Greg Quinn: The U.K. has ghosted Canada
And I regret to report our silence on Trump's tariffs and bluster is because we are afraid that we might be next.
By: Greg Quinn
Those of you who have read my previous pieces in The Line know that I haven’t been afraid to call Canada out when it deserves it — particularly when it comes to defence spending and trade barriers with my native United Kingdom.
Those issues are still a problem, and Canada does need to step up to the plate — now more than ever. But at the same time, the Western world (and particularly the U.K.) needs to be clear about one thing: what U.S. President Donald Trump is currently doing to Canada (and Mexico) isn’t just wrong. It’s unacceptable extortion.
On February 3rd the European Union signalled its support for Canada (though I think everyone should be cautious about suggestions that Canada should join the EU …) when Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, stated there are “no winners in trade wars.”
Meanwhile, the U.K. has been studiously quiet — not a great look for a country that has long advocated for free trade and is the birthplace of Adam Smith.
The U.K. likes to see itself as a world leader in many ways — good governance, values, the rules-based international system, climate change, and all the rest. It does have a lot to be proud of on these and other issues. Yet, when it comes to President Trump and his clear desire to uproot the foundations of international trade — and, dare I say it, the rules-based international system — we remain silent. If the President himself is the biggest threat to that system, then the UK must speak up.
Why has the U.K. been so reserved on this issue when it has been vocal on others? A very good question, and unfortunately one I find somewhat disturbing to answer. I can only see one explanation. Cowardice. And the naive belief that keeping our heads down will keep us out of the crosshairs.
That, of course, is bad policy, bad analysis, and outright delusional. In remarks about U.S.-U.K. trade, President Trump has already threatened the U.K., saying we are “out of line.” He will, no doubt, get around to us in due course. Canada’s High Commissioner to London, Ralph Goodale, has made it clear that we need to be prepared to be next.
And yet. Are we afraid to stand up to the President? It appears so. Do we think sycophancy will help? Apparently, yes.
It won’t work, of course. The only thing President Trump will respond to is strength and a unified position from as many countries as possible. If the U.K. wants to be a global leader, this is the moment. Let’s play The Art of the Deal and show that we are just as skilled in negotiation as he fancies himself. This is a moment when the like-minded international community must stand together and say: enough is enough. Tough men talking tough only respect those who stand firm in return.
Canada has made a strong start with clear statements on tariffs and firm responses from some of the provincial premiers. However, just when many were (wrongly, in my opinion) celebrating a so-called Canadian “victory” in President Trump’s decision to delay the imposition of his initial round of tariffs, on February 10th, President Trump announced 25-per-cent tariffs on steel and aluminium. Whilst these are applicable globally, they will hit Canada especially hard.
The rest of us now need to get with the program. Canada is one of the U.K.’s closest friends and allies. We have fought together. We have died together. We have defended democracy, good governance, and the rule of law together — including in Guyana in 2020, where I was High Commissioner. Canada, the EU, the U.S., and the U.K. stood firm against an attempted election theft by the then-government.
We must stand united again. Division only benefits President Trump. “Divide and rule” is a key weapon in his arsenal. The more we avoid playing into it, the better positioned we are to achieve what is necessary.
In short, here’s what I would like to see:
A clear U.K. statement in support of Canada (and Mexico), declaring the threatened tariffs unacceptable and unnecessary. They hurt everyone — including American citizens — and only embolden those who oppose our values.
Discussions between the EU, Canada, Mexico, and the U.K. to coordinate a response to U.S. actions.
A global alliance of like-minded countries presenting a united front against American pressure.
At the same time, we must be clear that, for us at least, there is a distinction between defence and economic policy. The Americans do have legitimate complaints about allied defence spending, and those should be addressed. We should continue to increase our defence spending, remain firm in our commitment to the international order, and avoid giving comfort to our adversaries.
But the economic coercion needs to be seen for what it is — economic warfare against friendly nations being waged by a U.S. president and his allies as they seek to upend generations of progress toward a closer, richer Western Alliance. That must be clearly identified, called out and resisted. Canada, Mexico and Europe are doing this already. It’s time for my own country to join the party.
Greg Quinn, OBE, is a former British diplomat who has served in Estonia, Ghana, Belarus, Iraq, Washington, DC, Kazakhstan, Guyana, Suriname, The Bahamas, Canada, and Antigua and Barbuda, in addition to postings in London. He now runs his own government relations, business development, and crisis management consultancy: Aodhan Consultancy Ltd.
The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today.
The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Follow us on Twitter @the_lineca. Pitch us something: lineeditor@protonmail.com
I was a just thinking about this yesterday how we haven’t heard a word from the King or from the UK.
As for being part of the EU. Hell no. What a horrible horrible idea. Worse than joining the US. We have enough problems with excess migrants without suddenly finding ourselves with the migrant problem most countries in the EU are facing. Not to mention our completely different culture and different continent. People sure do love to come up with ridiculous ideas rather than doing the work to fix what is actually wrong with the governance and institutions in the country. (News flash: joining the EU wouldn’t fix that either.)
Maybe, just maybe, British elites are only now beginning to grasp what many working class Canadians are only now realizing: perhaps Trump is not the problem. Perhaps Trump's policies are not the problem: they just reveal it. Maybe, just maybe, the coddled chattering classes are beginning to grasp that shooting the messenger as a national policy (think rape gangs for Britain or Trudeau as a way of life) doesn't address the problem of either country becoming a failed state.
Maybe us lower class plebes have started to get through to our 'elected and non-elected self appointed or coronated betters' that handing immigration over to immigrants carries with it dramatic negative national consequences... not just for those who don't earn enough to have any shot at achieving through hard work and savings our national dreams for a higher quality of life once obtainable for previous generations but... for any reasonable hope for responsible national governance. I don't see any representatives for that dying hope other than Trump. And doesn't that say something!
Blaming Trump for our spectacular national failures while producing irresponsible governance for decades does nothing to correct direction other than put off meaningful and positive change. Again. More and more people are seeing this circling the drain fact on the ground and in the streets and I think it scares the living shit out of politicians who have nothing but 'communication skills' (aka passing the buck with nice sounding words) to offer. When offering such platitudes and blaming everyone else doesn't work to alter reality, shutting one's mouth is the last best hope.