It's because they're both doubly hosed one this one now. With the US importing big chunks of energy from both its neighbours, it has almost no leverage over them in any negotiation (because the #1 thing they got from the deal with Canada was a massively-beneficial energy deal which they'd never want to see unwound.)
And now, with the financial crisis? Ooh baby, that's scary. Serious protectionism now would bring the whole edifice (that they're busy reinflating) crashing back down. One of the main motors they're depending on to pull the US out of recession is exports, right? Domestic spending looks to be a bit weak these next coupla years, so if you can't get out there and flog yer stuff to yer neighbours, whatcha got?
They may go for better labour & environmental standards and such, but I can tell you - this ain't no time for any US politician to be floating anti-foreigner talk. The US needs the world, and the world needs the US.
Yeah. NAFTA is a minefield for them right now. Even leaving out what you said, Q, there's so many different groups of people within the states whose votes are desired that it's a tricky subject to stumble around.
It's because they're both doubly hosed one this one now. With the US importing big chunks of energy from both its neighbours, it has almost no leverage over them in any negotiation (because the #1 thing they got from the deal with Canada was a massively-beneficial energy deal which they'd never want to see unwound.)
And now, with the financial crisis? Ooh baby, that's scary. Serious protectionism now would bring the whole edifice (that they're busy reinflating) crashing back down. One of the main motors they're depending on to pull the US out of recession is exports, right? Domestic spending looks to be a bit weak these next coupla years, so if you can't get out there and flog yer stuff to yer neighbours, whatcha got?
They may go for better labour & environmental standards and such, but I can tell you - this ain't no time for any US politician to be floating anti-foreigner talk. The US needs the world, and the world needs the US.
October 14, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah. NAFTA is a minefield for them right now. Even leaving out what you said, Q, there's so many different groups of people within the states whose votes are desired that it's a tricky subject to stumble around.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/elections_other/99449.php
There was a surrogate debate on it - who knew?
October 14, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink