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The United States, Mexico and Canada finalized on Sunday a new trade agreement to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. The new agreement, called the US-Mexico-Canada agreement, avoids a trade war, reassuring some Canadian readers who have said they are satisfied with the agreement.
But many Canadians took advantage of our comments section to tell us that, more than anything, they were angry at the way the deal had been reached. They described the Trump administration's negotiation tactics as "intimidation techniques" and name calling rather than diplomacy.
Below is a selection of comments from Canadian readers. They have been slightly edited and condensed for clarity.
"Nobody would call that a reasonable negotiation"
If you hold a gun to your neighbor's much smaller and weaker head to force him to give you a few more apples on his tree, and that he complies, you could call it a "success".
But no one would call that a reasonable negotiation between friendly neighbors. Let's be very clear about this.
– Nick Wright, Halifax, Nova Scotia
This is a bad deal for Canada. We gave up too much, while the Americans did not give up the consequences. We failed to take advantage of Donald Trump's vulnerability and succumbed to his intimidation.
We too suffer from bad leadership. Trudeau has taken a habit of taking a stand on issues important to Canadians. Then it does exactly the opposite.
The United States will not find a more equitable trading partner than Canada. The numbers confirm it.
Canada will not forget the tactics of intimidation and incivility of Trump, et al., In these (alleged) negotiations. Thank you my friend."
– JC, Toronto
[Alan Rappeport, a Times reporter, answered questions about the new trade deal among the United States, Mexico and Canada.]
"I think it was logical to sign the agreement"
I am a Canadian and a permanent resident of the United States who works in the United States.
I think the trade deal is a win-win situation, even though the US is benefiting more and Trump has had a big win.
Of course, Canada would have preferred the status quo with Nafta and would have obtained it with any other American president (Republican or Democrat). But by signing this agreement, Canada has avoided a recession, which Trump could certainly have caused with a stroke of a pencil.
For Trump, he secured important things. It's not overwhelming, but it's basically got something for nothing, so it's definitely a win.
My point of view from Canada is that our negotiators have managed to rule out at least Trump's more controversial claims: to get rid of the Chapter 19 dispute resolution mechanism, which would have made it very unfair to us; and the maintenance of the cultural exemption clause (which prevents US media companies from fully seizing the Canadian media landscape).
I am therefore happy that our negotiators have remained faithful to these two points.
In addition, I think the rules regarding auto workers will be beneficial for both Canadian and American auto workers.
There have been Canadian dairy concessions, but we are talking about a concession of less than 4%, and I think Canadian consumers could find a way to buy Canadian products as much as they can .
In the end, given that a "no deal" situation would have been devastating for many businesses on both sides of our border, I think it made sense to sign the contract. ;agreement.
– Wendy, Canada
"Trump has only replaced Nafta with Nafta"
Few things have changed except for the name. The dispute settlement mechanism remains intact and the United States does not have any additional access to Canadian dairy products in relation to the TPP. The United States could have had that 18 months ago.
Sorry, American friends, but Trump has only replaced Nafta with Nafta and caused strained relations with his neighbors.
As a Canadian whose career has been linked to the auto industry for years, the future of Nafta has always been a priority. After all the bluster, what did Trump realize?
Virtually nothing that is not already agreed in the T.P.P. aborted agreement negotiated by the previous administration. Access to the dairy market was already done. Trump may think that a new name makes it a new contract, but this excuse for an administration has lost two years to upset everything and do nothing.
– View of Europe, Paris
The deal is largely a refresh of a 25-year pact that brought together the economies of Canada, Mexico and the United States, but had become somewhat outdated in the digital era.
Trump can call it a triumph if he wants to, but despite all his blows and threats and his threat to blow up the house, the essential elements of Nafta, namely its base as "the worst deal for the world." America of all time, "remain intact.
– Leigh, Quebec
"The United States has gone from friend to neighbor"
Do not consider the resurrected friendship. The feeling here is that Canadians will not soon forget the treatment of our supposed ally. We are a small country that will never have much impact on the US economy, but it remains a collective "acid taste" in the mouth of many Canadians.
– Kevin, Canada
People here will buy what they want, but there is this sensibility now that we should no longer support the United States unreservedly as we did before. The United States has moved from one friend to another in the minds of many Canadians. It will take a generation or so to make it disappear.
The conclusion of a trade agreement is usually an opportunity to affirm and celebrate friendship between nations. This one looks more like a non-aggression pact. More like a stable mistrust than a true friendship.
– Peeking through the fence, Vancouver
Marie Tae McDermott contributed to the reports.
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