Trade and International Policy - Op Eds

Published in the Financial Post. 

With the recent wrap-up of Ottawa’s month-long public consultation on levying tariffs on electrical vehicles (EVs) made in China, let’s paraphrase a story Nobel Prize-winner Paul Krugman once used to explain the often under-appreciated benefits of free trade:

Consider a Canadian entrepreneur who starts a new business that uses secret technology to transform Canadian lumber and canola into affordable EVs. She is lauded as a champion of industry for her innovative spirit and commitment to Net Zero. But a suspicious reporter discovers that what she is really doing is exporting Canadian-made lumber and canola and using the proceeds to purchase Chinese-made EVs. Sentiment turns sharply…

Published in The Globe and Mail.

Canada has lost its way in the world. Its international influence and respect is in serious decline, as a result of a combination of poor political leadership and inept actions, especially during the nine years of Justin Trudeau’s government.

It is a challenge for any government to avoid foreign-policy missteps. Given the volatility in global affairs with unexpected crises beyond a country’s control, it is impossible to always get things right, as governments react and adjust to sudden events. But Canada’s errors in recent years go far beyond this, showing astonishing ineptitude – own-goals that will have long-term consequences, and are of the Liberal government’s own making.

Take…

Originally published in the Financial Post. 

Joe Biden’s appallingly weak performance in the June 27th presidential debate, together with Donald Trump’s defiant survival after Saturday’s assassination attempt, have many American pundits saying November’s election is now Trump’s to lose. If he does return to the White House, U.S. trade relations with friend and foe alike will be in for tough challenges. And nothing will be more exposed than the Canada-US-Mexico Trade Agreement (CUSMA). In fact, CUSMA’s survival could be at risk even without a Republican presidency, given the protectionist bias of the Democratic party.

It isn’t widely appreciated but CUSMA terminates on June 30, 2036. It continues beyond that date…

Published in the Globe and Mail

The three-country review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) starts in 2026. Whoever’s in the White House – whether it’s Joe Biden or Donald Trump – there could be a renegotiation of large parts of the agreement with the Americans in the driver’s seat. 

In preparation, raising Canada’s profile among key U.S. constituencies, reinforcing Canada’s importance and reliability as a trading partner, and underscoring the win-win situation under USMCA, is the right strategy.

There have been some good things done already, such as the recent Team Canada parade, aimed at showing American decision-makers the value of our close political and commercial relations. The flurry…

Published in the Globe and Mail

In the shadow of escalating global conflicts and the pressing demand for military supplies, a critical component of national security is being overlooked: the strategic importance of pulp and paper. Traditionally seen as mundane commodities, these materials are in fact pivotal in the production of military-grade components such as nitrocellulose, a key ingredient in artillery ammunition.

Canada, home to vast tracts of forest, has long been a powerhouse in pulp and paper production. Yet, recent developments raise concerns about national security.

The March, 2023, acquisition of Resolute Forest Products by privately held Paper Excellence – among other purchases of Canadian producers by…