America considerably less great. Canada and Mexico are simply too important to engage in this kind of nonsensical policy. Then again, have we seen any sensible policy out of this new administration yet? 

[boomerangutang]

         Trump thinks, because of his massive bluster, that he can always get the better part of a deal with others.  If he doesn't know already, he will find out soon that foreign reps are smarter than he is by a country mile.  Furthermore, many foreign heads will make efforts to NOT make deals with Trump, because Trump is such a blowhard braggart.  

 

        If you were getting ready to make a deal with someone on a big-ticket item, and for days before you sign the deal, the other guy was going around town, shouting to everyone  - what a great deal maker he is, and how he's going to get a much better portion of the enchalada than you, ......would you still want to make a deal with him?  I wouldn't.

 

          Trump thinks, because the US economy is big and fat, that he will always have the advantage over every other country.  He's going to face some harsh realities.  Learning on the job.  If he thinks things have been tough thus far, wait until some real serious shit starts hitting the fan.  Trade wars make both sides losers.  In the past month, Trump has lost on his fake U and also on his Muslim Ban.  Message to The Divider:  'YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET.' 

[ilostmypassword]

1 hour ago, boomerangutang said:

         Trump thinks, because of his massive bluster, that he can always get the better part of a deal with others.  If he doesn't know already, he will find out soon that foreign reps are smarter than he is by a country mile.  Furthermore, many foreign heads will make efforts to NOT make deals with Trump, because Trump is such a blowhard braggart.  

 

        If you were getting ready to make a deal with someone on a big-ticket item, and for days before you sign the deal, the other guy was going around town, shouting to everyone  - what a great deal maker he is, and how he's going to get a much better portion of the enchalada than you, ......would you still want to make a deal with him?  I wouldn't.

 

          Trump thinks, because the US economy is big and fat, that he will always have the advantage over every other country.  He's going to face some harsh realities.  Learning on the job.  If he thinks things have been tough thus far, wait until some real serious shit starts hitting the fan.  Trade wars make both sides losers.  In the past month, Trump has lost on his fake U and also on his Muslim Ban.  Message to The Divider:  'YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET.' 

We've already seen him completely backpedal on the one china issue. Which only served to show how empty is his bluster.

[Credo]

12 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

         A word of warning to Canadian, Mexican or any other foreign leaders meeting with Trump or his reps (note; I wrote 'his' reps, because they're not representative of the people of the US):    BEWARE. Trump and his reps will say one thing while sitting cordially with you, with eye-contact and smiles, .....but are capable of saying/doing much different things when you've left the room/country. 

 

       Trump has a long ugly history of breaking deals while heading his businesses.  He also proved, with Mexico's president and others, that he can claim one thing in the morning (when he's in your presence), and then adamantly claim something entirely different in the afternoon. Trump particularly does his two-faced bait-and-switch when he's speaking to his die-hard sheeple fans.  

 

        Just be forewarned, foreign reps, that any assurances you get from Trump and his associates are as firm as a film of wet toilet paper.   

Trump operates on the basis of whether he perceives people as liking him or not.   He also conducts business on the basis off his personal gain.   I doubt he cares much, since the gains and losses will be to the citizens of the US.   

 

Best of luck to those working in gov't services at trying to figure out what direction the country is going today.   

 

[USPatriot]

But it's ok for Canada to have a vat or a tariff. 

[optad]

13 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Tariffs represent big government, and restricted trade. They end up hurting the average American by making products more expensive. They would slow down the economy. These proposals are the opposite of what the GOP is supposed to stand for, and would make America considerably less great. Canada and Mexico are simply too important to engage in this kind of nonsensical policy. Then again, have we seen any sensible policy out of this new administration yet? 

Agree, and will add trade or the 'free-est kinda trade' agreement nations can make are also about relationships and ultimately bettering friendships or creating non confrontational  environments. 

 

Simply put, nations do not go to war with business partners. Conversely, nations find all sorts of reasons to instigate war mongering when commerce is hindered. Tariffs are a very negative instrument in many ways.

[optad]

1 hour ago, USPatriot said:

But it's ok for Canada to have a vat or a tariff. 

 

A value added tax [VAT] and tariff are not the same central revenuing sourcing taxation device.

 

A VAT is not a protectionist device but an easily leveraged revenue for federal enterprise. Most countries have a version of it called a consumption or sales tax and applies indiscriminately to purchases unlike much of what Donald proposes which is discriminate. A tariff seeks to protect all non nationally made products with a blanket 'x'%. Old school and does store fat in industries but there are proportional arguments for some measures in some industries. Donald is talking 60's style tariffs which is nuts.

 

 

Handle suits you by the way...

 

 

[jerojero]

But it's ok for Canada to have a vat or a tariff. 

Vat is not a trade related entity. It's an internal country 's government (tax) revenue. Tariffs are trade related, import restricting because they increase prices of imported goods, plain and simple.

[USPatriot]

8 hours ago, optad said:

 

A value added tax [VAT] and tariff are not the same central revenuing sourcing taxation device.

 

A VAT is not a protectionist device but an easily leveraged revenue for federal enterprise. Most countries have a version of it called a consumption or sales tax and applies indiscriminately to purchases unlike much of what Donald proposes which is discriminate. A tariff seeks to protect all non nationally made products with a blanket 'x'%. Old school and does store fat in industries but there are proportional arguments for some measures in some industries. Donald is talking 60's style tariffs which is nuts.

