Politics

[Wheels]

How much fentanyl (the excuse for attacking Canada) do you think enters the US through Canada every year?

Latest figures from the US government: 1/10 of 1%. More fentanyl enters Canada from the US than the other way around. Yet, again we poor Canadians think that a sovereign country protects its own borders. It doesn’t ask other countries to protect them. Again, what percentage of illegal migration enters the US through Canada? Less than 1%. And again, a sovereign country protects its own borders; it doesn’t demand other countries protect them.

Enough of either to constitute a national emergency? Not even a lawyer could make that argument with a straight face.

If you want to see an emergency, try losing 4.3MM barrels of oil a day from your supply. And before you go on to say that Canada couldn’t live without those exports, I’d suggest Canada could live without them for longer than the US could live without the imports. Of course, there’s always Venezuela waiting to supply the California refineries with heavy oil . . .

What’s wrong with working together to find common solutions to common problems? A lot, apparently.

The amount of illegals caught or fentanyl stopped at the US/Canada border is indeed small. That is not necessarily indicative of the amount that crosses as both countries do very little border security.

Significantly more illegals on America's terrorist watch list have crossed over from Canada than Mexico. The drug lab bust in BC last fall by itself evidently created x100's more fentanyl than drug seizures at the border. RCMP said there are over 5,000 drug organizations or gangs in Canada with many moving the drugs across the border. Evidently Canada is verifying significantly less than 1% of the shipments of chemicals used to make fentanyl as it enters Canada. The chemicals entering Canada is evidently one of the largest problems the Trump administration is having with Canada.

I'm all about working together. Countries take years to work things out however. It seems Trump feels he has two years to get things done. The only way to work things out in an expedited manner is getting everyone's attention so they focus immediately. Agree or disagree he seems to be getting everyone's attention. It doesn't seem hurt feelings are something he cares about.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/fentanyl-produced-in-canada-1.7275200

 

[HookMeUpII]

The only way to work things out in an expedited manner is getting everyone's attention so they focus immediately. Agree or disagree he seems to be getting everyone's attention. It doesn't seem hurt feelings are something he cares about.

This has been and will continue to be his playbook. I hope in 4-6 months we look back on this as nothing more than a "wild memory" that turned out well.

 

[wesheltonj]

I am not a fan of these Tariffs. For the most part they are not reciprocal but better then nothing. Some in Congress have been pushing for reciprocal tariffs for years. The earliest that I can remember was when I was a sophomore in 1980. I would certainly love to see zero or matching. And yes, I get for example, that a zero tariff on Rice in Japan would kill the Japanese rice farmer, but once you start the carve outs you're back to "tariffs."

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

This has been and will continue to be his playbook. I hope in 4-6 months we look back on this as nothing more than a "wild memory" that turned out well.

It won’t regardless of how the the trade plays out the Canadian/American relationship has been forever damaged some relationship may be salvageable but it’ll never again be what it was. I know the industries I’m involved in are actively seeking new markets at the expense of the market share the u.s. was previously guaranteed.

 

[LivingTheDream]

Latest figures from the US government: 1/10 of 1%. More fentanyl enters Canada from the US than the other way around. Yet, again we poor Canadians think that a sovereign country protects its own borders. It doesn’t ask other countries to protect them. Again, what percentage of illegal migration enters the US through Canada? Less than 1%. And again, a sovereign country protects its own borders; it doesn’t demand other countries protect them.

Not picking on you, but have heard about how US guns enter illegally, as well people and guns. I guess my question is why is this acceptable to the Canadian people, if you are identifying that as an area of concern why aren't the people demanding more border control at their Southern border?

I don't disagree with you that a country should protect its borders and should not expect its neighbors to do, but some of the "most wanted" have enter from Canada and we apprehended them. Why is the US seen as the bad guys for saying this is unacceptable.

 

[Brent in Az]

To the contrary of the doom & gloomer

 

[Hank2211]

It won’t regardless of how the the trade plays out the Canadian/American relationship has been forever damaged some relationship may be salvageable but it’ll never again be what it was. I know the industries I’m involved in are actively seeking new markets at the expense of the market share the u.s. was previously guaranteed.

