Freeland hits back at Kushner book, calls Trump a ‘bully’ during new NAFTA talks
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says former U.S. President Donald Trump used “bully” techniques throughout negotiations on a brand new North American free-trade settlement greater than two years in the past.
Freeland was requested Thursday to reply to a characterization of herself as a irritating and tough negotiator in a brand new memoir by Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner.
“Once you’re threatened by a bully the reply is to not collapse,” she mentioned. “The reply is to be united, and to face sturdy.”
She initially linked the notion to Ukraine standing as much as Russian President Vladimir Putin however shortly mentioned she wasn’t attempting in any method to evaluate the plight of Ukrainians to Canada’s dealings with its largest buying and selling companion.
In his e-book Breaking Historical past, Kushner accused Freeland of purposely stalling negotiations and talking publicly concerning the talks in opposition to the needs of the White Home.
He mentioned Canada, with Freeland on the helm, engaged in “an more and more irritating collection of negotiations” and “refusing to decide to any substantive adjustments.”
He was additionally crucial of her for leaving the negotiations and holding press conferences with Canadian journalists “uttering platitudes like ‘I receives a commission in Canadian {dollars}, not U.S. {dollars}.’”
Freeland didn’t immediately confront any of Kushner’s assertions however mentioned Canada’s finest asset in these negotiations was a united entrance on the talks offered by Conservative premiers and the federal Liberal authorities.
That united entrance included public statements backing the federal government in opposition to Trump by then-Conservative chief Andrew Scheer and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
“Canada’s Conservatives proceed to assist the Prime Minister’s efforts to make the case free of charge commerce. Divisive rhetoric and private assaults from the US administration are clearly unhelpful.,” Scheer tweeted on June 10, 2018.
That got here after Trump known as Trudeau “very dishonest and weak.”
“We are going to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Prime Minister and the individuals of Canada,” Ford mentioned, responding to the identical insult.
