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Canada fast-tracks Pacific oil pipeline to reduce US dependence

83 points · 96 comments · geox

  1. simojo · · focus · HN ↗
    So many people come and give doomer statements on the reality of the US and Canada becoming increasingly at odds.

    As a US citizen, I just want to add that I hope some day we can reestablish a healthy relationship with our neighbors. These articles are saddening.

    1. i80and · · focus · HN ↗
      Disclaimer: I'm American

      I don't see how Canada can trust us again without a major cultural and legal shift in the US. The fact is that any president can, apparently, unilaterally shred international friendships, and 30%-40% of Americans will cheer it on.

      I would love a return to normalcy, but Americans need to make sure, really sure this can't happen again.

      1. db48x · · focus · HN ↗
        Most don’t see it as Trump’s fault. The trade agreement between the US and Canada allowed both sides to renegotiate the terms every six years. It also allowed both sides to withdraw if those negotiations failed. Trump simply took that option and proposed to renegotiate, which Canada rejected. So Trump took the obvious next step, exactly as anticipated by the treaty itself, and withdrew from it. Nobody should have been surprised by that.

        Most Americans don’t have a problem with the content of Trump’s proposed treaty either. It would have lowered Canada’s tariffs on US dairy products down from 400% to whatever the US charges on Canadian dairy products. It would have allowed US banks to enter the Canadian market just as Canadian banks are allowed to operate in the US. Etc, etc.

        The Canadian government made the soup themselves.

        1. pstuart · · focus · HN ↗
          The whole idea behind tariffs was to replace income taxes with them. The bonus was realizing that he could weaponize it.

          Tariffs today have one real value only: protecting domestic industry. And to do that correctly, it needs to be thoughtful, consistent (legislated rather than by executive order), and coordinated with the industries they are designed to protect.

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