Bully.
Noun - a person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker (synonyms: persecutor, oppressor, tyrant, intimidator). Verb - use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force him or her to do what one wants.
Given these definitions, is the United States a "bully?" I think so. Certainly President Donald Trump is. He has all the characteristics of a bully engaging in bullying tactics.
But the United States bullying tactics did not begin with Trump and certainly won't stop once (if) he is out of office. When there were two superpowers - the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. - there was a balance. Neither could bully too hard because of the fear of retaliation.
Add China to the mix and the United States likely felt it was being picked upon. It was the defender of democracy and the rule of law. It was the champion of freedom. And it saw itself as the protector of the West.
However, with collapse of the U.S.S.R. and the westernization of China, the United States no longer had its Cold War enemies to fight with. It was left as the last surviving superpower. The United States assumed it won the war and was the unchallenged champion, the only one left standing on the field.
Looking around for someone else to take on, it engaged in wars in the Middle East and eventually Afghanistan followed by Iraq a second time. After all, what is the point of spending a significant portion of your budget on armed forces if they aren't going to do anything?
Internally, the United States called itself the world's policeman. Externally, other countries either saw the United States as a protector or an antagonist. To many countries, the United States has been a bully.
Not surprisingly, bullying tactics have taken over the U.S. approach to trade negotiations. "Give us what we want or else" seems to be the message. It certainly was back when the FTA between Canada and the United States was negotiated.
The FTA deal really came down to ensuring the Americans unlimited and unfettered access to Canadian oil at reduced rates. Sure, there was language about the Auto Pact, agricultural goods, and freedom of movement for some professionals, but the critical issue for the U.S. was access to our oil.
And we gave it to them.
I have always felt Brian Mulroney and his Conservatives sold out Canada with the agreement. There was lots of singing about "Irish Eyes are smiling" but it was the Americans who walked away with a grin.
We are witnessing the other end of that deal. Alberta is stuck with oil it can't sell at fair and open market values because they are committed to sending oil south of the border. And their only access to the international market is through the United States.
But oil is old news. So is the softwood lumber dispute. It has been going on my entire adult life. The United States uses its strength to stomp on our industrial practices and like every bully there ever was, it expects us to roll over. Fortunately, we have some very tough people fighting the good fight against their tactics.
Now we have The Donald going after Canadian steel and aluminum producers in the name of national security. What? How are we a threat to national security? More importantly, Canada ships 1.4 million metric tonnes of aluminum to the United States every year. How is increasing the price of each tonne going to help the American economy?
Everything is going to increase in price unless the domestic aluminum industry in the United States is able to meet the demand. And that is not likely to happen. Indeed, if aluminum manufacturers south of the border had enough capacity, we wouldn't be exporting so much aluminum.
Ditto the tax on Canadian steel. The border is very fluid with steel moving in both directions. A tariff will simply lead to more costly goods for the typical consumer on both sides of the border.
Neither tariff makes any economic sense but they don't have to. They are the actions of a bully. Someone who uses intimidation tactics to get their own way.
Trump's economic advisor Larry Kudlow thinks Canada is over-reacting, saying: "It's a family quarrel. It can be solved if people are will to work together." But that is a bit like having your older brother saying "Why are you hitting yourself in the face? You know if you would just give me what I want then you wouldn't have to do that." (And if you don't understand that reference, you likely have never been bullied.)
Is the United States a bully? Maybe not, but they are certainly behaving like one. In the end, isn't that what matters?
