VideoU.S.–Canada
Chrystia Freeland explains why Trump chose Canada as his warning to allies
Freeland's account suggests the pressure campaign on Canada could instead teach allies and Americans a different lesson about the alliance's future.
Summary
Former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, who led Canada's side of the NAFTA renegotiation during Trump's first term, tells David Remnick in a long interview that Trump chose Canada as a warning to other allies. She links the tactic to the old French phrase "pour encourager les autres," meaning punish one so everyone else falls in line. Freeland rejects Trump's claim that Canada is one of the worst countries to deal with, and her answer to whether he has a point is two words: "Truly, no."
Freeland argues the trade relationship rests on CUSMA, the deal Trump's own first administration negotiated, with neutral dispute panels Canada has always respected. She describes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's "yippy dog" insult and says Canada's response is measured, with retaliation matched dollar for dollar. Ottawa is also building alternatives, including the Trans Mountain pipeline Canada bought in 2018 and a new Asian pipeline announced by Mark Carney.
The video argues that Americans are a second audience. Freeland hopes ordinary Americans and business leaders will question the current course, and she points to Jamie Dimon's Wall Street Journal opinion piece, while calling a wider break with MAGA a prediction rather than a fact. She says most Canadians see the rupture with the United States as permanent.
Key points
- Freeland spent five years as deputy prime minister and led Canada's side of the NAFTA renegotiation in Trump's first term.
- CUSMA was negotiated by Trump's own first administration and has dispute panels with neutral judges, according to Freeland.
- Canada bought the Trans Mountain pipeline in 2018, and its expansion was completed while Freeland was finance minister.
- Mark Carney won his party leadership with 86% of the vote.
- Freeland says the vast majority of Canadians see the break with the US as permanent.
- Freeland says Canada's retaliation should be measured: dollar for dollar, no more and no less.
Questions answered
Why did Trump choose Canada as an example?
Freeland argues Trump understands only two kinds of relationships: one where the other side submits, and one with a fellow strongman he admires. Canada is neither and sits next door. She links the tactic to the French phrase 'pour encourager les autres,' meaning punish one so everyone else falls in line.
What is CUSMA and why does Freeland say Canada is defending it?
CUSMA is the trade agreement that Trump's own first administration negotiated. Freeland says it has dispute panels with judges from both countries and neutral judges, and that Canada has always abided by their rulings. She says Canada is defending Trump's own signature deal in this fight.
What did Freeland say about Scott Bessent's 'yippy dog' comment?
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent compared Canada to a little yippy dog and accused Carney of coming to power on an anti-American agenda. Freeland rejects any idea that the dispute is murky. Her point is simple: there was a deal, and Washington broke it.
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