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Trump rhetoric riles councilllor

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Norfolk County is keeping its powder dry in response to provocative remarks about Canada from U.S. President Donald Trump.

At Tuesday’s meeting of Norfolk council, Simcoe Coun. Peter Black wanted to know if the county should take action now that Trump has called the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) into question.

Trump has accused Canada of taking advantage of the U.S. and has imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.

He also has made disputed claims that Canada is running a hefty trade surplus with the U.S. due to unfair practices.

Trump’s latest salvo involves supply-managed sectors of the Canadian economy, such as dairy and egg production.

Supply management requires Canada to maintain import tariffs on American production in the range of 300 per cent. The American government protects and subsidizes its farmers but not with a supply-managed quota system.

Trump has called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “weak” and a “back-stabber” for telling reporters that Canada “will not be pushed around” when it comes to trade.

Black said he wonders whether Norfolk County should modify its purchasing policy to exclude American companies and products now that the Trump administration is erecting tariff barriers against the Canadian economy. Black noted that Canadian municipalities elsewhere are asking the same question.

As it stands, Norfolk’s purchasing and tendering policies welcome all vendors and providers regardless of location or nationality.

The only stipulation is that vendors and providers are qualified and are willing to deliver the required goods and services at the lowest price. When it comes to purchasing, Norfolk does not discriminate on the basis of geography.

As a practical matter, CAO David Cribbs suggested that Norfolk stand pat. The vast majority of Norfolk purchasing, Cribbs said, involves bulk shipments of salt, gravel, construction materials and the like.

Due to travel distances and delivery costs, Cribbs said it doesn’t make sense for suppliers and providers from far away to bid on Norfolk contracts. It’s not economical, he said, for companies to transport heavy equipment, workers and materials great distances.

As such, Cribbs said Norfolk has few opportunities to deal with American firms.

“Your staff is far more focused on the provincial election and its far greater impact on the municipal corporation now and into the future,” Cribbs said.

That’s where the discussion ended.

“I thought it was a sad day for the relationship between our two countries,” Black said of last weekend’s comments from the Trump administration. “We are completely interlinked.”

MSonnenberg@postmedia.com 

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