Thread

1. neom · 1789557380 · focus · HN ↗

   No idea what this actually means, if it means easier trade, I'm all for anything that reduces our dependency on the yanks, as long as we don't need to be involved in their regulatory or legal regimes. The Americans are no longer our friends, Salut, mes amis Européens. :)

   1. bko · 1789562536 · focus · HN ↗

      I was surprised to learn that Canada doesn't even have free trade across their own provenances. A big benefit of the United States is that it's essentially a very large free trade zone across 50 states.

      If Canada wanted to facilitate trade, I would imagine they would figure it out internally. So my guess is that this is just giving up some political autonomy for some unknown reason, maybe to stick it to the US?

      1. bryanlarsen · 1789563480 · focus · HN ↗

         The biggest trade barriers between Canadian provinces are labor licensing laws. The biggest trade barriers between American states are labor licensing laws.

         The second biggest trade barriers between Canada provinces are liquor regulations. The second biggest trade barriers between American states are likely car emission laws.

         Fairly comparable, IMO.

         1. boringg · 1789567005 · focus · HN ↗

            Not comparable at all. The US is one market unless you have a compelling reason to protect your state market. Canada is 10 separate markets all protecting themselves. Easiest example is Quebec.

            1. bryanlarsen · 1789568361 · focus · HN ↗

               The US is the opt-in system where the States regulate everything not specifically allocated to the federation and Canada is the opt-out system where the federal government regulates everything not specifically allocated to the provinces.

               Of course it's more complicated -- the US's inter-state commerce clause has been broadly interpreted by the courts.

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