What’s behind Trump-Trudeau feud? Under WTO, Trump can only impose tariffs on Canada by declaring it, in effect, a national security threat. Trudeau called it “kind of insulting” for Canadians to be deemed a threat having fought “shoulder to shoulder” with US in so many wars. 1/
2/ This is apparently the comment that led Kudlow & others to claim Trudeau “stabbed Trump in the back”. What is required to invoke national security exception under WTO? First, “security interests relating to fissionable materials or the materials from which they are derived”
3/ Second, threats “relating to the traffic in arms, ammunition and implements of war and to such traffic in other goods and materials as is carried on directly or indirectly for the purpose of supplying”
4/ Third, actions “taken in time of war or other emergency in international relations”. Fourth, “to prevent any contracting party from taking any action in pursuance of its obligations under the United Nations Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security”
5/ Has Canada, or allies UK, France or Germany, met any of those conditions? Is it reasonable for the PM of Canada to say it is “kind of insulting” to be categorized as such a national security threat? Please advise.
