Buy America has ‘consequences’ including proposed Ontario law: Champagne
OTTAWA — The Trudeau Liberals are giving tacit support to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s plan to introduce legislation that would allow retaliation against U.S. states that adopt Buy American policies.
The federal enthusiasm for Wynne’s shot across the bow of the Trump administration’s trade policy contrasts sharply with broad warnings Wednesday that Ontario’s move will hamper Canada’s ability to successfully renegotiate a new North American Free Trade Agreement.
Trade analysts on both sides of the 49th parallel said Wynne’s plan would only escalate the growing anger towards Canada that seems to be taking hold in the Trump administration as the seventh round of NAFTA talks approaches at month’s end.
They said it undercuts the charm offensive that the federal Liberals have been mounting for months on U.S. lawmakers in Congress, state governors, local officials and business leaders to sell the economic merits of NAFTA, a deal President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to tear up.