Canada urged to walk away from NAFTA talks over US steel tariffs

[DonViejo]

Source: Agence France-Presse




3 MAR 2018

The largest private sector union in Canada on Friday called on this country to walk away from continental trade talks in protest if Washington slaps tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

At the same time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that the proposed US levies would cause significant pain on both sides of the border.

"If Canada fails to obtain an exemption from unjust and punitive tariffs on steel and aluminum exports to the US, then the Canadian government has no choice but to withdraw from NAFTA renegotiations," Unifor said in a statement. The union represents tens of thousands of workers in the automotive manufacturing, steel and aluminum sectors across Canada.

"It's clear the US is using tariffs as a trade weapon," said Unifor's Renaud Gagne. "It's no accident that these duties were announced while NAFTA talks are underway.

Read more: https://www.afp.com/en/news/23/canada-urged-walk-away-nafta-talks-over-us-steel-tariffs-doc-11p12z2

[Roy Rolling]

1. Reneging

That's what it's called. Trump is unilaterally backing out of a contract. Any agreement with him is not worth the paper it is written on. He enforces what is beneficial to him and ignores and rejects what obligations make him have to contribute.

Speaking of which, you didn't hear him calling for tariffs when he ignored U.S. steel makers to buy Chinese steel to construct his buildings. Cheap foreign steel was just fine with him then.

[knightmaar]

2. "It's no accident that these duties were announced while NAFTA talks are underway."

I'm pretty sure it was an accident.

I have a hard time believing he plans anything out.

[Lobo27]

3. So at some point....

Mexico and Canada are going to decide to trade with someone else. And I'm certain that will not be pretty....

[pazzyanne]

4. This type of tactic may explain

tRumps many bankruptcies. If you lay down ultimatums instead of entering mutual negotiations, you are not going to get positive results. Its astonishing that a 71 year old businessman who, by his own admission, "makes great deals" doesn't understand this simple negotiating principle.

[Dawson Leery]

5. Treasonous Trump is doing Putin's work.