Okay, let’s take a closer look at President Trump and Canadian PM Trudeau’s curious dance. In one area they are certainly behaving more like dancers, in step, than opposites across a negotiating table.
We’re looking at two issues:
1. Canada’s dairy farmers’ marketing practices; and
2. The dispute resolution procedures.
Now from one point of view, it looks like a set-up for a quid pro quo trade-off. Trudeau sacrifices his dairy farmers and, in return, gets the dispute resolution process into the Agreement.. Trump gets to sell a lot more milk in Canada (to the detriment of the host country’s dairymen (and women). And both claim to their citizens that they won!
Looks good. Except for the widely held understanding - (on which your blogger has already ex[pressed his sharp opinion, (Blogs 45 and 48) - a widely held understanding that
a. The dispute settlement regime, permits foreign corporations to sue national states for any action that impinges an the corporation’s present profits OR future profits. Examples coming), and
b. Over time, the country with the most and biggest corporations always wins under these dispute resolution treaties. We won’t bore you with the historical evidence.
In this case of the dancing leaders, which is the bigger country with the most corporations,?
So which is the country whose corporations will routinely sue-and win? You got that ? Good. I thought it was pretty easy, too.
The only explanation for the Trump-Trudeau’s public stances is that this part of the “negotiation” has been scripted in advance
Canada has the most to lose if the dispute resolution procedures are retained. American firms can continue to thwart Canada legislation, or be well compensated.
And all Canada has to do to "achieve" that, is to give away its dairy products management system to help American dairy farmers make more money in Canada.
And all Canada has to do to "achieve" that, is to give away its dairy products management system to help American dairy farmers make more money in Canada.
But that’s not “Quid pro quo“. It looks more like pre-scripted surrender, Mr. Trudeau,
If you have a better explanation, I’m open to hearing it. But I’m pretty smart. And I have been following NAFTA outcomes for quite a long time.
Never mind, you Canadians. There’s an election on your horizon, too - tho’ it may be too late to revoke NAFTA, if you've signed. Too late.*
*The previous NAFTA could be abrogated with only six month’s notice. Hmmnnn, The President has never mentioned that. He always calls for "tearing it up."
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