Trump exposes free trade as a failed policy for Canada
The assumption behind the drastic restructuring of Canada’s political economy around NAFTA was that America would keep its word. Trump has changed all of that, writes Thomas Walkom.
There’s one upside to Donald Trump’s use of bully-boy tactics against Canada. They may force us to rethink our failed trade strategy with the U.S.
Since the first Canada-U. S. free trade deal of 1988, this country has concentrated on integrating itself seamlessly into the American economy.
Any attempt to foster an independent manufacturing capability was abandoned. Instead industry was rationalized.
Canadian plants no longer existed to serve the Canadian market. Instead, they were part of a continentwide production process that rewarded low costs and low wages.
Those that didn’t fit in with the new reality were forced out of business.
Things that Canada used to make, from toasters to furniture to canned fruit, were replaced by imports.
By the time China began flooding the world with cheap goods, the damage to Canadian manufacturers had already been done.
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