The air crackles thick as Trump, with his tariff threat, tries to create fear through terror with Canada and Mexico. The pregnant question is, “How will Canada respond?” So far, Canada's response has not been good compared to the strong counterattack by the Mexican president.
Trudeau has acted like a frightened chihuahua facing a Rottweiler named Donald Trump. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was doing what? Having a "nice conversation" with Trump.
Forget the polite press releases and carefully crafted statements. This isn’t a diplomatic chess match; it is a demolition derby with Trudeau at the wheel of a small car. The text I've reviewed paints a messy, chaotic, and frankly terrifying picture of Canada’s response, or lack thereof, to Trump’s economic slingshot.
Niceties are not going to cut it. The soft approach, the "please be nice" strategy – will be as effective as a screen door on a submarine. While Trudeau and his team were busy exchanging pleasantries with Trump’s team (a ten-minute call, mostly small talk, according to sources – really?), Mexico was already gearing up for a trade war.
President Claudia Sheinbaum, a woman who understands that you don't negotiate with bullies, was drafting a letter – a letter promising retaliatory tariffs that would hit American car manufacturers hard. General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford – the heavy hitters of the auto industry, all with deep roots in Mexico – were suddenly in her crosshairs.
The contrast couldn’t have been starker. Mexico, the underdog, is ready to rumble. Canada, meanwhile, is stuck in a bizarre, polite limbo, hoping niceties will somehow disarm the bully, the president-elect.
Deputy Prime Minister Freeland is out there spouting platitudes about mutually beneficial relationships. "We need them, and they need us," she declared, a statement so profoundly obvious and utterly useless that it practically screams, "We have no plan."
Months before the crisis hit, the Canadian government was supposedly "braced" for a Trump administration, anticipating the potential trade war. But braced how? By having a "nice conversation?" By crafting press releases that read like soothing bedtime stories? The evidence suggests the preparation was about as effective as a chocolate teapot.
The frantic search for a plan after the initial niceties with Trump was as thrilling to watch as paint drying. Although a senior official described the call to Trump’s team as non-confrontational and filled with niceties, it ultimately ended without any movement from Trump’s side. The soft approach failed, and the niceties didn't work.
Is Trudeau’s team in denial, clinging to the hope that Trump’s threats are merely posturing? This obliviousness, amidst the clear and present danger, is startling. The timeline highlights that this wasn’t a sudden crisis. Trudeau’s team has had months to prepare but has come out of the gate too little too late.
While Trudeau’s team was “conversing politely,” the opposition parties were screaming for action. Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democrats, was particularly vocal, highlighting the government's weak response and calling for a more robust and decisive approach. His criticism highlights the glaring disconnect between Trudeau’s strategy and the sense of urgency this brings to Canadians.
We need a rallying cry. Trudeau must abandon his “nice guy” persona and embrace the fight. It is time to stand up and fight" – a jarring contrast to the government’s measured pronouncements. The comparison to Mexico, where the president is actively preparing for a fight, effectively highlights the difference in approach and the possible consequences.
The president of Mexico is beating Trudeau in the boxing ring. It is time for Trudeau to stand up and fight.
Best wishes ...
コメント