Agree completely.

This is what the USMCA says, in part:

“The Government of the United States of America, the Government of the United Mexican States, and the Government of Canada (collectively “the Parties”), resolving to:

STRENGTHEN ANEW the longstanding friendship between them and their peoples, and the strong economic cooperation that has developed through trade and investment;

FURTHER strengthen their close economic relationship;

REPLACE the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement with a 21st Century, high standard new agreement to support mutually beneficial trade leading to freer, fairer markets, and to robust economic growth in the region;

PRESERVE AND EXPAND regional trade and production by further incentivizing the production and sourcing of goods and materials in the region;
. . .
ESTABLISH a clear, transparent, and predictable legal and commercial framework for business planning, that supports further expansion of trade and investment;

FACILITATE trade between the Parties by promoting efficient and transparent customs procedures that reduce costs and ensure predictability for importers and exporters, and encourage expanding cooperation in the area of trade facilitation and enforcement;
. . .
FACILITATE trade in goods and services between the Parties . . .”

Can anyone - with a straight face now - even suggest that the US has acted in accordance with the language here, let alone the spirit and intent?

And this “beautiful agreement” was negotiated by none other than the current President.

 

[Wheels]

China has been shipping container loads of products costing less than $800 directly to the postal service for delivery without tariffs. This loophole closure may be the largest single line item announced yesterday. This will hit China hard.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Closes De Minimis Exemptions to Combat China’s Role in America’s Synthetic Opioid Crisis

CLOSING LOOPHOLES IN THE TARIFF SYSTEM: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order eliminating duty-free de minimis treatment for

www.whitehouse.gov

 

[LivingTheDream]

It won’t regardless of how the the trade plays out the Canadian/American relationship has been forever damaged some relationship may be salvageable but it’ll never again be what it was.

A bit of sarcasm here but why did Canada start charging a 5% GST on my guided hunts! Proof Canada started this trade war!

 

[Hank2211]

Not picking on you, but have heard about how US guns enter illegally, as well people and guns. I guess my question is why is this acceptable to the Canadian people, if you are identifying that as an area of concern why aren't the people demanding more border control at their Southern border?

I don't disagree with you that a country should protect its borders and should not expect its neighbors to do, but some of the "most wanted" have enter from Canada and we apprehended them. Why is the US seen as the bad guys for saying this is unacceptable.

You are 100% correct. Canada has no one to blame but itself for not stopping illegal guns at our southern border. It’s high time we did something about, though I won’t hold my breath. The Liberal governments we’ve had in this country seem to believe that taking guns away from legal owners is the same as taking guns away from criminals. They’re (obviously) wrong.

I’m happy to call out my government when they’re wrong. I think every thinking citizen should be willing (and able) to that in every country.

As for the ‘most wanted’ I haven’t seen any recent numbers, but I have to think that more US bad guys come to hide in Canada than the other way around, if only because you likely have 10 times (or more, since Canadians are so polite) the bad guys, given you have 10 times the population.

 

[Hank2211]

Not picking on you, but have heard about how US guns enter illegally, as well people and guns. I guess my question is why is this acceptable to the Canadian people, if you are identifying that as an area of concern why aren't the people demanding more border control at their Southern border?

I don't disagree with you that a country should protect its borders and should not expect its neighbors to do, but some of the "most wanted" have enter from Canada and we apprehended them. Why is the US seen as the bad guys for saying this is unacceptable.

BTW, feel free to pick on me. I can take it.

 

[mdwest]

I can cite just as many which state the contrary, as well as a cursory glance at the agreement itself.

But it may be sufficient to say that the US Senate doesn’t agree with you . . . But I guess the Democrats control that . . . Oops, my bad . . . It’s controlled by the Republicans.

can you cite the President of the United States or the US Secretary of Commerce?

because both of them have publicly stated as recently as this morning that USMCA is still in effect and no items addressed in USMCA are impacted by the new tariffs..

or.. can you show evidence of anything in USMCA now being subjected to tariff that wasn't subjected to tariff on the morning of April 2nd?

or do you just want to bitch, moan, and cry about things you cant substantiate?

