Its nice to see some backbone, but the challenge for Canada is that it’s broadly in a weak negotiating position here. Generally speaking Canadian companies need access to the US market a lot more than US companies need access to the Canadian market.

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ricardobeat 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

One would think so, but is that really true? Some numbers I just got:

- the US imports 60-70% of its oil from Canada

- 100% of the natural gas

- 85% of energy imports

- 25% of Uranium

- 20% of all mineral imports, ahead of China

- the Great Lakes hold >80% of the USA's fresh water

- patrolling the almost 9000km border is mostly up to Canada

Despite the size disparities, they run close to a trade equilibrium: US exports $420B, imports $450B. There is a lot on the line for the US.

	▲	doodlebugging 3 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		>- the US imports 60-70% of its oil from Canada In context, this only applies to oil that the US imports. That number means that of the oil that the US imports, 60-70% of it comes from Canada. The US currently produces more oil than any other nation. Your note should read "the US imports 60-70% of the oil that it imports from Canada" - 100% of the natural gas As mentioned above, this means that US imports of natural gas come exclusively from Canada. The US currently produces more natural gas than any other nation too. Your note should read "100% of the natural gas that the US imports comes from Canada" It makes sense that Canada is sole source for imported natural gas since that is a product that is most efficiently transported in pipelines, like crude oil. The way your numbers are framed seems to me to imply that the US is a net importer of oil and natural gas when in fact we began to ramp up exports of oil and natural gas (and coal) in 2006-2008 time period. Those exports helped the industry remain a dominant political force and provided a lot of seed money for the corruption that we have seen in the US since.
	▲	Waterluvian 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		And Canada has also been passing up an absolutely enormous opportunity for industrial growth by spending generations supporting American industry by remaining a primary resources economy.

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softwaredoug 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

This is true somewhat, but keep in mind the 50% tariffs aren’t on all goods. They’re on like 5% of exports.

Plus when one side is an unreliable negotiator (the US) there’s not much rational behind continuing.

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dennis_jeeves2 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

>Canada is that it’s broadly in a weak negotiating position here.

That's an understatement. Hypothetically if Canada were isolated from the world, it would regress in the quality of life in 10 years. The most capable Canadians have moved out, mostly to the US. The average Canadian has unwarranted sense of nationalistic pride about them (compared to their neighbors).

Isolate US from the world, and assuming that the govt does not meddle too much with local businesses, in 10 years they will bounce back to being more self sufficient than it is now.

	▲	poncho_romero 4 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		This is a useless hypothetical. Almost every country would regress in quality of life if it were suddenly cut off from the global economy. The options aren’t a bad deal from the US or complete isolation. Canada is making deals with reliable partners abroad.
	▲	THX1137 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		By definition if you isolate a country from the world it would be more self sufficient that very moment than it is the moment before it is isolated. Isn't that obvious?
	▲	testing22321 14 minutes ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		> The average Canadian has unwarranted sense of nationalistic pride about them (compared to their neighbors). If you think Canadians have more nationalistic pride than Americans, you seriously need to get glasses. Americans literally pledge themselves to their country every day of school.