USA

One of U.S. President Donald Trump’s freshly signed executive orders puts the Liberal government’s digital services tax into the sights of America’s Commerce, Treasury and Trade departments, threatening to further irritate the trade relationship between the two countries.

The America First Trade Policy, signed into force by Trump Monday evening, seeks to ensure America’s trading relationships bring maximum benefit to “American workers, manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs and businesses.”

It directs his secretaries of the Treasury and Commerce departments as well as the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate whether foreign countries are subjecting U.S. “citizens or corporations to discriminatory or extraterritorial taxes.”

One of the major differences between growing up as part of the Baby Boomer generation and the generations that followed, is that the Boomers were raised in a time with far less adult protection for children. The equipment in the schoolyard was known to break limbs and knock heads, beginners’ chemistry sets given as gifts contained harmful substances and many children received a Daisy rifle when they turned twelve.

It was Canadian author Ronald Wright who noted that each time history repeats itself, the cost goes up.

In a press conference held at a cabinet retreat in Quebec , Justin Trudeau was asked whether he is frustrated that Donald Trump is once again threatening to impose tariffs on Canada.

“We’ve been here before,” he said. “The first Trump presidency represented moments of uncertainty and threats of instability, and we were able to work through that constructively.”

That’s true. But in his first term, Trump did not threaten to charge an extra 25 per cent on everything crossing the border.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is “counting down the days” until Justin Trudeau leaves office.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Smith said she hopes Trudeau does not continue “torching” Canada’s relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump in terms of trade relations. Smith spoke with reporters after attending Trump’s inauguration in Washington D.C.