Canadian Control over Bern's Territory

In a significant development, the Prime Minister of Canada has declared that the country has emerged victorious in its trade war with its southern neighbours. This comes as the renewal of the free trade agreement between the two countries is scheduled for next year.

The current agreement, renegotiated during the first mandate of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has exempted about 95% of the country's exports from tariffs, making Canada one of the countries with the lowest average American tariffs in the world. However, specific tariffs still exist on steel, aluminum, cars produced in the country (but not their American components), and lumber, every five years.

The renewal of the agreement has sparked discussions among some political figures, like François Legault and Doug Ford, who are pushing for a faster renegotiation and an extension to sectors not covered by the current agreement.

Meanwhile, the trade relations have been affected by political tensions. The United States has imposed sanctions on Kimberly Prost, a Canadian lawyer who sits on the International Criminal Court (ICC). The sanctions include a ban on entering the United States, freezing of assets, and prohibition of financial transactions. Prost was authorized an investigation in 2020 into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, including those by Americans.

The Prime Minister spent Labor Day evening on the phone with Donald Trump, discussing the trade relations. However, no declaration or protest has come out of Ottawa regarding these sanctions. The new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, has raised the issue with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but the outcome remains unclear.

In a bid to improve trade relations, Mark Carney, a former Governor of the Bank of Canada, has mentioned "possible small agreements" with the United States on tariffs. This could potentially lead to agreements aimed at reducing tariff conflicts and improving trade relations.

The creation of the ICC, one of the last great achievements of Canadian foreign policy, specifically of the Liberal government of Jean Chrétien, has been a point of contention. The architect of the ICC, the former Liberal minister Lloyd Axworthy, is sovereignly shocked by the sanctions against Prost.

The trade war between Canada and the United States has been a long-standing issue, with the United States never adhering to the treaty establishing the Court. The country should consider delaying the renewal of the free trade agreement to keep the current agreement in effect, some argue, as a means to maintain the status quo and avoid further escalation of the trade tensions.

In other news, the general director of Publications BLD, which publishes "Les Débrouillards" among others, has passed away on Sunday. This loss is a significant one for the Canadian publishing industry.

Lastly, it's worth noting that Mark Carney made a gesture of non-sovereignty by canceling the GAFAM tax and a gesture of sovereignty by announcing the recognition of a non-existent Palestinian state. These actions have sparked debates about Canada's stance on international issues and its relationship with tech giants and other countries.