10-02 Not Confusing

The old Chinese expression “A picture is worth a thousand words” applies here. The photo of President Trump showing little interest in what Prime Minister Trudeau is saying at the G-7 conference feeds anti-Americanism in Canada and makes it possible for Canada to stand tough in its negotiations with Mexico and the US for an updated North American Free Trade Agreement. Nothing confusing here.
One of the basic rules associated with negotiating trade agreements is to do nothing that makes it difficult for your trade partner to compromise. President Trump does not understand this reality.
And when President Trump lambastes Canada for protecting its dairy and poultry industries in Canada, he is just showing insensitivity to Canadian political reality with half of Canada’s dairy industry located in Quebec and the Conservative opposition in Parliament campaigning to protect the Quebec dairy industry.
It is difficult dealing with a US president that is uninformed and insensitive. Fortunately, the real US players on trade are the chairmen of key House and Senate Committees. And they are knowledgeable and sensitive to how trade issues impact domestic politics. Nothing confusing here.
I have served on advisory committees serving three Prime Ministers, and at least half of the industry representatives were CEOs of US corporations. They were sensitive to the Canadian marketplace, Canadian language and Canadian culture. Anti-Americanism in Canada, in my opinion, is not linked to American business investments or big-name American brands like Coca Cola or McDonald's.
And something I learned during my active years in quasi-politics is how often political leaders talk to one another when there is a relationship of trust. Firstly, the chiefs of staff speak and clear a time for the leaders to chat, and then decide whether it will be a private chat or a public good news story.
These chats can be weekly in nature and deal with issues of national security, foreign policy or trade. But with growing anti-Americanism linked to the America First policies of President Trump, few of these chats with foreign leaders will be held or be of significance. Trump is turning US partners into US rivals.
A more pressing issue for the US is the decline in foreign students and foreign expertise that nations depend on to build their economies. If there is a growing feeling of anti-Americanism around the world, the big issue will be students who do not want to study in the US and skilled labour that does not want to emigrate to the US. This is where the real implications of anti-Americanism will be felt.
Canada is a massive beneficiary of skilled Americans working in Canada. Let's not drive them out of our country. Instead, let's make Canada a haven for foreign students and skilled foreign workers. Let’s turn feelings of anti-Americanism into feelings of “pro-Canadianism”, something that will result in more east-west economic activity.
Strong, influential political leaders can turn a negative into a positive. Nothing confusing here.