There are indeed new tariffs on Canada.. you however claimed the US is violating USMCA with the new tariffs..

That has zero to do with whats going on in the senate..

Arent you an attorney by trade? I'd think you could come up with a better and more accurate argument...

 

[LivingTheDream]

You are 100% correct. Canada has no one to blame but itself for not stopping illegal guns at our southern border. It’s high time we did something about, though I won’t hold my breath. The Liberal governments we’ve had in this country seem to believe that taking guns away from legal owners is the same as taking guns away from criminals. They’re (obviously) wrong.

I’m happy to call out my government when they’re wrong. I think every thinking citizen should be willing (and able) to that in every country.

As for the ‘most wanted’ I haven’t seen any recent numbers, but I have to think that more US bad guys come to hide in Canada than the other way around, if only because you likely have 10 times (or more, since Canadians are so polite) the bad guys, given you have 10 times the population.

I think that is a fair point, and I don't think when Trump ran on securing the border it wasn't Canada that the American people voted to secure and were fed up with.

But it would be fun to see Canadians chanting Build the Wall.

 

[Red Leg]

Should be required viewing for anyone participating in this discussion.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Should be required viewing for anyone participating in this discussion.

My thoughts exactly. Insightful and concise.

 

[Red Leg]

My thoughts exactly. Insightful and concise.

He always is - and fact not opinion heavy.

 

[LivingTheDream]

BTW, feel free to pick on me. I can take it.

No way, anyone who hunts Liberia and hunts with Crocs in Cameroon is a much tougher person than me!

 

[mdwest]

Enough of either to constitute a national emergency? Not even a lawyer could make that argument with a straight face.

You need to get to know more American lawyers... They will argue anything, to include the most insane things and keep a straight face..

I sat and listened to one opine before a court a few years ago that evidence of racial discrimination in an employment suit was the employer issued the employee bed sheets that were "itchy" and that other employees had more comfortable sheets.. and this was intentionally done to him.. because he was a minority..

 

[OxfordTheCat]

Not picking on you, but have heard about how US guns enter illegally, as well people and guns. I guess my question is why is this acceptable to the Canadian people, if you are identifying that as an area of concern why aren't the people demanding more border control at their Southern border?

Impossible to control given the nature of the border, and the nature of US gun control. Dual citizens buy basically in bulk via 'private sale' at gun shows, cart them up north covered by legitimate business, usually longhaul truckers.

If all US states had what all other first world nations have (and the US has on nearly everything else of significance, from prescription medication to automobiles), a registry to track sales of firearms so that you can identify who purchased and then illegally trafficked the firearms recovered in Canada, the problem would disappear in a fortnight. As long as you can buy untraceable handguns by the dozen at gunshows less than a day's drive from the border, there is not much that legislation in Canada can practically do.

Unless we're drastically going to impede trade and start scrutinizing every single truck going across, it's nigh on impossible. So we have a situation where 90% of guns used in shootings are illegally imported from the US.

I don't disagree with you that a country should protect its borders and should not expect its neighbors to do, but some of the "most wanted" have enter from Canada and we apprehended them. Why is the US seen as the bad guys for saying this is unacceptable.

How is Canada in any way responsible for people that have broken no Canadian laws, but who then go on to violate US law after an indeterminate amount of time in the country?

(In the example above re: gun trafficking, US federal law is being violated as well.)

And as was noted recently and long before, Canada has higher levels of illegal immigration from the US than the US has from Canada. It's not much different than the trumped up fentanyl "crisis" from Canada.

 

[deewayne2003]

Should be required viewing for anyone participating in this discussion.

Agreed, and as he said the tariffs stifle trade and again I don't think most people realize that the new tariffs in general are vary favorable to other countries as it's generally 50%ish of what the other country is collecting.

So I'm still at a loss as to how other nations especially the EU can go on and on about how this is unfair when it's either equal at 10% or 50%ish lower than the other nations are charging the USA...