Canada targets pickles and bourdon in Trump’s trade war

The first casualty of war, the saying goes, is truth. So what is the first casualty of a trade war? Well, that’s trickier. If you have a look at the lengthy list of items Canadian trade officials compiled as subject to tariffs in retaliation to those the American government imposed on Canadian steel and aluminium, the first casualties could be anyone who consumes pickles, yogurt or who mows a lawn or sails a boat.

The list is very long, and covers a bewildering array of products, some of which most Canadians may not have known were imported in significant quantities from the United States. Orange juice, sure, bourbon, of course, but spent fowl prepared meals, handkerchiefs, beer kegs, hair lacquer, playing cards and sleeping bags?

As we all know by now, last week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau whipped out this hit list after President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of 25 percent and 10 percent respectively on Canadian steel and aluminium. The same tariffs apply to many other nations who sell and ship the material to American manufacturers.

What is obvious about the list is it shows how many late hours federal trade functionaries must have put in to compile such a complex and detailed table of products in anticipation of the Trump tariffs. It’s also a crash course in the mind-boggling extent and scope of the traffic in goods that crosses the longest undefended border in the world in both directions every single day.

The proposed tariffs, roughly equivalent to the $16.6 billion impact the Trump administration measures will have on Canadian steel and aluminum, wouldn’t take effect until July. Presumably Canadian officials are speculating the delay may give Trump enough time to change his mind (again) on punitive trade measures on Canada.

According to a source quoted in a Huffington Post story, the items targeted for tariffs, though seemingly random, are mostly foods and products that could be replaced easily by Canadian or other foreign suppliers should Canadian consumers balk at paying an extra 10 percent for American-sourced toilet paper or nut puree or ball-point pens.

In Quebec, it’s safe to say tariffs on American maple syrup, chocolate, wood or aluminum products of any kind are not likely to bring consumers to their knees, begging to surrender to the Trump colossus. Aluminum workers in the province, who produce almost all of the Canadian output, may take Trump’s tariffs personally, but, according to industry analysts, the extra duties are actually good for business.

When one smelter alone - the Alouette behemoth in Sept Iles - churns out almost as much aluminum as the entire U.S. industry combined, it’s not hard to understand it’s American manufacturers in need of the useful material who will be paying Trump’s tariff.

Needless to say the G7 meeting in the Charlevoix will be remarkable if for nothing else than the unimaginable awkwardness of having the man intent on upsetting the entire trade structure of the planet for the benefit of disgruntled Rust Belt workers at the same table as the leaders of nations Trump has freshly kicked in the trade vitals. He might be well-advised to skip the meetings and go play golf on a course he does not own.

Trump now appears to have exhausted the patience and politeness of a Canadian government that had been determined to make nice with such an unpredictable leader of the free world. Canadians, while still puzzling how Americans let this man in the White House in the first place, have now tasted what it feels like to be on the list of Trump targets, like Mexicans, Muslims

DEAR EDITOR,

Tim Belford was right on the money with his comments on the hoopla that preceded the Champions League Final in Kiev. Personally, I don’t see why any sports events (e.g., Olympics, Superbowl) need this kind of “ceremony”. However, given that it seems to be the first time that this has occurred in football (“soccer”), I ask another money question: Did fans pay higher prices to be subjected to these antics? DEAR EDITOR:

Tand the media.

How can Canadians rally to the trade war cause? Apart from shunning American pickles, sour mash and speedboats, they can for one thing vacation at home, at least until the critical U.S. mid-term elections in November when domestic backlash to Trump’s tariffs may provoke an end to the trade war.

SINCERELY, STUART MCKELVIE

he Memphremagog Community Learning Center held our fundraiser at the Piggery Theater, Friday night June 1st. We featured Ray Seguin "The Country Stranger". Ray put on a wonderful Show. He played to a full house.. We would like to thank CJMQ radio for airing our ads for the month of May. Jessie Aulis, from CFLX radio , The Townships Country Connection, for the wonderful article you wrote and the interview you did with Ray. We would also like to thank Ocean Francoeur from the record for the very informativel article you did on our Community Learning Center. Thank you to the Piggery for giving us the opportunity to host our fundraiser. And last but not least a big thank you to our friend Ray for doing the show and singing his heart out !

Events like this bring our Community and friends together.

See you next year

CHRISTINE & JOHNHODGE PATSY & WALLY MOFFAT PERVANA MLADENOF, MCLC CO-ORDINATOR

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