We thought the Three Amigos was on a permanent siesta after the end of 2016. The return is sweet with a giant dose of bitter thanks to the CUSMA | USMCA aka really messed up trade deal.
Energy issues, including the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline; "buy American"; trade disputes; climate crisis; easing border crossings and dealing with COVID-19 — just some of the many issues in the discussion in Washington on Thursday.
The way Mexico went behind Canada's back in the trade negotiations went against the very idea of the Three Amigos so we are a bit surprised they brought back the name. A true spirit would be to renegotiate a trade deal between the three countries that could be signed without feeling like a proverbial gun to someone's head.
The Three Amigos sessions up until 2016 were meaningful to extend discussions behind close doors in smaller sessions. A symbol — si, oui, yes — but an important symbol.
We know about U.S. President Joe Biden and Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been in power since December 1, 2018. This grouping has great potential to improve the relationship between the countries. The power of the Three Amigos could be taking positive steps, such as connecting the countries by train to transport goods.
The challenges are greater with building back economies after COVID-19 and with a faulty trade deal.
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Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau meeting virtually is still important symbolically
One crucial step in the U.S.-Canada relationship is having a permanent U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Former Comcast executive David L. Cohen has been confirmed as U.S. ambassador to Canada. Cohen was approved by unanimous consent in the full Senate.
We sometimes joke about a low bar being sent; we don't have much faith in Cohen but we almost don't care since a reasonably competent human being would be a step up. There is a lot at stake and the ambassador isn't even in place.
Hopefully Cohen will actually end up in Ottawa soon. Joe Biden has been president since January 20.
The interim Chargé d'Affaires have been helpful and productive but the interim label limits their effectiveness.
Person | Start Date | End Date |
Richard M. Mills Jr. | August 23, 2019 | November 9, 2020 |
Katherine Brucker | November 9, 2020 | May 28, 2021 |
Arnold A. Chacón | May 28, 2021 | Incumbent |
Meanwhile, Canada Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman is on TV talking about the future of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline and relations with China.
The delays have Democratic and Republican roots. The idea of installing ambassadors based on how much money they raise is a poor practice. Hillman was on the ambassador team before getting the primary position.
The U.S. is multiple miles and kilometres behind in the process and there are a lot of issues needing resolution.
One perhaps trivial note from the past few years to note: We had mentioned the name Aldona Wos as a potential replacement. Her name was never advanced. Turns out her husband is Louis DeJoy, the person appointed head of the U.S. Postal Service who basically was there to slow down postal service. While Wos is her own person, her association with DeJoy would have tainted her appointment.
Canada secretly passes heavily flawed CUSMA during the COVID-19 corornavirus pandemic
CanadianCrossing.com trade coverage
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The mixing of the North American countries has never been really smooth. NAFTA was designed for employers, not employees in all 3 countries. The trade deal was a way to dump jobs from Canada to the United States to Mexico but not even all throughout Mexico.
The revised trade deal is true in spirit and form due to the imbalance in negotiations. Words that travel through a relationship can be damaging or forgotten, unlike words on a trade deal where signatures don't come from free will. Three Amigos is back as a name but can't be true in deed until the trade relationship is of balance.
photo credit: Government of Canada
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