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Scott Thompson: Canada’s wiggle room shrinking as NAFTA deadline looms

Click to play video: 'Freeland won’t comment on Friday deadline for Canada to enter trade deal'
Freeland won’t comment on Friday deadline for Canada to enter trade deal
Canada's foreign affairs minister, Chrystia Freeland, would not comment Wednesday about the Friday deadline given to them by the Trump administration to enter into the bilateral trade deal between the U.S. and Mexico, instead saying they were optimistic about talks this week – Aug 29, 2018

It looks like Canada has until the end of the week to hammer out an agreement on the new NAFTA deal Mexico has signed with the U.S. and without us.

Donald Trump has been quite vocal that Canada has been left out of the talks on purpose due to our non-movement on issues like the dairy and auto industries.

None of that seems to matter at this point as the U.S. and Mexico, at least on the surface, have negotiated a deal that appears to make everyone happy.

Does this mean The Donald’s tactics have worked?

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He basically let Canada paint itself into a corner, then turned to Mexico (as if they’re best friends) to get a deal started.

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In the end, Trump’s bark may be worse than his bite, but don’t underestimate that bite, which still draws blood.

Click to play video: 'Freeland reiterates Canada pushing hard for trade deal, had bilateral talk with Mexico'
Freeland reiterates Canada pushing hard for trade deal, had bilateral talk with Mexico

WATCH: Freeland reiterates Canada pushing hard for trade deal, had bilateral talk with Mexico

Canada’s smaller population produces more products than it consumes, therefore we need trade.

The U.S. has 10 times the population as Canada in which to sell its products, therefore trade is less an issue.

No matter who is running the U.S. we still need them way more than they need us.

This week, we’ll find out just how much.

Scott Thompson is the host of The Scott Thompson Show on Global News Radio 900 CHML

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