This U.S. regime is not a big fan of Canada. There have now been 2 brief visits to Ottawa, so brief that they woke up and slept in the United States.
The Mike Pence visit was not as shaky as the John Kelly appearance in 2017 but that was very low bar.
The exchange between Pence and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was full of symbolic words that 1) didn't mean a whole lot and 2) weren't really true. We know politicians lie a lot but this was a distinct kind of dance.
Pence said "the relationship between the United States and Canada has never been stronger." This ignores the vast majority of the U.S.-Canada relationship since 1867. Better than during the War of 1812, but far worse than say Trudeau and then U.S. President Barack Obama.
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Pence spoke of a "hard bargain" that Trudeau drove on the trade deal and of a "win-win-win." The Canadians did negotiate as well as they could with the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads. This deal is not a win for Canada.
Trudeau told the Democratic representatives in the U.S. House to go ahead and pass the deal. Trudeau and the Canadians can't want that. The Dems are the last bastion of hope to sink the trade deal.
Trudeau also said the words of the name of the deal where Canada goes last, a concern in Canada however symbolic.
"If he (Pence) just gets up and starts talking about trade … then I don’t think he's addressing the elephant in the room," Bruce Heyman, former U.S. ambassador to Canada, said. "Somebody within the administration has to recognize the damage they've done."
Outside the trade deal, Trudeau spoke of concern with having the U.S. help free Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who was essentially kidnapped by China in retaliation for the arrest of Meng Wanzhou. Despite Pence saying "we're going to continue to urge China to release the Canadian citizens" — words that are pretty meaningless — proof of a sincere effort doesn't exist.
Trudeau also brought up concerns for strict anti-abortion laws in U.S. states. Despite Trudeau's concerns, Pence will have forgotten those words before the plane landed back in Washington.
The two also spoke of the concerns in Venezuela.
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Canada still has the threat of the return to steel and aluminum tariffs, the current tariff on softwood lumber, and the looming threat of tariffs on uranium. The automobile tariff threat still hangs over Canada. The U.S. hasn't stood up to China for its retaliation against Canada. This is why Canada played nice for the Mike Pence visit.
Pence's boss tweeted that the U.S. will impose a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports as of June 10. The threat increases to as much as 25% by October 1. There is a school of thought that he doesn't have the power to unilaterally introduce tariffs but no one seems to stop him. There is a reason why Canada should be scared.
Canada will take small steps to look like they are passing the trade deal. The fall election will likely come and go before that makes progress in the legislative realm.
Pence has made a push for the summer. The Washington Post reported that the White House has plans to trigger a process to allow the trade deal to go to Congress within 30 days. Congress won't be in session to even try and deal with this until the fall.
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Betsy DeVos was vilified for even thinking about coming to Canada. John Kelly spread lies and commotion in only a few hours on Canadian soil, such as "dozens and dozens and dozens of ongoing plots to get to the United States or blow up airplanes” by terrorists.
Pence said little beyond his standard lies. The Trudeau Government told their own lies back at him. That may sound like an improvement but you would be hard-pressed to convince Canadians that is true.
photo credit: CBC News