In a pointed monologue, the speaker rebuts President Trump’s claim that the Canada‑U.S‑Mexico trade agreement (CUSMA) is up for renewal on July 1, explaining that the pact remains in force until 2036 and can only be exited with six months’ notice. The speaker highlights Canada’s rapid trade diversification over the past year—a 17% rise in exports to non‑U.S. markets, a $33 billion increase, and record two‑way merchandise trade with Europe at $180 billion—plus the benefits of the Trans‑Pacific Partnership. The commentary stresses that CUSMA provides zero‑tariff access to 98% of Canadian goods, dispute‑resolution mechanisms, and IP protections; without it, U.S. importers would face WTO tariffs and higher prices. The speaker criticizes the United States for recent “bullying” and meme‑driven diplomacy, arguing that the world is moving on and that America’s trade relevance is waning. Despite this, Canada’s trade minister and chief negotiator have continued to engage with the U.S., but the speaker warns that Canada will not wait indefinitely and will seek other partners if the U.S. withdraws.
Chapters
This morning, glorious leader Chairman Trump of the People's Republic of America stood in the Oval Office and announced he's not looking to renew CUSMA, the Canada-US-Mexico trade agreement, when it comes up for its mandatory review on July 1st. This is the same deal, remember, he made in his first term and called, and I'm quoting here, "the most modern, up-to-date, and balanced trade agreement in the history of our country." So, uh, a couple things. First of all, CUSMA does not expire on July 1st. What happens is it goes for a review, but the deal stays in force until 2036. Now, any country that actually wants to can pull out with 6 months notice, so Trump threatening to not renew a deal that isn't actually up for renewal while his own trade officials are actively in talks to renew it. It's like storming out of a restaurant but quietly ordering dessert on the way out. But whatever, do it. Do it, America. Drop out. We genuinely don't give a shit anymore. In the last 12 months alone, Canadian exports to countries other than the US increased by 17%. That is a historic jump of more than $33 billion in trade in a single year. Two-way merchandise trade agreements between Canada and Europe hit $180 billion last year. Highest ever. The Trans-Pacific Partnership gives Canadian businesses preferential access to nearly 500 million consumers across 12 countries. That's 14% of global GDP. Not having a trade deal doesn't mean we wouldn't trade with you. CUSMA gives you zero tariff access to 98% of the things you buy from us. Without it, your importers, your farmers, your small family businesses would pay the standard WTO tariff on our stuff. That means higher prices for your people. It also means losing the dispute resolution the intellectual property protections, and the guaranteed market access that American businesses plan around. We'd still trade. You'd just be doing it with one hand tied behind your back and a toll booth at every crossing. But we don't care anymore. America spent the last year bullying the world, posting memes on government social accounts like some kind of edgelord teenager in high school. The rest of the world has moved on without you. We're not mad. We're just done. And we're not pivoting away out of spite. We're pivoting away because it turns out other countries want what we have and are capable of making incapable of treating us with basic decency. But even so, even with the insults, even with the threats to annex us, we are still at the table. Our trade minister flew to Washington. Our chief negotiator has put proposals on the table. We showed up. We did the work like we always do. But don't count on it forever. Our dance card is filling up. And the damage America has already done to the relationship with Canada will not go away with a new administration. The deals we've made around the world are not contingent on your politics. And what did the US get out of all of it? Global trade irrelevance. But go ahead, pull out of the deal. Give the notice. Tell the world you're walking away from an agreement you negotiated, signed, and celebrated, and now want to use as a threat. We'll be at the table with someone else. With someone who doesn't need a meme to understand their foreign policy.
