Regardless of what any new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) might look like, the political winds that have been whipped up around it have cleared the air on one important issue for Canadians: America the Great Again under the Donald Trump regime is no friend of Canada’s.
And that’s a welcome cold shower for Canadian complacency.
Business in this country has traditionally relied upon the geographic good fortune of being the northern neighbour of the world’s largest economy.
We share the same language, a similar culture, much trade and a host of North American history and values.
But Trump’s United States has defaulted to being an isolationist tariff bully. Regardless of past loyalties shared, Canada matters little south of the 49th parallel.
By its leadership’s actions, Trump’s America apparently views Canada as little more than a country bumpkin in the attic – a vast natural resources bank to be exploited for minimal investment. So that cold shower courtesy of the Trump administration should provide Canada with a wake-up call about trade and business realities in the 21st century.
It’s long past time for Canadian companies to look beyond America and to build on the growing demand for Canada’s brand of quality and integrity, which is highly regard elsewhere in the world.
Recent agreements similar to the one that has opened the door to the lucrative Japanese market to Canadian cherries [“Japan deal sweetens export prospects for B.C. cherry growers” – BIV issue 1505; September 4-10] illustrate that there is far more than America in Canada’s future. Now is the time for businesses in this country to embrace that reality, to become more self-reliant and aggressive in global trade pursuits and to grow and prosper as a result.
Being next to a world power and major economic player has many upsides, but being next to that power and being singularly dependent upon it is not good for building enterprise or a resilient national identity.
