• kava@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    American trade is nearly worth half of Canada’s total GDP. something like 75~80% of total Canadian exports go to the US. if they actually retaliate in force they could be dooming their country to an economic crisis if Trump is spiteful enough. so far the Canadian tariffs have only touched about $30B worth of goods, or 7% of the total trade.

    • sloppychops@lemmy.ca
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      5 months ago

      While true, the Canadian government has already announced grants and loans to help Canadian companies restructure their supply chains away from the US. It’s a start. While the legal framework exists, Canadian companies haven’t yet had a reason to take advantage of new free trade agreements with the EU and the Asia Pacific. Now they do.

      Also, in terms of numbers: about 25% of Canadian GDP is based on US trade; a little lower than the number you quoted, still too high, I’d say. Hopefully, the Canadian economies’ smaller size will prove agile enough for the transition. I’ve also seen it suggested that the hit to the Canadian economy from Trump’s attacks could be offset by removing internal trade barriers so that Canada can trade more efficiently with itself. This has been a huge shot in the arm for that project.

      20% of US exports go to the EU, 18% go to Canada, 17% to Mexico, and less than 10% to China. Similarly, about 70% of US imports come from those same markets. This will be devastating for everyone, the US included. It won’t be the ‘short period of transition’ the bloated diet coke goblin imagines. World trade patterns and supply chains will literally be upended.

    • DarkFuture@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Bottom line is Canada can’t rely on an unreliable country that literally threatens them.

      It’s time for the world to move away from working with the U.S. We’ve shown we aren’t trustworthy. Canada needs to increase trade to other countries to compensate.