Seven Experts on How Canada Survives Trump’s Trade War | The Walrus

Carney's ace in the hole - the mid-terms in three months. It is very likely that if a trade deal is not signed soon, the Republicans will lose both the House and the Senate, and not just by a little. The myth that the tariffs will be 'crushing' to Canada just does not hold water. Tariffs on only $50 billion (both ways) out of total trade of $900 billion is certainly not going to break Canada, bit losing the Senate and House will devastate the Republicans.

Carlo Dade

None of this is new. Yet Canada, writ large, walked into the stadium without studying the game film of the opponent. Had we done so, little of what just transpired would have come as the surprise it apparently is. We would have known that the Americans would slip in an amped-up no-trade-with-China poison pill. We would have been prepared for it to arrive at the last minute, and we’d be working on contingency plans. Businesses could have readied (stockpiling goods, for instance). The media would have known, and they’d be hyperventilating less. Instead of a shock, it would have been a known worst case. We wouldn’t feel singled out. Our reaction would be calmer—we got punched when we weren’t expecting it, and we’re upset.

Either "writ large" is doing a lot of work there, or that's just unfair. Anybody both not MAGA and following events was expecting this. Our negotiators definitely included.

The bit later on about communicating with the public suggests he did mean everyone else. To that, a whole lot has been written and said already about why it everything had to be secretive. Trump didn't make a deal, but he wouldn't even have gotten close if we'd been calling him out the whole time, and then you'd have the Conservatives saying Carney didn't even try.

The nationalist, hit-back response—“we’re at war”—is based on emotion, not reason, and that plays into the Americans’ hand.

The only examples I can't think of, where a nation at war downplays it, is where the war is a war of aggression they started. Spreadsheets and pie charts just don't stir up the same will to sacrifice and defend.

At the other extreme, Vass Bednar is totally speaking our language:

What’s been missing, so far, is a strategy for technology and digital goods.

from super easy to controversial:

EASY

100%-5000% escallating every time fuck face opens its fuck hole, tariffs on NET auto (and any other) sector trade balance. This means that a US firm importing auto (and other applicable sector(s)) parts gets a credit that they can transfer to any other US firm making auto parts, and the tariff level is only on the net trading balance.

Export tariffs on energy and any other vital US need. This makes money for Canada instead of costing Canadians.

tariffs/lawsuits/DST on US megatech services. FB just paid a bunch of US states for minor abuse.

CANCEL right fucking now all US defense purchases especially F35. F35s are pure shit. US must be made to beg for a deal that includes restoring commitments. Response that a fucking dime will be spent on US weapons is unacceptable gaslighting of Canadians.

Open invitation for US states to join as full provinces.

MEDIUM

Ban Maga-Larry Elison's version of TikTok for ByteDance's international version.

Only Huawei AI datacenters should be allowed. These provide close to 50% cost/performance benefit (ie cost half as much) and AI services can be exported to US to bankrupt their AI bubble. Restore general Huawei market access as preferred (cheapest/best) supply option.

Directly threated US exporters/tech to do what is needed to keep Canadian market access. Auto sector has received absurd subsidies they haven't performed on. Nationalization through lawsuits designed to collect refunds for those subsidies is part of the threat matrix. With China's help for Canadian benefit not more tax subsidies, figure out how to provide value products to Canadians from those factories. Negotiations with US oligarchy is only reliable counterparty, but fucking them over with an alternative, is how you negotiate.

Nazi/Zionazi empire and associated nazi economic theory (oligarchist corporatist supremacism promissing trickle down if you give them all your money) must be strongly criticized, if just for US midterms value, instead of our establishment/pig fucker rulers clinging to hope of returning to polite nazi colony status.

UBI is key to huge economic growth/investment in Canada, abandoning nazi economics. Removing foreign worker ban is key to reducing inflation, while keeping housing sector stable/increasing.

HARDER

US only exists because of Canada's assistance with NORAD, and golden dome BS. Military cooperation with enemy is a disgrace, and not charging the US for NORAD services is us protecting them for free. This is only in the hard column for actually doing it. It is extremely easy to blah blah review committee to study doing it and disengaging with continued US military support.

Better diplomatic relations with every US adversary/enemy. North Korea can assist in a nuclear deterence plan against more US bs. DPRK balance can assist in ROK auto industry investments in Canada.

BRICS missile/drone tech can collapse US industry, and collapse US economically.

Abandoning support for Ukrainian nazis in favour of closer Russia ties. There is an affordability issue to supporting Ukrainians instead of Canadians, but it is a nazi colony issue to just keep every US enemy as our own.

International pressure to remove US from UN and NATO. Coordination for the purpose of collapsing the US government/economy, fleeing its debt and capital markets. The condemnation of nazi/zionaziism should be followed by economic consequences for midterms defined as defending nazi supremacism.

The core problem with Canadian response to first round of tariffs was to just gaslight inaction and wait around for more BS.