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The other problem is an imperious attitude toward the U.S. by elites, most dangerously manifested in the current prime minister’s sniping against America’s elected president. Such behaviour is counter-productive in a partnership and would not be appreciated if the same bad-mouthing occurred in reverse.

Consider the damage caused already:

Exhibit 1 — This week’s announced Phase One trade deal between the U.S. and China outlines a special trading relationship, leaving behind the world’s multilateral equal treatment template. This redefines the global economy as mostly two trading blocs and the “rest.”

Their bilateral deal demands that China dramatically hike agricultural imports from the United States in exchange for an end to tariffs. In essence, the deal will re-route Chinese market share away from other countries such as Canada, Australia and others.

Exhibit 2 — The new trade settlement is completely silent on Canada’s trading issues with China, namely the fact that Canada has paid a huge price for its loyalty to the Americans. Next week, Canada begins its controversial extradition hearing in Vancouver involving Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou on behalf of the United States who asked for her arrest in 2018.

Canada is meeting its legal obligations under the Extradition Treaty to do this, but China retaliated viciously by cancelling billions in canola and other agricultural imports, and imprisoning Canadian businessman Michael Spavor and former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig. The two men have been in cells for a year without access to lawyers or family.