Explanation
The United States is increasingly taking a tougher stance towards China and has made it clear that it cannot continue to take positive action. And while this could encourage other Western countries and allies to adopt a similar approach, the US could do more to keep its allies and not be at risk of floating into China’s embrace.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) frequently threatens trade sanctions, adopting harmless tones against both the US and Canada, and simultaneously seeking improvements in relations. It appears Beijing clearly thinks this carrot and stick approach works. But President Donald Trump is made with something stronger. Washington was able to achieve a great victory with minimal effort by relaxing Canada’s planned tariffs and countering China’s tariffs.
Canadians naturally prefer fellow democracy over Beijing’s regime. And now Canada deserves American putts. Canada has just signed a tough Chinese resolution negotiated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and agreed by all G7 foreign ministers. As this shows, it’s easy to keep Ottawa and Onside happy if America deteriorates by worsening our relationship with us and being a little more friendly.
Canadian farmers will appreciate it being helpful in combating China’s planned tariffs on canola oil, oil cakes, peas, pork and aquatic products, for example. Customs duties are scheduled to begin on March 20th. Meanwhile, the US is threatening a 25% tariff on most Canadian goods scheduled to begin on April 2nd. From an ideological and geographical perspective, it would be better not to impose such tariffs on close allies. The proximity of both countries negates the need for tariffs based on national security and economic needs.
Like the US, Canada is in the early stages of a trade war with China after Beijing retaliated against Canadian tariffs on China’s electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. These tariffs are consistent with US tariffs on the same items from China, and will help to stop China’s Canada’s use as a shipping point to avoid US tariffs. Washington is now good to return that favor.
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In addition to cancelling some or all of the planned tariffs in Canada, the US could lead the global easing of tariffs on Canadian products that China has placed tariffs on. Instead of flowing to China, Canadian customs goods flow to the US and our allies more easily. Washington was able to lobby our allies to fully purchase Canadian tariffs to compensate for the losses Canada suffered due to China’s tariffs. This is generally a good strategy. When China punishes one alliance with trade sanctions or tariffs, all allies can unite their taste by purchasing the affected goods. This would eliminate many, if not all, of China, which enforces US allies through trade threats.
Such a tactical approach will help better coordinate US-Canada tariffs on China, halt further deterioration in Washington-Ottawa relations, protect US-Canada relations against future potential changes in alignment with China, and publicly broadcast the importance of the ties of both countries following recent intra-Allunce tensions. It’s a great way to demonstrate that North American All-Star teams can “sleep their elbows” against the CCP and are more unified than we sometimes see. Families can be fiery, but our alliances between the US and Canada have always been united when threatened from overseas.
It is expected that Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, will take a principled stance against China. In the past, he handled the Beijing government through the companies he worked for. His response to a February cyberattack in the liberal leadership race has omitted sufficient mention of China despite substantial evidence of its involvement.
Kearney criticizes Washington and calls for diversification away from the United States in terms of security and trade. For example, he reviews the Canadian F-35 purchase. However, other US allies are doing the same given the recent suspension of radar jamming support for Ukraine’s F-16. It is reasonable for Ottawa to seek guarantees from the US that the same thing won’t happen to the F-35. It also makes sense for Canadians to reject Canada’s talk as the “51st state” of the United States. Pushing up our friendship in a way that doesn’t welcome our friendship in Canada is a backfire as expected. The same can be said for the Greenland theme.
Instead of drifting further apart, now is the perfect time for Canada and retired provinces to show North American unification to CCP. At the very least, a US exemption from products that China carries tariffs would help. Washington could also use its influence to encourage allies to purchase Canadian goods with tariffs. Our allies will be happy to be surprised that we are looking for friends in the North.
The US-Canada alliance is important and tested for US national security. North America becomes stronger when it unites as an ally to jointly defend the Pacific Ocean from China and protect the Arctic from Russia. In fact, we are already there. More politeness and understanding on our part will generate great goodwill from all our allies, especially Canada.
America’s great and long-term alliance with Canada is worth helping in times of need. Showing some flexibility in customs duties is the easiest way.
The views expressed in this article are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the epoch era.
