We celebrate July 1st in recognition of the 150 years since the formation of the country called Canada. The U.S. of course celebrates July 4th in recognition of its independence day. The two countries have a lot in common, including the longest unguarded border in the world. We fought two World Wars and the Korean War together. Canadian troops served in Afghanistan. Canada and the U.S. formed the continental defence body called the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). We share a common language “English”, although Canada also has “French” as a second official language. Many Americans and Canadians work and play in each other’s countries. Canada is America’s single largest trade partner and have a free trade arrangement in place, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
However, since the emergence of President Donald Trump’s administration, the relationship between our two countries has seriously deteriorated to having now become the worst in decades. The relationship has not only soured because of the current re-negotiations respecting NAFTA and recent U.S. tariffs placed on Canadian steel and aluminum products, but because of Trump’s continuing personal attacks on Canadians, including our Prime Minister. These and other attacks on our European and Latin American allies have further aggravated world tensions, both economic and political. Trump’s protectionist and ‘America First’ policies may play well among his base in the U.S., but it is unravelling decades of international cooperation.
There are no winners in this current atmosphere of constant turmoil and instability, much of which is reflected in the stock markets in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Europe and China. Should the trade war continue, many experts predict that the world could be in for another major global recession. Here in Canada, businesses, workers and consumers are preparing for the worst. As Canada now has an integrated economy with the U.S., industries like the automotive sector will suffer on both sides of the border in the advent of the imposition of further tariffs. Canadians perceive the imposition of American tariffs as a deliberate attack on the Canadian economy and have responded accordingly with new tariffs on a wide range of American products. Indeed, there are now national ‘Buy Canadian’ campaigns aimed at promoting Canadian brands over American brands. Numerous Canadians have already decided not to vacation south of the border, and mutual tourism will suffer.
Jobs will be lost on both sides of the border, but I’m certain that the economic impact will be worst for Canada as a trading nation. The results will be an increase in Canadian opposition to the Trump regime and a growing frustration with its unfair policies. After all, Americans are supposed to be our friends and a good neighbour. We have never taken this for granted. However, Canadians are a proud people and will resist any such bullying tactics by external sources, no matter how difficult conditions may become. The question then becomes how long these conditions will continue and how long it will take to mend fences in the future? Your guess is as good as mine. In the meantime, as Canadians we will stand on guard for thee. Happy Canada Day! Oh yeah, and hopefully a happy Fourth of July!
FROLITICKS 
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