Protectionism makes strange bedfellows. Consider the unlikely alliance of a left-wing Canadian union leader and Donald Trump's secretary of commerce. The social democrat and the billionaire banker together symbolize an emerging left-right protectionist alliance that could undermine the gains that have been made from freer trade since World War II.
They apparently agree on a key element of renegotiation of NAFTA: The call for tougher labor standards in Mexico. They make it clear, in case anyone had any doubt, that union leaders in Canada and the United States are not pursuing this goal because of their concerns about the livelihoods of Mexican workers. It is just another attempt to save jobs in developed countries. Unfortunately, the move could backfire on all three nations.
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