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Since Donald Trump became the 47th US president on January 20, 2025, we have been living with trade tariffs almost 24/7. Tariffs going up, down, set, reset, extended, lowered, upped... it has not stopped. The continuous media coverage with politicians, lawyers, economists, professors and with everybody explaining, re-explaining, criticizing, defending, rationalizing and more on tariffs ... so here is my take.
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Canada is under attack economically. The timing is delicate as Canada is undergoing a critical change of leadership. Change is good but changing horse in the midst of a battle requires wise planning and smart execution. Survival is not optional. What is optional is how to respondand counter attack. Knowing more about US reasons and objectives should help us better prepare our response.
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When your best friend turns against you
What do you do when your best friend of many years turns against you abruptly and unexpectedly? He/she suddenly changes from being supportive, encouraging and loyal to uncaring, aggressive and threatening? Your first reaction may be surprised and unbelief. You attempt to discuss... talk ... dialog ... hoping your friend changes behavior ... apologizes or at least respond to your peace offering. To your disappointment you discover he/she is convinced that you have abused of the many years of friendship and continues with more persistent harsh attacks ... your disappointment may turn to anger and now you are in a serious conflict reacting with tit-for-tat.
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Three true stories about Canada
It may be wise and helpful to pause for few minutes from the 24/7 doom and gloom media coverage of the last few weeks. Tariffs are coming ... going ... delayed ... doubled... up... down ... a recession is expected ... a soft landing ... a hard landing ... stock market crash ... correction ... bulls out ... bears in ...and more ... it has not stopped. A little “time out” may be good. Here are three stories that tell what Canada is all about, especially that we are preparing to elect a new Prime Minister.
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Following up on my last blog “Pruning season for Canada,” I ask today, is it good advice to “ treat others the way we’d like to be treated? Easy to respond yes in general, but difficult when being under attack and indeed, today, Canada is under attack. Let me start by saying that I am not the kind to roll over when attacked. Defending is not a choice; it is vital. Survival is not optional. What is optional is how to respond and counter attack. My experience tells me that knowing more about my attacker’s reasons, behavior, objectives and demands should help me better prepare my response for win-win negotiations.
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The recent trade tariffs imposed by the US new administration on goods from Canada and Mexico threaten to deliver serious negative economic damage to Canada, Mexico and the US. So why is the US administration imposing these tariffs? What can Canada do to respond and how can we negotiate our way to a win-win solution? To respond to these big questions... let’s just take a moment to go back to basics.
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Revisiting our priority default setting!
What it takes to be a successful leader appears to be one of the most important topics researched and discussed today. Leadership in business, in politics and in just about every area of life. Nowhere do I see however, the need to adjust priorities for leaders in the list of attributes and “must haves”.
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A unique life lesson experience
Many years ago, before smartphone were invented, I was visiting with my boss Disney World in Orlando, Florida. We had won a corporate award to visit the US. Halfway through the day, he noticed that he had lost his camera. We were not sure, when and where he inadvertently left it. We went back on our tracks in an attempt to find the camera, but with no success. My boss was discouraged and sad as the camera was expensive. I halted the “pity party” by suggesting we go to the Lost and Found service desk and inquire. He said, Hugh, we are with thousands of people in this huge place and this “was” a real expensive and nice camera. You are very naïve to think someone will return it, to which I replied, let’s just go and inquire. No harm in trying.
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Three suggested solutions ... simple but not easy
As we approach Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year holidays, we have a postal strike timed during a most busy period when many Canadians businesses and households still rely on Canada Post to serve them. Very bad timing from Canada Post, an Agent Crown Corporation of our Federal government. On one hand the Federal Government is relieving the GST/HST for 2 months to help Canadians and on the other hand its own Crown corporation is causing adverse help on Canadian business and households.
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Trying to reach a live person to answer the phone in most large organisations has been accepted to be an exceptional event. Be it a bank, a hospital, a telephone company, a retailer, whatever... all have installed the automated systems with which we are familiar. Thank you for calling but please go to our website. While the automated systems were mostly reserved to large organisations, the automation is expanding to SME’s (small and medium size businesses) – whom I assume – are thinking if the big companies do it, we should do it too. Making the transfer to an automated system is easy today with “cloud based” software services that are readily available and priced at a budget monthly cost. The technology and the monthly budget pricing is tempting but is it the right thing to do?