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.
A short summary of all the great comments on the first tariff post — Salena Zito’s observation in 2016 is still operative:
“When he makes claims like this, the press takes him literally, but not seriously; his supporters take him seriously, but not literally.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/trump-makes-his-case-in-pittsburgh/501335/
Always remember Trump’s first book: The Art of The Deal. He wants deals that are good enough for him.
There are only two incentives, plus & minus, carrots & sticks. Tariffs are a stick. Used to get allies, not friends, to do what they should have been doing anyway. And, importantly, to show all others that he’s willing to put on tariffs to get what he wants as well as taking them off when they do what he wants. The NATO members, who have signed agreements that they’d spend 2% on defense, but haven’t been doing so, are one of the important watchers getting this pretty clear message.
Trump—tough negotiator but willing to make a deal. Willing to use both carrots and sticks, and removal of a prior carrot feels a bit like a stick.
Trump45 actually wanted deals with Dems & GOPe to get as much as he could, and didn’t really think they hated him as much as they did. His lost/stolen election followed by his win means he doesn’t need much of their support so he’s not offering them much this time. (Now I’m thinking of the little hen baking her bread all by herself…)
Another huge econ benefit of tariffs is that the money goes to reduce the deficit, the higher prices on T shirts or whatever means less other tax, often less inflation tax. The anti-tariff folk, including Libertarians, seldom address this issue. Tho they are correct that in a world united to support free markets, tariffs are a big negative.
Does the Monroe Doctrine apply to Greenland?
My guess about Trump and Greenland; Trump is seeking to expand US military bases in Greenland.
The population of Greenland – almost all Inuits – probably want to be an independent nation, but without the $$$ given annually to them by Denmark, this would not be a smart move.
JohnTyler,
Yes, but I think Trump’s biggest motivation is keeping Greenland and Panama from the control of China*. He doesn’t want a Chinese “belts and roads” initiative in the Americas.
China is playing this game, and has been for years. Ignoring them hasn’t helped our national security nor our economy.
And China dumps A LOT of money into many coffers to gain an army of keyboard and microphone warriors to unwittingly (or wittingly) lobby against the U.S.’ best interests.
*If China weren’t actively trying to get Greenland’s natural resources I don’t think Trump would want to invest in military bases there.
So Sheinbaum and Trudeau blinked, eh?
Hmm.
Maybe they read this:
“Why Trump would win a tariff war;
“Europe is still in denial”—
https://unherd.com/2025/02/why-trump-would-win-a-tariff-war/
H/T Blazingcarfur blog.
https://blazingcatfur.ca/2025/02/04/why-trump-would-win-a-tariff-war/
“…but I think Trump’s biggest motivation is keeping Greenland and Panama from the control of China*. He doesn’t want a Chinese “belts and roads” initiative in the Americas.” -Rufus T. Firefly
Precisely. China is cleaning our clocks in terms of making inroads in third world countries. My wife was in Liberia last month and the infrastructure improvements since her last visit in 2017 were substantial. All funded by China.
Meanwhile, what is the US doing with it’s aid? Forcing cultural changes like abortion on demand and promoting gender dysphoria and other practices abhorrent to the local culture.
Not to mention working to overthrow governments like Orban in Hungary and Fico in Slovakia and want to maintain a traditional culture.
USAID was turning the United States into a woke global joke
https://www.yahoo.com/news/usaid-turning-united-states-woke-163611598.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall