Can’t read the article nor I can find an archive link, but all of that is just a show. People underestimate how deeply interconnected the US and Cananda in so many ways, especially the critical infrastructure, decoupling that will need at least 10y of dedicated work, choose any sector, utility grid? Most hardware and software is relying on US based products, US can literally turn off the grid in minutes if anything got serious, same goes with other sectors, and no, boycotting US alcohol isn’t one if them. Sure, using that membership as a pressure tactic and all is worth the try, but realistically, the impact is not high.

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fyredge a day ago | parent | next [-]

Even more reason to show that Canada is making a strategic decision. Both of them are so coupled to each other that they can't afford to hurt the other without hurting themselves. But now that the US has shown it's willingness for self harm, Canada is making a strategic decision to safeguard their survival.

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snek_case a day ago | parent | next [-]

Agreeing with you. Trump's attitude on the global stage has been to disrespect, insult and threaten every ally. Come at everyone with a "we're better than you" attitude and show that he can't be trusted. The only rational response is to take steps to be more independent and find ways to work around the US. What's the alternative? Give in to a narcissistic bully who won't keep his word and will inevitably come asking for more later?

In the medium to long term, Trump is very old, his approval ratings are in the toilet. I hope that the democrats do well in the midterms and put up a viable candidate to beat him next election (if he's still alive). I also hope that the republicans manage to put up someone smarter and less morally reprehensible next time. Because I mean, this guy doesn't actually represent any kind of conservative ideal in any way. The only people he appeals to are those one or two standard deviations on the left of the bell curve.

If the next US president is halfway sane, Canada and the US will likely begin to repair trade relationships, but I think that Canada and the rest of the world will be a bit more careful next time. The US may never regain the international standing they enjoyed before. Trump has made China look like the more stable and rational trading partner, and accelerated the decline of the US.

	▲	justinclift 14 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> The US may never regain the international standing they enjoyed before. The US has been in decline for decades. Trump is just the latest leader while it's happening, and seems to be accelerating the process. Like you say, I can't really see it ever regaining the (positive?) "international standing" it used to have, even after new leadership is in place.

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tamimio 20 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> making a strategic decision.

That would be correct if it is within Canada, not jumping on another entity like Europe or China to substitute. Canada is decades behind when it comes to manufacturing or development of hardware or software, Canada economy is based on services, realesate, and a bit of resources export. Canada economy is a repellent to startups, and if any local startup manages to get slightly bigger, they move to the states to sustain and grow or they will declare bankruptcy within the first 5 years.

	▲	fyredge 19 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I don't follow, what would the strategy be? Canada can change it's internal policy, but still relies on free trade with the US. Until then, what they need is partnership with other countries to offload potential instabilities that will be caused by the US during its tantrum. I don't foresee Canada completely removing trade with US anyways, more of a hedging move to reach out and diversify trade.

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beloch a day ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The dependency goes both ways. We could cut off potash and they'd starve. We could cut off the oil and electricity. We could cut off steel and aluminum. The response would not be pleasant, but neither can they afford to risk our response. As dire as the trade-war seems, it doesn't affect even 5% of cross-border trade. No matter what Trump claims about "not needing" anything Canada has, we are dependent on each other.

Broadening our trade is similar to building a new oil pipeline. Nobody is sure a new pipeline will ever pay for itself, but one we started a decade ago would be making us a fortune right now. Trade diversification won't help us much in the current trade war, but it could help us out considerably in the next one.

Trump is a symptom, not the root cause. He may die of old age soon and MAGA may go dormant for a few years if the midterms and/or 2028 election beat them down sufficiently, but they'll be back eventually with some other clown at the helm. Americans voted Trump in twice. They'll vote clown again, and having options will help Canada when that happens. American checks and balances no longer work. If we'd known this was going to happen ten years ago we'd be in a better position today. Now we know it's likely to happen again in another ten or twenty years, so we'd be fools not to prepare.

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tim333 a day ago | parent [-]

Trump, or Krasnov is a bit of an aberration. Once he goes I don't think we'll see his like for a while.

	▲	AnimalMuppet a day ago \| parent [-]
		The most similar antecedent I can think of is Huey Long. That was 90 years ago. Whatever it is that Trump has, people that have that seem to be fairly rare.

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wasfgwp a day ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Well they can be betting that Republicans will lose in a couple of months and the congress will have the guts to stop him from constantly imposing entirely illegal tariffs on random countries for no reason.

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tim333 a day ago | parent | prev [-]

Re reading the article, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bypass_Paywalls_Clean works