It is not surprising and not altogether wrong for us to focus solely on what Trump's America is doing to Canada. With his unjustified and treaty-breaking, open-ended threats to impose 25% or higher tariffs on Canadian goods, Trump has in effect declared economic war. He apparently would gladly take us over, but is quite prepared to destroy our economy if he can't.
Some of the more extreme among us would say we are the Ukraine of North America. Just as Putin sees only an obedient, Russified Ukraine or a physically destroyed country, Trump would seem to see only an obedient, Americanized Canada or an economically crushed territory.
However, as tempting as it is to go down that quite reasonable, albeit self-pitying road, I believe that would be a major mistake. Of course we must prepare for the economic warfare Trump has brought on us, both with our short term lobbying to delay and ideally eliminate the threat of tariffs (the threat itself seriously damaging to the economy) and with our longer term efforts to reduce our dependence on the US market. But we must also prepare for what could be the greater calamity -- the end of the United States as a stable, reasonable country and leader in western and world affairs.
Trump isn't just declaring war on Canada and Mexico. He is declaring war on reason and fact-based policy; on human rights; on the environment; on justice and impartial application of the law; on critical international institutions, agreements and respect for territorial integrity. Fundamentally more important for Canada and the world than the war Trump has declared on us; Trump has declared war on the United States itself and the many positive contributions the US has made in leading the western world. The United States has never been perfect -- far from it. But it has been an important model and leader in many respects, arguably moreso than any other country over the last one hundred years.
The question for Canada is not just how do we protect ourselves but what do we do to develop new alliances and new leaders to champion the values, institutions and international understandings that are essential for the world to cooperate on the fundamental problems we collectively face -- climate change and protection of the environment; control of weapons of mass destruction; eradication of extreme poverty; identification and protection from virulent disease; respect for territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of disputes. It may be that Trump and his supporters recoil at 'globalist' concerns and actions, but the fact is we are one world; we have shared challenges and opportunities and they are growing in importance every day.
Canada is a small country but we are not alone. There are many countries in this world that share our basic values and concerns. We need to reach out to them -- not so much to help us with our 'war' with the US, but rather to address and respond to the war Trump has unleashed on the values his own country once stood for,
This is an important observation that I fully share. I empathize strongly with Canada but living in Europe know full well that we are next. We should not turn on the US because there are many in the US that feel the same as us. We need to come together to Save America From Trump (all of America and the rest of the world). I also think it is important not to focus too much on personalities but also look at structural factors. What are the more secular changes that we need to be aware of and that we need to factor in here? This has a lot to do with how we direct our efforts. But direct our efforts we must, but let us not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Trump's ravages are an attack on modernity, nothing less.
ReplyDeleteI get the impression that you sit much further from the fire than those of us inhabiting the "largest undefended border in the world". Have you not noticed that since Trump became President, America is being ruled by executive decree. Trump has chosen to ignore the constitution by exercising powers he does not have, appointing an executive that is not competent and canceling institutions and laws that are the purview of Congress. Who will oppose him? He "owns" the Supreme Court and has a majority in both Houses of Congress. The next opportunity to put him in check will be the mid term elections in two years. However, at the mid terms the American public may be too enraptured by the successes and strength of their new Emperor. Then what? Who will bell the cat? Who in Europe will stand up for "modernity"; Mr. Macron, Mr. Scholz, Mr. Starmer! Meanwhile, Putin and Xi will be cheering from the sidelines. Structural factors! What are you talking about.
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