Loss of good jobs for cheap goods from China was no bargain Time to buy Canadian

Re: Trump’s tirade sparks calls for calm — June 11

Donald Trump wails about the loss of American jobs, and he’s right to. Where he is wrong is in blaming trading partners. China never stole any jobs, nor did Mexico, nor Canada. The American business lobby asked for, and received WTO rules, trade agreements and the abolition of capital controls. That last one in particular did a lot of damage. American-based corporations moved capital to China and built factories with it. American jobs soon followed.

Canada is an even bigger victim in this. Canadian jobs weren’t just moved to China, but also Mexico and the American south.

We were better off when we had a branch plant economy. At least then we could enforce the concept that a company that wanted to sell in Canada must produce in Canada. Some will say we save a lot of money when we buy Chinese goods. The loss of middle-class factory jobs for cheap Chinese junk was no bargain; it has resulted in a shrunken middle class.

Trump is trying to blow up global trade. The problem is that our economies have become so entangled nobody knows how to unpick the knot without unravelling the entire modern economic system. It’s too bad politicians that built this system hadn’t seen the danger before it was too late. Now a monkey with a blow torch is in control.

Cameron Adams

Cambridge Re: Canadians should stand with Trudeau against Trump — June 12

In light of Mr. Trump’s insistence on starting a trade war with Canada, what better time than now to stand up as Canadians and “buy local.”

Local fresh products are now in full season. With many of us patronizing our local markets in Kitchener, St. Jacobs, Cambridge and Guelph this summer, what rational reason would we have to purchase imported American produce, meat or any other American items that are so often sold there now? Recently, there have been stories about the preponderance of “imported” food terminal produce at many “local” markets. Many Canadian towns are now requesting only “made in Canada” products be sold by their market vendors.

Perhaps it is time that we expect “made in Canada” content from our local market vendors as well. It makes perfect sense to me. After all, what do the words “local market” convey?

Our regional and Canadian economy needs our support now more than ever. Let’s all be more cognizant of “product of origin” labels when we go shopping, even at our local markets.

Ed Allensen

Kitchener