Our posture all but guarantees retaliation from the U.S. administration

Our fight, it is no exaggeration to say, is the civilized world’s fight. It is a fight for reason and comity in the affairs of nations, against an administration whose worldview, and behaviour, is increasingly that of an aggressive dictatorship, in all its crudeness and its thuggery.

Mr. Trump, as the Prime Minister has said, aims to “break us,” a phrase with historic echoes. He has to now, or others will follow our lead. If he succeeds, then the world will be governed by nothing but force in the end, in trade as in other matters. But if we prevail, then “broad and sunlit uplands” must surely await.

  • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.caEnglish
    31·
    10 hours ago

    Contrast this with how other countries have responded to American threats. Japan, which relies on the U.S. for 3 per cent of its GDP, nevertheless agreed to a 15-per-cent baseline U.S. tariff – down from the 25-per-cent tariff it was facing otherwise – while committing to invest US$550-billion in the U.S., increase purchases of U.S. energy and agricultural products, and provide greater access for American cars.

    The European Union, with an exposure to the U.S. similar to Japan’s and an economy two-thirds the size of the U.S.’s, likewise buckled, making a long list of concessions – no tariffs on U.S. industrial goods, wider access for U.S. agricultural products, and increased purchases of U.S. energy, AI chips, and defence equipment, in addition to US$600-billion in investment – “in return for” agreeing to U.S. tariffs of 15 per cent.

    Been watching in dismay as this unfolded. Blatant betrayal of people’s interests. I expected quite a bit more from the EU especially. I expected more than from our gov given how much more exposed and infiltrated we are.

    • HuudaHarkiten@piefed.socialEnglish
      81·
      6 hours ago

      I would argue that, at the moment, Canada has more space for maneuver than Japan and the EU.

      Japan has its own restrictions and is surrounded by sea on one side, china and russia on the other side with the Koreas in the middle with… complicated relationship.

      The EU is (as much as I love it and hate to say it) a mess, with the economy being what is, the weather messing up harvests and shit, literal war like 7 meters away from the border and the very real threat of the war being 7 meters inside the border in the near future.

      Both EU and Japan have to keep the toddler-in-chief happy, for now. Make no mistake, there is A LOT happening behind the scenes, at least in the EU, don’t know about Japan. But can’t afford to do anything major just now. The things that need to happen first take time to make happen. When they do, EU will have so much more options. And when that time comes, I’m afraid the US will be the ones standing alone, in complete shock, wondering what the hell happened.

      Don’t get me wrong, I’d love for the EU to start swinging right now. But that would have some major consequences, some predictable, some unforeseen.

      • k0e3@lemmy.caEnglish
        7·
        5 hours ago

        Japan is working hard to build more connections with other countries including Canada for trade but it’s really hard for our government to disobey the “master” that is the USA for now. Like you said, our economy is highly dependent on them and so is our national security. As an Okinawan-Canadian, I could never fully trust the USA but the mainlanders just don’t seem to give a shit.

        Their military presence on the island where I live scares the shit out of me. What if Diaper Hitler just suddenly said, “fuck it Okinawa is ours now,” and take over??

        • HuudaHarkiten@piefed.socialEnglish
          5·
          5 hours ago

          Yup. Its not easy to start making radical changes to relationships, when the other guy is sitting on your legs with a rifle.

      • Auli@lemmy.caEnglish
        16·
        6 hours ago

        What bullshit they did nothing and well do nothing. Just like last time Canada took a stand against a country.

    • qyron@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      4·
      7 hours ago

      To paraphrase Clarence Boddicker in Robocop: " Guns, guns, guns!"

      The US has them and the cannon fodder to wield them, while Japan is saddled with a constitution that prevents military ramp-up, while Europe has been sleeping under the umbrella.

      And I am not in favour in any way of nuclear escalation not military arming.

      But these are the most obvious causes one can point at.