On the day before Canada Day, I doubt I am the only one to feel utterly outraged this morning. Our government, which has gone to great measures to stoke our Canadian pride, has betrayed all of us. It has succumbed to Trump's threats and rescinded the Digital Services Tax.
The announcement came following a phone call between Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump, and just hours before the first payment under the tax was going to come due for major tech companies like Amazon and Google.
On Friday Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social he was terminating all trade discussions with Canada because of the tax.
The tax, which was set to be collected starting today, was unpopular with the U.S., and Trump had one of his many tantrums. In rescinding it, as opposed to possibly suspending it, Canada has shown itself to be at Trump's mercy.
Daniel Béland, a politics professor at McGill University in Montreal, called Carney’s retreat a “clear victory” for Trump.
“At some point this move might have become necessary in the context of Canada-US trade negotiations themselves but Prime Minister Carney acted now to appease President Trump and have him agree to simply resume these negotiations, which is a clear victory for both the White House and big tech,” Béland said.
He said it makes Carney look vulnerable to President Trump’s outbursts.
“President Trump forced PM Carney to do exactly what big tech wanted. U.S. tech executives will be very happy with this outcome,” Béland said.
Notably, the U.S. finalized a trade deal with the U.K last month, despite the fact that country has a 2% DST.
One can only expect more American abuse and craven Canadian submission ahead.
In Sunday’s interview [on Fox], Mr. Trump also criticized Canada’s supply-management system, which strictly controls imports of eggs, dairy and poultry to protect domestic producers.
I don't know what I will be doing tomorrow on Canada Day. One thing I won't be doing is celebrating Canadian 'pride'.
I imagine that Carney is trying to 'negotiate' in a rational way with Trumph but how do you even have a conversation with a totally irrational want to be dictator?
ReplyDeleteRural
Precisely, Rural. I fear this is the first of many capitulations.
DeleteThe Carney honeymoon is over.
DeleteAbsolutely, Toby. I will be happy to rescind my disaffection if something really good comes out of this base attempt at appeasement, but history tells me not to hold my breath.
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