By Jamie Barrie A s the days pass, the likelihood of Canada joining the US andMexico in a new version of theNorthAmerican Free Trade Agreement looks unlikely. Canada has made specific terms which are required for their support of a deal, and the U.S. has responded by threatening trade sanctions if a deal is not reached by the end of September. Anyone close to this potential disaster are dumbfounded at how it ended up being Canada as the odd one out. No one would have suggested a deal between the US and Mexico would ever have been realized as fast as it has. President Trump’s insistence on the deportation of undocument- ed Mexicans and the erection of a massive wall between the two countries are hardly the landmarks of long-lasting friendships or a willingness to work together. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, who has the most to lose with threatened auto tariffs, seems to think the lack-luster performance of his Canadian Foreign Minister, Chrystia Freeland is fine. The newly elected Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford and top officials from Canada’s largest trade union UNIFOR trav- elled to Washington to try and understand why so little progress has been made with a new agreement. As neither the Premier or UNIFOR feels the job being done is suitable.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018
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