Canada and Mexico say let’s make a deal, for now
Well, well, well. I get busy for a day and evening with things that aren’t related to obsessively reading the news – and look what happens with Trump’s tariff brinksmanship.
From Justin Trudeau of Canada:
I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border.
In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.
Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.
Working together on some goals that should be obvious common goals – that’s what I like to see.
And from Sheinbaum in Mexico:
We had a good conversation with President Trump with great respect for our relationship and sovereignty; we reached a series of agreements:
1. Mexico will immediately reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members of the National Guard to prevent drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, particularly fentanyl.
2. The United States is committed to working to prevent the trafficking of high-powered weapons to Mexico.
3. Our teams will begin working today on two fronts: security and trade.
4. They are pausing tariffs for one month from now.
Let’s hear it for Team North America. Well, not all of North America is on board, of course, but quite a bit. I also noticed, when I looked up the physical boundaries of North America, that Greenland is included. Hmmm.
Win, win.
Before Trump our leaders would have asked Canada and Mexico to cooperate on border security. After hard negotiations they would have agreed, if we paid for it. And, of course, we would pick up the bill – good old Uncle Sucker.
I like this new way of negotiating. Winning.
We’re not tired of the winning yet, but I can sense winning fatigue somewhere off the in distance. It’s just so much winning. I don’t know how much we can take, but I guess we’ll find out.
I commented in the other thread on tariffs that Trump is playing a long game. I should add that it is a long game, but Trump plays it fast.
As in football he is executing a very uptempo offense, and so far his opponents can’t keep up, or even catch their breath.
One caveat. Uptempo offenses can be mistake prone.
So, it will be interesting. Does he try to maintain the pace? Can the rest of the world adapt to his pace? Will they spot mistakes that they can exploit? Does he achieve his immediate goals and take a more measured approach?
I wish I knew the answers.
Back when the Iraq debacle was imminent, someone promised an air campaign of ‘shock and awe’. I thought it was premature to be strutting like that in advance.
But the term may well describe the effect of Trump’s return to the White House.