Trudeau needs to 'get his hands dirty' to deal with Biden's Buy American policy: Mulroney
With U.S. President Joe Biden forging ahead with a new 鈥楤uy American鈥 strategy for the auto sector, former prime minister Brian Mulroney says that it鈥檚 time for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to head to Washington, D.C. and 鈥済et his hands dirty鈥 making his case for why the proposal is wrong.
Biden laid out his Build Back Better a plan he promises will create millions of American jobs, and includes an electric vehicle tax credit on U.S. manufactured cars.
This is of concern to Canada, with International Trade Minister Mary Ng warning that this kind of provision could harm jobs in Canada鈥檚 auto manufacturing sector, and may even contradict existing trade agreements.
鈥樷漈here are a lot of protectionists in there [Congress]. The Prime Minister has to see beyond that, and get down there, and get his hands dirty working with the Americans and saying: 鈥楾his is wrong,鈥欌 Mulroney said in an interview with Evan Solomon that is airing on CTV鈥檚 Question Period on Sunday.
鈥淭he Prime Minister's got to say 鈥榯his is unacceptable to Canada, privately, and here's why.鈥 Make his case, and I'll bet you $1 to a doughnut, good things are going to happen.鈥
Mulroney said that, while Biden and Trudeau appear to have a solid relationship, 鈥渢he results of that are not seen yet,鈥 as Canada hasn鈥檛 gotten very far in making the case against Biden鈥檚 鈥楤uy American鈥 approach.
鈥淭he Canada-U.S. file is like the national unity file, only the prime minister can handle this. It's so vital to our well-being, this is not something you can delegate,鈥 Mulroney said. 鈥淚f you have a great personal relationship with the President of the United States and the leadership in Congress on both sides of the equation, if you have that 鈥攁nd you must have it if you're the Prime Minister of Canada 鈥 great things can happen.鈥
TOUGHEST CHALLENGE FOR JOLY?
On Tuesday, Trudeau tapped Melanie Joly to be Canada鈥檚 fifth foreign affairs minister in six years.
Asked what he thinks her biggest challenge will be coming into the high-ranking portfolio, Mulroney said it will be to 鈥渞eassert Canada's role as a major player in the world.鈥
鈥淔irst of all, we鈥檝e got to honour our own obligations. We鈥檙e delinquent on our NATO payments, we鈥檙e delinquent in respect of the commitment for foreign aid 鈥 And you don't get anywhere unless your interlocutors know that you're a serious country that pays its bills鈥 We can't assert leadership claims if we're not honouring our basic commitments to the world community,鈥 Mulroney said.
鈥淚 know her, I think that she's an able, charming person, who could do a very good job for Canada internationally. But I think she's going to have to pay attention to the basics.鈥
OPPOSITION SHOULD BACK LIBS
More broadly, Mulroney said that the biggest challenges facing the federal Liberal government on the world stage today are twofold: China and climate change.
鈥淭hose are the two international challenges that require strong, principled leadership. You know, prime ministers are not elected for popularity, they're elected to provide leadership. And there are times when Canadians have to be told not what they want to know, but what they have to know. Not what they want to hear, but what they have to know,鈥 Mulroney said.
鈥淎nd what they have to know is that those are the two main challenges, and if Canada is going to play a constructive international role, it must be in tandem with other industrialized nations dealing with those two matters.鈥
He said he thinks Canada is equipped and ready to do this, and that 鈥渢o the extent possible, all political parties should support the government as they pursue solutions vital for Canada in these two important areas.鈥
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