Writing to Policy OPTIONS Politiques Dustin Fergusson-Vaux has expressed his views that the Trump administration’s disruption of conventional U.S. policies has wide implications. On one hand, the U.S.’s bilateral relations with Canada, while on the other, the U.S.’s approach to the world has prompted a flood of suggestions that Ottawa considers following up on various well-honed policy frontiers.
They include reducing interprovincial trade barriers. Additionally, Canada should strengthen its national defence and security, as well as its international relations. Additionally, the government should modify its procurement plans to prioritise domestic suppliers.
Canada should also focus on the Caribbean basin to help find its new global purpose. Ottawa may need to maximise its long-standing relationship with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to restore and burnish its Canadian middle-power status. Additionally, it is crucial to uphold the internationalist principles that aided the institute almost a century ago.
Ottawa may resort to four steps to achieve that goal. Expand access to Canada’s domestic market for CARICOM services, besides investment sectors; exempt vulnerable CARICOM businesses from direct competition with more powerful Canadian competitors; revamp Canada’s temporary foreign worker programs; and stop the practice of deporting convicted criminals to their countries of birth.
The steps range from acting in unison to finding a new path.
Since the early 20th century, in general, and the post-2nd World War period in particular, the Canada-US relationship moved with an unusually high level of symbiosis towards strategic partners elsewhere in the world.
However, recently, the US and Canada have had distinctly different geo-strategic postures towards the Pan-American region.
U.S. foreign policy is uncharacteristically distant from the Caribbean Basin. This is due to more urgent strategic commitments in both Europe and Asia, which have led to a reallocation of resources and focus away from the Caribbean Basin.
Also, the U.S. has exhibited an unprecedented aversion to regional involvement, except for the Venezuelan–Guyanese border dispute. Additionally, there is an intention to expand the U.S. military presence at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in addition to the Panama Canal. This move is despite mounting humanitarian crises that are likely to increase both in frequency and severity.
Deeper engagement with the Caribbean Community countries would help Canada to restore is middle power status, besides preserving Canada’s internationalist principles.
