What the U.S Presidential Election Means for Canada
By: Cedric Bell, Reporter
(Photo Credit: Creative Commons)
The U.S presidential elections are fast approaching as they will be taking place on November 3rd. It’s a big deal, specifically for those living in the United States, since whoever the winning candidate is will significantly impact the direction they take on a variety of topics in the future. For Canadians, however, the impact of the U.S election is still something to consider because the results will invariably affect Canada in some way.
All the ways that the election will affect Canada are not immediately apparent and will be impossible to specifically predict. It is possible, however, to speculate on what could happen and what it will mean for Canada, since the only certain thing about the election is that it will somehow affect Canada too. Some of the most pressing effects that the vote will have on Canada include economic and environmental impacts, as well as changes in international relations. The presidential election will affect economies worldwide and Canada is no exception. During the Trump Administration, tariffs were placed on Canadian steel and aluminum imports, which have since been dropped. These tariffs did have an impact, as they lasted for about two years, and threaten to reappear. The results of this next election could mean more or less restrictions placed on trade between Canada and the U.S, as Joe Biden’s platform is promising less tariffs and more free trade, while Trump being re-elected could mean more restrictions being imposed on Canada. Additionally, how the U.S does financially will impact Canadian finances, meaning that if the value of the U.S dollar goes down, Canada’s could too. Often, the U.S stock market tends to fluctuate lightly pre and post-election, meaning that the changes to their economy could cause changes in ours, too.
Not only will the changes in U.S-international relations affect Canada, but the international stage as a whole. If Biden wins, he has claimed that he wishes to re-enter into several agreements that the U.S had previously abandoned, such as the Paris Accords and the Pan-Pacific-Trade pact, which would affect the U.S’s standing with other global political actors. If Trump wins however, these agreements will likely stay abandoned. Covid-19 has also thrown a curveball into international relations, especially with Canada. The two presidential candidates have differing views on how it should be handled, with Biden supporting masks and other safety restrictions, and Trump having notoriously lax procedures. Canada has remained closed to the U.S for some time now, and the speed at which it is reopened to them will depend heavily on which candidate wins, since Biden taking office could mean a speedier recovery for the U.S rather than if Trump is re-elected.
The environmental impact that the election is going to have shouldn’t be ignored either; as previously mentioned, Biden plans to re-enter the Paris Accords. The environmental influence doesn't stop there. Trump’s platform seems to be running on promises to increase oil production and drilling, which have been shown to be environmentally hazardous practices, while the Biden platform is suggesting more renewable energy. Additionally, Biden has suggested putting restrictions on those not adhering to environmental protections. One of the most contentious issues in Canada, the Keystone XL pipeline, would also be denied into the U.S if he holds office.
Overall, the election seems like it’s going to have a massive impact on Canada. The effects will be far reaching and will likely influence Canada’s economy, international relations between the U.S and Canada, and be environmentally impacting not only Canada, but the world at large. It appears that a democratic victory in the United States would benefit Canada, while a republican victory could be a detriment, but how the election will actually affect Canada in practice remains to be seen.