Canada's Trudeau rips Trump over tariffs as G-7 meeting fails to calm tensions

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post




By Damian Paletta and Anne Gearan
June 9 at 5:10 PM

-snip-

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sharply criticized Trump’s tariffs and promised Canada would answer with its own on July 1 unless the United States reversed course.

“I highlighted directly to the president that Canadians did not take it lightly that the United States has moved forward with significant tariffs on our steel and aluminum industry,” he said at a conference at the meeting’s end. “Particularly, [they] did not take lightly that it’s for a national security reason that for Canadians … who stood shoulder to shoulder with American soldiers in far off lands in conflicts from the first World War onwards, it’s kind of insulting.”

“Canadians, we’re polite, we’re reasonable, but we also will not be pushed around,” Trudeau said.

The U.S. leader described the meetings with his counterparts as cordial, and he repeatedly blamed past U.S. leaders for what he views as a trade imbalance. He also said other nations had taken advantage of decades of U.S. complacency in regard to trade, something that he planned to end.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trump-floats-end-to-all-tariffs-threatens-major-penalties-for-countries-that-dont-agree/2018/06/09/a06350be-6bf1-11e8-bea7-c8eb28bc52b1_story.html

[sakabatou]

1. Trump keeps shitting on our allies

While kissing Putin's ass.

[roamer65]

2. Just wait until AMLO is elected Mexican President.

The real fun is gonna start with Mexico. One more month to go.

[lunatica]

7. Do tell! I have no idea about elections in Mexico

[roamer65]

8. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Leftist candidate who was Mayor of Mexico City. The rhetoric will definitely slant anti-Gringo. He will make overtures to the Mexican diaspora in the US, as he has already done.

I am looking forward to a President Obrador.

[lunatica]

9. Didn't he run last time too?

I remember something about the Mayor of Mexico City.

[Zorro]

10. He should demand Texas be returned to Mexico

Illegal immigrants from the USA into Texas precipitated the creation of the Lone Star State, after all.

[rurallib]

12. That's July 1 also isn't it? Could be a bad day for the wannabe US dictator.

[winstars]

3. Oh snap! We are gonna need another "great big beautiful wall" up north...

[Judi Lynn]

4. Canada is going to pay for that one, just as Mexico has to pay for the southern one.

Too much more Trump and both countries are probably going to insist on building walls on both sides.

[Jerry Can]

14. That northern wall is going to take a few years.

Something about the state of the technology for floating walls. But don't repine, Canadians are pragmatists. Easier than floating walls in the Great Lakes would be a nice sturdy set of walls isolating Trump; one with bars on the windows. And Canada will probably agree to build that wall for you, with unyielding Canadian steel.

[FloridaBlues]

5. Thanks for posting, good article.

What a rude ass trump is coming in late to the morning meeting and interrupting this event.
Don't know about you but I am getting nervous about our economy under this idiot.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. " .. trade, something that he planned to end."

Read these things literally. Trump plans to end trade. He's off to a good start!

[rurallib]

11. Happy Canada Day July 1.

That would be a good day for such a move.

[amcgrath]

13. Showing up late,

- leaving early. Actions to demonstrate to his base that he he is somehow above other world leaders. Very soon the US is going to be reminded that they account for 4.4% of the worlds population.

Other countries are already arranging other deals, preparing to deal without the USA, which as well as becoming a bad trading partner, is increasingly becoming a bad place to invest. The whims and edicts of your presidential clown are damaging US businesses as much as they are other countries.

There are some who might point to term limits - or theoretical impeachment and removal from office, but I think we are passed the tipping point. The Republicans have shown no interest in Constitutional Law or international treaties. They have ignored, or benefitted from racism, they have sold their governance to groups like the NRA or the evangelists as a way of getting votes.

The damage being done will not end when Trump goes, it will take decades to repair the damage done - if it ever can be, America looks to be destroying itself as other countries and regions are in the ascendant. If the Republicans are not ousted in the midterms and order restored, you can add decades to the chance of any recovery

[nitpicker]

15. More from DW

http://www.dw.com/en/g7-summit-fails-to-calm-trade-tensions-as-trump-refuses-to-endorse-joint-statement/a-44144196

G7 summit fails to calm trade tensions as Trump refuses to endorse joint statement

(snip)
While the final communique, apparently with just the G6 signing on, committed that Iran will "never seek, develop or acquire a nuclear weapon," there appeared to be little to close the gap between the US and its allies on contentious issues surrounding trade and investment with Iran.

The Trump administration withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in May and is set to impose sanctions that have left European leaders scrambling to protect their businesses and save the accord.

On climate change, the G7 failed to find consensus after the United States withdrew from the Paris climate accord last year. The G7 minus the United States agreed to cooperate on climate change.

The United States was also the only outlier on the issue of protecting the environment. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the United States was the only G7 member that refused to commit to eliminating plastic waste, which has been devastating the world's oceans.
(snip)