Trump’s imperialistic and megalomaniacal threats to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports to the U.S. if Canada does not permit its annexation is disrupting our long-term relationship with our closest trading ally.  The U.S. and Canada have long enjoyed this rare relationship with their lengthy 3000-mile open border. Canada is the second largest country geographically in the world, slightly larger than the U.S. We are each other’s largest trading partners.
Canada’s exports to the U.S. are crude oil, gasoline, cars, car parts, gold, rare minerals, medications, aircrafts and parts.  Canada is the world’s leader in the production of gold, nickel, and uranium.  It has the world’s second largest oil reserves. It imports agricultural products, machinery and equipment from the U.S..
Canada also supplies electricity directly to New York, Vermont, Minnesota, North Dakota, Michigan, and California.  This market includes 1.5 million households and is generated primarily using hydroelectricity delivered by more than 31 cross border transmission lines.
Trump’s threats have galvanized the Canadians to enlarge and increase their markets for their vast rare mineral resources.  Moreover, they have set in motion plans for new infrastructure for developing transportation to meet larger foreign marketing needs.  They are planning very large ports on their east and west coasts.  Also, trains, pipelines, and highways going more east and west instead south.
Trump has opened the trade war’s Pandora’s Box this time.  Other countries are also actively seeking new markets and establishing new trade routes.  All this recent activity has been triggered by Trump’s threats and actual imposition of new tariffs.  Moreover, the U.S. dollar will no longer be the paramount trade currency.
Gerry Snyder
Ely