Naphta Nonsense

“Beggar thy neighbour” may not be good policy, but it is predictable in hard economic times, especially in election cycles. Thus, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, debating in the Rust-Belt state of Ohio, promised to reopen NAFTA and even cancel it if the Canadians and Mexicans didn’t agree to renegotiate. But then came “NAFTA-gate,” a silly episode in which the Harper government was accused of trying to derail the Obama campaign for the benefit of John McCain, followed by the leak of a low-level diplomatic note by Canadian consular officials, advising Ottawa to pay no heed to Obama’s rhetoric, which hurt Obama’s prospects on the eve of the Ohio vote. Robin Sears backgrounds an episode of spring fever. . .

By IRPP, Canada.

Governance Policy Resource.