A group of experts is sounding the alarm that Ottawa needs to swiftly make more inroads with Americans, or Canada will be deeply disadvantaged in a looming review of a crucial trade agreement.
香蕉视频直播淭ime is running out very rapidly for us,香蕉视频直播� said Perrin Beatty, co-chair of the Expert Group on Canada-U.S. Relations.
The independent group, which includes former diplomats, policy advisers and business leaders, was created in recent months amid concern Ottawa was 香蕉视频直播渟leepwalking香蕉视频直播� ahead of a 2026 review of the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement, Beatty said.
A new report from the expert group says Canada must get its house in order before formal talks begin. It calls on Ottawa to develop and initiate a clear strategy, appoint a chief negotiator and engage with Canada香蕉视频直播檚 business community.
香蕉视频直播淭he train is fast moving out of the station,香蕉视频直播� said Beatty, also president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Negotiation of CUSMA, commonly dubbed 香蕉视频直播渢he new NAFTA香蕉视频直播� in Canada, was a key test for Ottawa following Donald Trump香蕉视频直播檚 victory in the 2016 presidential election.
香蕉视频直播淭he new NAFTA is a victory for all Canadians, of every political view, and in all regions of the country,香蕉视频直播� Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said in January 2020. 香蕉视频直播淚t has been a real Team Canada effort.香蕉视频直播�
Even so, Robert Lighthizer, Trump香蕉视频直播檚 trade representative, critically recounted in his book how Canada handled the renegotiation, saying at one point the two countries weren香蕉视频直播檛 speaking and 香蕉视频直播淣AFTA was hanging on by a thread.香蕉视频直播�
The new report describes Trump香蕉视频直播檚 current relationship with the Liberal government as 香蕉视频直播渃hilly at best.香蕉视频直播� If Trump returns to the White House, he is likely to set his sights on disrupting global trade and has already signalled plans for a 10 per cent tariff on imports.
It doesn香蕉视频直播檛 necessarily mean Canada can ease up efforts under a Democratic president. Joe Biden largely kept Trump香蕉视频直播檚 tariffs in place, despite promises to reverse them. There was also tension over the Biden administration香蕉视频直播檚 Buy American procurement rules.
Many expect Kamala Harris, working to secure the Democratic nomination after Biden ended his run, will follow the path of her predecessor on Canada-U.S. relations. Harris, however, was one of 10 U.S. senators to vote against the trilateral agreement under Trump, saying it didn香蕉视频直播檛 do enough to protect American workers or the environment.
The federal government is tracking views about the agreement in Canada, the United States and Mexico, said Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Jean-Pierre Godbout. Ottawa is eyeing a range of potential scenarios for review, he said.
香蕉视频直播淲hen the time comes, the government will be ready to advance and defend Canadian interests,香蕉视频直播� Godbout said in an email.
Beatty said the problem is the relationship between the two countries has 香蕉视频直播渟hifted from being strategic to being transactional.香蕉视频直播� In addition, Canada has become a less important trade partner to the U.S. compared with other places in the world.
Ottawa will have to sell Canada香蕉视频直播檚 importance for other things like security, said Fen Hampson, co-chair of the expert group.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not going to be easy,香蕉视频直播� said Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University. 香蕉视频直播淲e really have to up our game.香蕉视频直播�
Industry Minister Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne is making regular visits south of the border as part of the Team Canada engagement strategy. Canada香蕉视频直播檚 ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, has been pounding the pavement from state to state, and attended the recent Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where she made Ottawa香蕉视频直播檚 case.
But the report says there are limits to Canada香蕉视频直播檚 charm offensive. Americans are taking a closer look at Canada, but not in a good way.
Trudeau faced significant pressure over Canada香蕉视频直播檚 defence spending while in Washington for the NATO leaders香蕉视频直播� summit earlier this month.
The prime minister promised to meet NATO香蕉视频直播檚 target, the equivalent of two per cent of gross domestic product, by 2032. But he has been criticized for the lengthy timeline and a lack of detail on how Ottawa will make it happen.
Americans across political lines have also been extremely critical of Canada香蕉视频直播檚 new tax on large foreign digital services companies. The Office of the United States Trade Representative has said it will do what香蕉视频直播檚 necessary to stop the tax.
Canada must stop 香蕉视频直播減ulling at the tail feathers of the American eagle,香蕉视频直播� positioning Canada as part of the solution instead of part of the problem, Beatty said.
That means the federal government should develop a Hippocratic Oath, like the one taken by physicians, he said.
香蕉视频直播淔irst do no harm.香蕉视频直播�
