Article content

The Americans have never been good at listening to foreigners – “consultation” usually means lecturing or bullying.

This state of affairs is hardly likely to improve when Donald Trump brings his particular brand of megaphone diplomacy to the White House.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or John Ivison: Trump's Buy America pledge could set off a trade war with Canada because of a ferry terminal Back to video

For Canada, one of the first potential flashpoints in the new bilateral universe could be in Prince Rupert, B.C.

Even prior to Trump’s election, the Americans were threatening to cut ferry services to the port city on the province’s northern coast, unless Ottawa allows Buy America provisions to apply on Canadian soil – something the previous government called “an affront to Canadian sovereignty”.

The state of Alaska leases a ferry terminal in Prince Rupert and wants it re-built using Buy America rules that freeze out Canadian companies bidding on the contract.

The threat to cut service was made by Michael Neussl, the state’s deputy commission of Transport, in a letter to Lee Brain, the mayor of Prince Rupert, which suggested that Ottawa must revoke anti-sanction measures it introduced last January that made it illegal for construction companies to bow to U.S.-only steel purchasing rules.