Trade: Will U.S. Notice If We Look the Other Way?

(Bogdan Kipling — Chronicle Herald)

Half a year ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper saw a “historic” start in relations between Canada and the European Union. His Quebec City setting was perfect and the occasion was not overstated one bit. Mr. Harper was flanked by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and Jose Manuel Barosso, president of the European Union, as he announced that Canada and the 27 member countries of the EU had a “comprehensive” economic partnership in the works.

Mr. Harper’s statement got little attention in Canada and none in the United States. Three days earlier, Canadians gave the Tories a fresh mandate and Canada’s commentariat was preoccupied with the “what does it mean?” question. Here in Washington, the silence was pretty overwhelming.

Canada fared better, by a whisker, on Tuesday. The Washington Times had a brief story in its “Briefly” roundup of news from the Americas. The Canada item carried the headline “Trade talks begin with EU” and Reuters mentions it in a story about International Trade Minister Stockwell Day’s visit in Washington.

Am I surprised? Heck, no. Canada gets little mention in the American media at the best of times, and right now American papers and TV are full of President Barack Obama’s “First Hundred Days” – in special sections yet. Read more here.