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Respect and credibility: lessons from a broken trade agreement
As I watch all the journalists and experts on television try to figure out what items are subject to a 10% tariff, a 20% tariff, a 25% tariff, or no tariff, the underlying offence goes unmentioned. Canada and the United States already have a binding, legally ratified contract that specifically states which items are subject to tariffs and which items are not. This contract is the USMCA Free Trade Agreement, which does not expire until 2036.
Now, one of the signatories has unilaterally decided to violate the terms of this contract and change it to suit themselves.
President Trump’s announcement yesterday indicated that some of the terms of the USMCA now might be honoured, but many will not. There was no “re-negotiation” or any “diplomatic process” between Canada and the United States… just a unilateral decree from the Trump Administration and then imposed on Canada (and others) at a press conference in “the Rose Garden”.
The USMCA was signed in 2018 with great fanfare after a truly exhaustive negotiation. You will notice in the attached photo, the big black signature on the contract is that of the President of the United States, Donald Trump. At the time he signed the contract, he said that the USMCA was “the best trade agreement ever signed”.
Unfortunately, the big black signature on a contract means nothing. As officials sort out the tariff applications, we should keep in mind that every written or verbal commitment could be changed tomorrow.
I still have people approach me asking for guidance about entering politics. I have lots of thoughts and ideas to help them, but my first advice is always the same two words… credibility and respect. Every effort should be made to maintain credibility and respect.
Now, one of the signatories has unilaterally decided to violate the terms of this contract and change it to suit themselves.
President Trump’s announcement yesterday indicated that some of the terms of the USMCA now might be honoured, but many will not. There was no “re-negotiation” or any “diplomatic process” between Canada and the United States… just a unilateral decree from the Trump Administration and then imposed on Canada (and others) at a press conference in “the Rose Garden”.
The USMCA was signed in 2018 with great fanfare after a truly exhaustive negotiation. You will notice in the attached photo, the big black signature on the contract is that of the President of the United States, Donald Trump. At the time he signed the contract, he said that the USMCA was “the best trade agreement ever signed”.
Unfortunately, the big black signature on a contract means nothing. As officials sort out the tariff applications, we should keep in mind that every written or verbal commitment could be changed tomorrow.
I still have people approach me asking for guidance about entering politics. I have lots of thoughts and ideas to help them, but my first advice is always the same two words… credibility and respect. Every effort should be made to maintain credibility and respect.
- Always respect others’ opinions and positions even if you don’t agree with them.
- Keep yourcommitments, whether they are small commitments or large ones.
It is baffling to me that the man with the big black signature has allowed the value of his signature to deteriorate so that it now means nothing. It has no credibility, and it has no respect. I would be so ashamed.