 

 

Handle suits you by the way...

 

 

So it's ok for other countries to charge but not the usa.

 

Thank you I like my user name

[ilostmypassword]

7 minutes ago, USPatriot said:

So it's ok for other countries to charge but not the usa.

 

Thank you I like my user name

It's perfectly ok for the USA to charge vat if it wants to. And then it could go ahead and charge the same vat that it imposed on its domestic industries. And the playing field would be level. In fact it would be crazy not to impose it on imports as that would be giving them an unfair advantage.  But currently the USA doesn't have a vat. 

[boomerangutang]

         In the past several hours, Trump has picked a fight with California.  Oh Boy, that can only end well. California is 6th largest economy in the world.  5th largest, if the US isn't counted.  Lots of smart people in California, in stark contrast to the people populating the Oval Office.  

 

         News organizations are gearing up to block Kellyanne Conway because she can't help but echo Trump's incessant lies.  News organizations, like people in general, don't like being lied to - over and over.  Next up?  Shawn Spicer will get boycotted.  The press corps will decide to not attend his briefings because he too, has no choice - than to back Trump and Bannon's cavalcade of lies.  
 

      Thanks a lot, Trump voters.  You may have thought you were voting for a better America, but you instead let the cockroaches into the pastry shop.   Trump voters were totally hoodwinked by a dufus shyster, and many still can't yet see the light.

[boomerangutang]

Republicans are such hypocritical liars.  They talk the talk about free markets, but scratch the surface and you'll see they want to impose tariffs and other market manipulations.

 

They talk about the sanctity of life, yet they eat meat by the ton.

 

They want there to be less abortions, yet they oppose birth control. 

 

....their forked-tonged saga, goes on and on.

[ilostmypassword]

17 minutes ago, boomerangutang said:

Republicans are such hypocritical liars.  They talk the talk about free markets, but scratch the surface and you'll see they want to impose tariffs and other market manipulations.

 

They talk about the sanctity of life, yet they eat meat by the ton.

 

They want there to be less abortions, yet they oppose birth control. 

 

....their forked-tonged saga, goes on and on.

I think there's a better way to address the sanctity of life issue than by raising meat-eating. Presumably the Republicans aren't cannibals. But they are in favor of reducing health care to women. I think for them, human life is sacred right up to the moment of birth and then it's every baby for itself.

Edited February 12, 2017 by ilostmypassword

[geriatrickid]

On 2/10/2017 at 3:59 PM, pegman said:

That's what we have in Canada and it works as you say. It's a 5% vat on a new car whether it was built in Mexico, Michigan, Korea, Japan or Ontario. But then I'm watching CNBC and Larry Kudlow is lying his faceoff saying it only applies to imports and therefore hurts America. How pathetic that the host was too clueless to confront him.

You are confusing the Canadian Goods and Services Tax with a Value Added Tax. The GST replaced the Manufacturer''s Sales Tax of 13.5% which was part of the selling price of a product, i.e. it was hidden. The Canadian GST while similar to VAT is different because  of the many exemptions allowed under the GST rules. There are also zero rated goods and services.

 

When comparing US tax conditions to Canadian tax conditions, the USA has an overall tax advantage. Yes corporate taxes are lower in Canada, BUT this is to compensate for the overall higher tax burden in Canada that sees higher sales taxes and higher personal income taxes and an employer's payroll tax in many provinces.  The US federal and state governments provide a diverse number of  subsidies, tax incentives and handouts to US business that Canada cannot match.

 

 

 

[Dagnabbit]

Republicans used to be all in for free trade.... tariffs hurt the average American by raising price of goods (duh). It's a tax.... thought they were going to cut taxes? Oh, just for the rich.... my bad.

Let's say there is a tariff on a product from Canada and the same product can be made in the USA for a similar price.

How does imposing tarriffs raise prices exactly?

In this case, if price was the deciding factor, people would switch to American made products, right?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ilostmypassword]

 

 

2 minutes ago, Dagnabbit said:

 

Let's say there is a tariff on a product from Canada and the same product can be made in the USA for a similar price.

How does imposing tarriffs raise prices exactly?

In this case, if price was the deciding factor, people would switch to American made products, right?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

 

Yes, and so what? And if Canada made a product that cost 10 percent less than a similar us product and the US imposed a 5% tax on it, then US consumers would end up paying more than they otherwise would have had to.  Do you have some practical point to make here?

[pegman]

49 minutes ago, Dagnabbit said:

 

Let's say there is a tariff on a product from Canada and the same product can be made in the USA for a similar price.

How does imposing tarriffs raise prices exactly?

In this case, if price was the deciding factor, people would switch to American made products, right?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

You can't because of NAFTA. If you want to rip it ûp fine. China or the EU will buy our exports.

[pegman]

11 hours ago, USPatriot said:

But it's ok for Canada to have a vat or a tariff. 

Go do some research on what a VAT is then come back to comment. 

[hyperHowie]

On 2/10/2017 at 10:39 AM, ilostmypassword said:

 

I have some exciting news for you. You don't have to judge the truth or falseness of a statement based on how it sounds to you. You can actually use something called the internet to look up information and then make an informed judgement.

 

Of course, you can believe everything you read on the internet. 

[ilostmypassword]

20 minutes ago, hyperHowie said:

Of course, you can believe everything you read on the internet. 

Of course, it depends on who or what you're linking to.