Fuck Trump on Trade

On Friday August 20, 2026, Mark Carney called the negotiation team home shortly before the deadline for 50% tariffs saying that last minute additions to the deal were just not acceptable. He gave a more detailed description of the problems the next day and said that medium to heavy duty trucks would be exempted from the deal. This ensured that Ford and GM would move those models to the U.S. over time. There was also items such as a veto over Canada trying to make trade deals with other countries. Not to mention issues regarding language and culture.

It was extortionist and according to Carney, was an effort to break Canadian sovereignty and unity. Some Conservative influencers and MPs are blaming Carney such as Jamil Jivani. When asked about Poilievre's response to the end of talks, Jivani was unreachable. A flurry of conservative posters were smug that Canada pulled out and were pro-American in their discourse basically saying it is all Carney's fault. A former top Conservative writing in the Free Press has called out the trolling and says it has harmed Poilievre more than Carney.

Danielle Smith in Alberta supports Carney but seems to want his desperately back at the table lest Trump focuses on tax on oil. She wants no response from Canada despite the late additional demands from the U.S. Scott Moe, on the other hand, support dollar for dollar retaliation. Smith seems brave enough on announcing separation votes but seems to know a lot of her supporter back Trump and his agenda. Quebec, meanwhile, seems terrified of bringing up a separation vote because of Trump. This would seem to suggest Quebecers back Carney and would not take kindly to such a vote.

Carney has called it a war and it is starting to feel like one. Sadly, the public feels more triggered than usual and booing of the U.S. anthem from coast to coast is an indication. In some ways, the public is way ahead of the government. The best strategy for Carney is to reveal as much about the state of the talks and why they collapsed. He needs to brief the other leaders in the Commons. The full text of the agreement doesn't necessarily need to revealed because that might have changed dozens if not more times. To be fair, it could undermine talks if they resume at some point if it exposes the negotiating position of Canada. The media would just publish it carte blanche but very much like a labour talk, you don't want it out in public and just torpedo something getting done. And some people's goal is to torpedo the talks. Some of those people might be third party outsiders wanting to sow strife.

Still, the government has to let people know about the nuts and bolts about the deal and demonstrate how it can affect sovereignty. If Canada can't make deal elsewhere, we are trapped discounting to supply the American market. No government could agree to that. The U.S. government has not denied making that a demand.

Carney has to ensure those hurt by the U.S. tariffs in Canada are taken care of. And the countervailing duties have to placed on U.S. industry to cause Canadians least amount of pain and maximum pain in the U.S. ahead of the mid-term elections. The cowardice of the the Republican party should receive a full out hit. Trump now proposes a 50% tariff starting January on automotive industry. This would end the auto industry in Canada and put enormous costs on American taxpayers. Canada won't be able to buy the products solely made in the U.S. even without tariffs. The price is already soaring.

Ford and Trump have been exchanging potshots. Carney has said said what he has had to say. Democrat and state leaders have expressed alarm and blasted Trump. There is a lot of support out there for Canada but summer brain affects both countries and it will only be after Labour Day that people start to realize that the economy as it relates to affordability is not good. There will be an increasingly panicked Republican party who will try to blame anyone else for the circumstances such as Biden, Canada, Iran or China among others. 

 It is very possible some Republican voters will be less compelled to vote for Republican slate candidate when Trump is not in ballot. In fact, Trump's popularity is dragging down the party. As a lameduck president who by law can't run again, Trump should see more Republicans leave the administration over the next months to forge new paths. Most will stay friendly to get blanket pardons. Yes, it could be that bad. Many will want to keep their money that would otherwise be scrutinized.

Democrats and Independents will be motivated voters. Not all will be favour free trade. Biden didn't lift many of the trade problems Trump created in the first four years so it is possible we still will have irritants. Canada can't expect all will be well in two years. Expanding our markets to other countries has to be a goal. We have been selling our wares to the U.S. for discount prices because of weak dollar for too long.

There is also a lot of cowardice from other countries who have bad trade deals but don't say anything. Some of those countries may get even worse treatment in the next while so it will be interesting to see if they accept this. If Trump actually tries a third attempt at running, it could fracture the U.S., especially if the Supreme Courts says go ahead. The chaos south of the border could be something after the mid-terms.

This is all Trump and fuck him. The anger is spreading and his antics and bullying are going to have to be dealt with. Canadians need to look support our own people for their quite some time.