[War] US: One, Two, Three, Four, I Declare A Trade War

[John Penta]

"One, Two, Three, Four, I Declare A Trade War"
23 June 2014
Anonymous Bureaucrats
United States
============
<Washington>

"One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war," announced the bored DOJ lawyer.

Summer in DC was boring.

Canadians thinking NAFTA didn't apply to them, trying to protect their
companies from takeover.

Yes, yes, globalization was mean, and said not-nice things about a
country's level of control over its own destiny. However, trying to
avoid it as Canada was trying to do did break treaties.

And that was worse.

NAFTA held the economy of several Canadian provinces together.

NAFTA held North American trade together, *period*.

So the US was going to be rational and adult in its response to an
irrational and childish action.

It was going to file a lawsuit in the relevant NAFTA tribunal, seeking
an injunction against the provisions of the anti-takeover
legislation...And seeking permission for countervailing duties...Which
would rack up in the billions of dollars.

Also, the State Department would excoriate Canada for inflaming a
petty trade issue when there were troops about to go into action
against Iran - not quite a stab in the back, but certainly unhelpful
and unnecessary,

Congress would get a quiet shrug of nonchalance when it roared for an
equal beating of the Canadians. The White House was working with the
Hill to keep the rhetoric sane and measured.

But if the Canadians really wanted a trade war, a trade war they would get.
---
Actions:
1. File lawsuit with NAFTA tribunal re Canadian anti-takeover
legislation. 10,000 pages and counting.
2. State to slam Canada for doing this when there are troops readying
for war with Iran.
3. Congress advised to keep the rhetoric sane and controlled. Don't
start talkin stupid.
4. You want a trade war, bub? Ya got one.