Canada's trade outlook stalls as Ottawa clings to a fraught US partnership
Stephen Nagy argues that Canada’s trade prospects remain blocked until it stops antagonizing the United States, which retains veto power over any deal with China.
Stephen Nagy, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, asserts that Canada’s stagnant economy and housing crisis stem from domestic policy failures rather than U.S. actions. He praises Prime Minister Mark Carney for restoring competence to the office but faults him for continuing to scapegoat Washington and for seeking a “strategic partnership” with China. Nagy highlights that the USMCA’s Article 32.10 grants the United States a veto over any Canadian free-trade pact with a non-market economy, a provision retained from the Trump era and enforced by the Biden administration.
He warns that such a stance alienates key allies, undermines Canada’s role in intelligence networks like Five Eyes, and jeopardizes integration into North American supply chains. The columnist calls for a pragmatic shift toward a realistic, U.S.-aligned strategy to revive Canada’s trade prospects.
Why it matters
Canada's trade future hinges on its relationship with the United States, affecting jobs and economic stability.
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