On guardrails
There seems to be a general (and rightful) consensus that Elon Musk's demand to eliminate all regulations as a baseline position is high on the list of his unauthorized plans,…
trade
Monday Morning Links
Assorted content to start your week.- Jessica Wildfire discusses how the Trump/Musk administration is meeting or exceeding the most damning predictions, while Ian Dunt points out the similar pattern following…
On litmus tests
Plenty of Canadian political figures seem to have reacted to the announcement that we won't face tariffs just yet with a sigh a relief, and an apparent view that we…
Canada could be in stronger position than U.S. if trade war breaks out: economist Paul Krugman
Canada may find itself in a stronger position than the United States if a trade war breaks out between the two countries. Don’t take my word for that. That’s Paul…
Is Alberta suffering from the Innovator’s Dilemma?
In listening to Mac Van Wielingen of Viewpoint Investment Partners, on a recent HUB podcast, I was reminded about the highs and lows of Research in Motion (RIM). RIM’s story…
China—to trade or not to trade
It doesn’t seem that long ago that the U.S. and Canadian governments were assuring us that free trade would be the answer to everything from economic prosperity to world peace.…
When Trump and the left agreed
A recent article in The New York Times took me back to the latter decades of the 20th century and the debates over free trade agreements. The 1988 federal election…
WhereIn Andrew Coyne MisCharacterizes Re-Shoring
I have always had an on-again/off-again relationship with Mr. Coyne’s writings. When he sits down and thinks an issue through its logical consequences, he can be incredibly insightful and make…
Time to friend-shore?
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently introduced a concept she referred to as “friend-shoring.” In her words, “Friend-shoring is the idea that countries that espouse a common set of values…
Did the Chinese learn their trade antics from the U.S.?
The China/U.S. trade war heats up. The rest of us get dragged along willy-nilly. Nonetheless, there is a lot of sympathy for the American case. The Chinese have hardly walked…
China’s Long Game – Waiting for Trump to Bring Down the United States
China’s economic prowess is just part of its rivalry with the United States. This is a standard part of an ascending power taking its rightful place alongside a once-dominant power.…
The problems with progressive free trade and a divided labour movement
…And we’re back to regularly-scheduled programming. Apologies for the podcasting hiatus to (now really faithful) listeners; I hope to be back to regular episodes once again. I’m restarting the show…
Fighting Myths of the 1%
Income inequality has been growing since the 2008 self-inflicted bank chaos, indeed that banking stupidity from 2008 accelerated the growing gap. The inequity was so obvious that the Occupy Wall…
Canada’s international trade agreements should prioritize women’s rights
For the Trudeau government’s ambitious feminist international assistance policy to succeed, Canada’s trade agreements should champion women’s leadership, human rights, and gender equality. The post Canada’s international trade agreements should…
Candidate’s proposal to kick B.C. out of New West Partnership is likely to delight West Coast Dippers
PHOTOS: UCP leadership candidate Doug Schweitzer, grabbed from his campaign website. Below: B.C. NDP Premier John Horgan (Wikimedia Commons), Alberta NDP Premier Rachel Notley, and former WCP president Jeff Callaway.…
Respecting Human Rights When Negotiating Trade Deals
money Donald Trump ran a campaign that championed the need to renegotiate the North American Free trade Agreement (NAFTA) to better help Americans. Trump’s erratic behaviour means we won’t know…
Trump’s Hardwood on Trade
Yesterday, it was announced that a 24% tariff would be applied to Canadian softwood lumber entering the United States. You may recognize the term softwood lumber, as it has been…