Originally Posted by Sunset Poet
Steve,

Question #1 - Is there a trade deficit? Yes.
Question #2 - Is it an organic thing that grew over time and represents the OPTIMAL relationship between the 2 countries in its current state?
Question #3 - Or has it become bloated in favor of Canada?

Marty's answer:
I do not know. I'm just an old guy spectating from Texas, but I'm delighted that people smarter than me are looking into it.


That's all I got Steve.

Marty

I get the feeling, Marty. that you don't really know much about how trade deficits/surpluses occur...Rob B. had the right answer but you chose to ignore his point in your response ..... Having governments trying to balance trade between countries with different sized economies is crazy"

Trade deficits don't get bloated in "favour" of one country over another they just happen

The disadvantage you have is this: the US is exporting to a market of 40 million people with a maximum upside in 2025 of maybe $500B to $600B
Canada is exporting to a market of 341 million people....8.5 times bigger....our upside is 4 to 5 Trillion...tariffs have nothing to do with it...
There have been three free trade agreements between Canada and the US, the last 2 with Mexico....your guys signed all three and our guys signed all three with the trade restrictions clearly noted....the last one signed by Trump....everything was out in the open....my suggestion is you have someone phone Musk and tell him to fire the US negotiators....they just might be the problem


One last point....the deficit is not going away and it is going to get very much bigger because you need our natural resources and energy which make about 40-50% of our exports to the US

Just some thoughts

Steve

Last edited by VNORTH2; 03/31/25 08:23 PM.
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