Will Canada and the US see greater integration?

[Vega]

It will be 30 years since Canada started Free Trade with the US in 2017, but there hasn't been much movement on integrating the two countries economically or politically since then (via customs union, common market, that route).

So, will Canada and the US see further integration and involvement through the process of a customs union, etc. like the EU and the EEC before it?

[Hatman 🍁]

Any kind of economic union would be dominated by the US, so it would be political suicide here.

[Vega]

Any kind of economic union would be dominated by the US, so it would be political suicide here.

They said that about free trade though.

[RogueBeaver]

Doubtful. Though if it were to happen, most likely a Liberal/Democratic project like mid-20th century continentalism.

[Asian Nazi]

The EU/Eurozone works because no single nation dominates it.  The closest thing we have is Germany, but they always need France to sign off on anything, even if the Germans are usually the ones taking the lead.  Any North American political/customs union is going to be totally and completely dominated by the United States and would resemble an empire more than an internationalist liberal project.

And yeah, it would never fly politically on either side of the border.  Canada's entire national identity is based on being Not American, and while they essentially do this while being as American as possible, visibly acknowledging it would be self-destructive --- little else holds together the Canadian people than their Not Americanness.  And in the United States, well, Americans don't like the idea of being personally responsible to anyone else or taken advantage of.  Despite the obviously massive benefits of NATO and other military agreements to the country, American people and leadership constantly whine whine whine about other countries not pulling their weight.  The last thing Americans want is to be responsible for someone else.

[Vega]

Doubtful. Though if it were to happen, most likely a Liberal/Democratic project like mid-20th century continentalism.

That's interesting. I would think that the Conservatives would be the most likely partner for a customs union or further integration, but historically it makes absolute sense.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Not bilaterally. Maybe someday as part of an AU that encompasses all of the Americas. Brazil and Mexico have the potential to become counterweights to the U.S., but they aren't there yet and won't be anytime soon. Just the U.S. and Canada getting closer on their own makes as much sense as just France and Belgium.

[Vega]

Not bilaterally. Maybe someday as part of an AU that encompasses all of the Americas. Brazil and Mexico have the potential to become counterweights to the U.S., but they aren't there yet and won't be anytime soon. Just the U.S. and Canada getting closer on their own makes as much sense as just France and Belgium.

I see your point, but in thinking that wouldn't you also say there was no point in free trade?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Not bilaterally. Maybe someday as part of an AU that encompasses all of the Americas. Brazil and Mexico have the potential to become counterweights to the U.S., but they aren't there yet and won't be anytime soon. Just the U.S. and Canada getting closer on their own makes as much sense as just France and Belgium.

I see your point, but in thinking that wouldn't you also say there was no point in free trade?

Free trade doesn't touch upon governance and the parties involved can easily pull back from it if they choose.

[Blue3]

Any kind of economic union would be dominated by the US

That wouldn't be a bad thing.