Today, President Obama visits Canada and sits down with Prime Minister Harper. Currently, the Democrats are using the poor economy as an excuse to push their protectionist agenda forward. Canada and Mexico need to be very aware of what is transpiring and how it will affect agriculture in the future. Please do not think that the steel and iron “Buy American” clause incident two weeks ago will be an isolated incident. Did you see 60 minutes last week? Check out this link to the video and listen to the protectionist rhetoric by the CEO of Nucor.
We need our political leaders to in the US and Canada to work together during this hard economic time. Based on the fact that Canada and the US share the longest open border in the world, there is large amounts of trade between the two countries. As stated on the CBC National last night, there is a lot of trade that is actual business to business collaboration which benefits both economies. After the Vilsack announcement yesterday, the protectionist objectives of the new US administration is very clear and becoming more of a main stream concern. It drives me crazy to watch the TV and see people in Canada cheering Obama as he drives the streets of Ottawa like it is a rock concert. President Obama in his short term in office is appearing to be a real threat to our ability to trade with our largest trading partner, the United States. Canadian agriculture requires trade with the United States to thrive and we desperately need the US to reconsider its protectionist agenda so that both countries can prosper in the long term.
Other links:
See what Harry Siemens said about Vilsacks comments
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