Thursday, December 18, 2025

Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989

Let’s not panic about trade deals

If the deal does unravel—and it will be a long, complicated process—we will revert either to the original Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (although it includes several of the NAFTA provisions that Trump finds objectionable), or, trade between our countries will be regulated under World Trade Organization provisions. Not exactly the Wild West.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Jan. 16 when he named Olympic figure skaters Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir as the Canadian Flag bearers for the upcoming 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. Introducing so-called non-trade elements—gender equality, environmental protections, labour, and Indigenous rights—into negotiations is a bold move on Mr. Trudeau’s part. He is apparently convinced that traditional trade deals that have catered to corporate interests, at the expense of everyone else, are responsible for Trump’s victory and for Brexit; that people are challenging the gospel of free trade for good reason. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion
BY SUSAN RILEY
January 22, 2018

Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | January 22, 2018

FOLLOW THE HILL TIMES:

Want to make sure your whole office has the full Hill Times experience?

We have team plans available for companies, organizations, classes, Parliament Hill offices and more. Fill out this form and find out if your team is eligible for a discount.

More Opinion

MPs approve House admin spending trim, but overall budgets still on the rise

NewsBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

Despite planned cuts to administration spending, the House’s overall main estimates ask for 2026-27 is still up by 1.9 per cent. The Senate’s budget is also set to jump by 1.5 per cent.

MPs approve House admin spending trim, but overall budgets still on the rise

NewsBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

Despite planned cuts to administration spending, the House’s overall main estimates ask for 2026-27 is still up by 1.9 per cent. The Senate’s budget is also set to jump by 1.5 per cent.

Let’s not panic about trade deals

Building Canada’s Digital Future: Why High-Performing, Trusted, and Energy-Efficient Networks Matter More Than Ever

Working Together to Strengthen Canada’s Workforce

Canada Is Missing the Biggest Industrial Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight

No, Indigenous people are not coming for your privately owned land

The NDP leadership race might be sleepwalking to irrelevance

Can Build Canada Homes make a dent in the housing crisis?

Rubio’s fantasy and the risk of forever war in Venezuela

Ukraine-Russia: next steps

Carney talks with the premiers

A deeper dive into Fraser’s crime bill

After America’s Genesis Mission, where is Canada’s AI North Star?

Indo-Pacific strategy a rare example of clear-eyed realism

‘End our suffering’: refugees from Africa face inequity and delays resettling in Canada

MPs approve House admin spending trim, but overall budgets still on the rise

MPs approve House admin spending trim, but overall budgets still on the rise

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Follow us

Advertise

subscribe

get help

Get free news updates

Submit a guest opinion article

Let’s not panic about trade deals

Get The Foreign Policy Newsletter