UtakataNoAnnex
Senior Member
When you have a fascist narcissist ruling by edict on trade, this is bound to happen... /bleh
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Premier Doug Ford's Ontario
- Thread starter animatronic
- Start date
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Ontario suspends 25 per cent export tax on electricity sent to U.S.
Ontario has agreed to suspend its 25 per cent surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S., a joint statement from Premier Doug Ford and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick states.
The statement notes that Ford will travel to Washington on Thursday to meet with Lutnick and discuss “a renewed USMCA ahead of the April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline.”
The pivot comes after U.S. President Donald Trump said that he would double planned tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50 per cent in retaliation for Ontario’s energy export tax.
Ontario suspends 25 per cent export tax on electricity sent to U.S.
Ontario has agreed to suspend its 25 per cent surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S., a joint statement from Premier Doug Ford and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick states.www.ctvnews.ca
Weak. Just what did he achieve?
AoD
Mihairokov
Active Member
Ford is travelling to Washington with LeBlanc, so presumably they've been guaranteed something like a rewriting of USMCA.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
A guarantee from Trump's US? For a treaty that he himself had signed? Fooled me once...
AoD
Mihairokov
Active Member
Not arguing for or against it, just explaining the rationale.
evandyk
Senior Member
And I think Alvin was explaining that the rationale makes no sense.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
It's worse than making no sense - it is an invitation to being blackmailed - because it confirms that the modus operandi worked.
AoD
Mihairokov
Active Member
I think it does if you enter into these sorts of things in good faith. Under normal circumstances if you're entering into negotiations for an item that item is paused during negotiations, whatever it may be. Obviously the Americans aren't entering in good faith, but our side is. I think it's wrong to outright dismiss this as a bad idea depending on what comes out on the other side. Trump is obviously a lot of things but it seems as if Ford has made enough of an impression on him for Ford to try and make this effort. Ford isn't politically dumb.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
What does good faith from our side even meant? Also at a fundamental level the country shouldn't be dealing with the US on a provincial level, because that invites a divide and conquer strategy. Kabuki aside, I have strong reservations about the loyalty of a number of our provincial premiers - the forementioned included.
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innsertnamehere
Superstar
What's the walk-down strategy then? Just hold the line and continue escalation until Trump backs off entirely? That's not a strategy to minimize damage and not a strategy of de-escalation.
It's better to talk to them. As long as they are talking and it feels like progress is being made, that is what matters. Until Ford grabbed headlines with the electricity issue, Canada appeared to be making 0 inroads with the US. This is the first time the US has even admitted a willingness to renegotiate USCMA.
If Ford and LeBlanc's meeting is proven to be a farce and the Trump Administration is not genuine in their desire to talk - turn the electricity tariffs back on.
I do agree that Ford is not in his lane here - but the Federal government is clearly a lame duck right now and like it or not what Ford has done has gotten inroads with the Trump Administration. He can go down with LeBlanc, let LeBlanc do the real talking. Ford is just the intermediary to get the meeting and actually get the Trump Administration rolling towards a negotiation.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
I am not of the opinion that any talking is necessary (or even meaningful) at this stage of the game. The more you talk, the more you give away. And just what inroads did you make, once you take away the "talk" aspect which you valued but I viewed as dubious? Nothing - when the electricity export surcharge - as a response to the 25% tariff - was literally what triggered the doubling to 50% in the first place. That 25% tariff is still there; that 25% steel and aluminum tariff is still there; and that exclusion for the auto industry is still ending (unless the hurt to the auto companies is large enough to overcome the administration). It's laughable for someone throwing gasoline on a fire to claim that it is important to cool things down (nevermind as a strategy to minimize the damage). What minimizes the damage is predictable but certain action coupled with a resolute, unitary front.
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lenaitch
Senior Member
I have less concern about Ford's loyalty than I do about Smith's. She's complaining about Ford joining 'Team Canada' in Washington while she is in Texas talking to the petroleum industry, then heads up to speak at a far-right fundraiser in Florida.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Oh that is a given. Did you hear her speech on the retaliatory measures? She - and I paraphrase - talked about controlling Alberta's own destiny. Funny thing to say as a sub-national province.
I most certainly hope some are paying close attention.
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