Stephen Clarkson’s Radical Critique of Canada’s Relationship with the United States

Abstract

The text shows that Stephen Clarkson, who pioneered an original Canadian foreign policy, was worried by the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (and NAFTA). He was concerned by the absence of a true governance in the domains of the environment and labour in North America. Clarkson was also worried by the creation of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, in which the United States ignores its partners and often takes unilateral measures. He anticipated the problems of our time, which were amplified during Trump’s presidency. We argue that Canada’s ability to react must be used at the same time it diversifies its relationships with other partners. Unfortunately, the agreements with the EFTA, the EU, and the CPTPP are not enough. The goals of the Liberal government, presented by Chrystia Freeland, at the time Minister of Foreign Affairs in June 2017, could not be implemented.