Here we go. If you’ve been under the Treehouse branches for more than a few months, it is now officially time to pull up a rock take a front row seat and enjoy the show. Don’t draw attention to yourself; however, please do bring your favorite beverage, relax and watch what no one else will admit is happening. The 2026 operation to exit the USMCA is officially underway.
While the Snow Mexicans are gnashing their teeth talking about feelings and various shiny things, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is meeting today with Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard to strategize the best approach for a U.S-Mexican bilateral free trade agreement.
Please remember, in order to fully appreciate the moment, we must allow all negotiation pretenses to remain in place, giving the illusion of something that will no longer be present when the end goal is reached.
Jan 28 (Reuters) – U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard agreed during a meeting on Wednesday to begin formal discussions on possible reforms to the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, Greer’s office said.
Possible reforms include stronger rules of origin for key industrial goods, more collaboration on critical minerals, increasing efforts to defend workers and producers, and efforts to combat dumping of manufactured goods, the USTR’s office said in a statement. (LINK)
As we noted at the end of last year, splitting the USMCA into two bilateral trade deals, one for Mexico and one for Canada, will be one of the most interesting and long-term economically significant moves in U.S. trade history. It is going to be a lot of fun to watch these negotiations, and the pre-positioning gives us a preview of what is to come.
Mexico is doing everything almost perfectly in preparation for their bilateral deal. Canada is doing exactly the opposite and positioning themselves for the worst possible outcome of a deal with the USA. The disparity in approaches is so different, even now it is remarkable to watch.
President Trump is establishing an entirely new economic, trade and finance system. The era of the Marshal Plan is over; it has been factually deconstructed in the past 12 months.
Canadians and Europeans are desperately trying to offset the ramifications, hold on to their economic benefits and find a new mechanism to afford the domestic indulgences now eliminated by President Trump.
Needing alternatives for their economies, the EU and Canada are looking to India and China respectively as a financial offset. Meanwhile, so far, Mexico is playing it smarter….
OK, who is bringing the popcorn!! Can’t wait to see how this movie ends.
This is a shameless plug. The very best microwave popcorn I’ve ever had is the AMC theater branded product. It pops big and has just the right amount of salt on it. But what makes it so good/evil is that they include “butter oil” packets to put on it — the same totally unhealthy stuff they give patrons in their theaters the option to put on their popcorn.
For a microwave product…just the best!
I prefer good old fashioned melted butter on my popcorn. The flavored stuff is chemical nutrition at best.
But, to each his own. 😉
Old fashion white popcorn and real Wisconsin butter! Cooked in a kettle.
Spoken like someone who appreciates, and enjoys the finer things in life!
I like the Walmart cheap stuff cooked in a wok with coconut oil.. try it, it’s healthy and really good
Interesting sidebar….Mexico has increased their purchases of US corn!
Maybe they are prepping for the show too!
What could be more obvious than a “DEVIL RED BOX” of hyper “processed” kill ya on the spot POPCORN?
That we have multiple opinions here on which brand is best, means that the market is good, responding to varying preferences.
I’m still using and enjoying Orville Redenbacher’s microwave products. Especially the mini bags. Perfect portion for an evening snack for one senior adult.
Let the negotiations begin!
The Treehouse: Come for the sociopolitical analysis, stay for the popcorn recommendations. 🤣🤣🤣
OK boys … send it.
Mexico and Canada seem poised to swap places prosperity-wise.
Canada has a much stronger demographic IQ base, better natural resources, and better stability. They won’t necessarily swap places. But capital flight is a real problem.
You might be surprised. Canada has fallen pretty far. If Mexico can clear out the cartels I think they will capitalize. Resources in Mexico are vast and cultural differences are not far off.
And the people have great work ethics
Yes, read where 70% of realtors sold not one house last year. Pretty sure their mortgages are not fixed but ARM. That can be a bummer when refinancing is required.
Are you serious? Canada’s woke ideology is going to bankrupt them, and then that will force them to come begging the US on their hands and knees. Carney and Trudeau deserve to go down in history as the worst country-killers in modern history.
And btw, Mexico has better weather, and a lot less mosquitos.
There is very real danger that the statist will cut off their nose to spite their face.
If national or global destruction is required to ” blame Trump” they will not hesitate. COVID, both the man made GOF virus and the vaccine are examples of this.
This time it may manifest as the destruction of the dollar, something they can expedite and participate in while blaming Trump, despite the massive self harm that will result
As they enrich themselves…
Ahemm… Judging from the latest Canadian election results and the latest statements issued by the winners of said elections at a few recent international forums– Snow Mexicans<<Mexican Mexicans.
Just sayin.
Snow Mexican politicians<<Mexican Mexicans
FIFY 😉
There is an underlying factor to be reconciled. Schweitzer’s new book reports 50+ Mexican consulates in the US are working with the lefty activists to undermine the US with the intent to “take back their territory” that includes states in the Midwest up to Colorado. Financing, organizing public disturbances like what is going on in Minnesota.
I like my corn popped in olive oil, seasoned with real butter, salt and nutritional yeast for a healthy nutty flavor addition. Caution: very addictive.
Mexico has had enough manufacturing sent into their country to be prosperous if they’d only get rid of the cartels. When you choose lawlessness your country will not prosper, it’s a spiritual principle. They also have oil and minerals at least to some degree. Maybe they lack the intelligence to properly use what they have.
I’ll accept that invitation to pull up a rock & watch the show!
Here’s hoping that it’s a warm rock ‘cause it’s been hellaciously cold here.
Damn cold here in the East!
Makes one appreciate those high 80 degree days of July/Aug.
Still waiting for ice to melt and half our city’s power to be restored.
Just like a stubborn child, Canada is going to be in a world of hurt!
Canadone.
WORDMAN worthy!!
Doncha just LOVE Trump all the more now???? The power that man wields is amazing! I thank our lucky stars he’s on our side!
Now think of all the Presidents before him who had the same power…..did not use it for the benefit of the American People.
It’ll be interesting to see if Canada panics. Because once Mexico inks a deal with us, and Canada gets shut out, the economic consequences of their stupidity will snowball as capital flees Canada for Mexico and its cheaper trade costs.
The “elite” politicians strongly believe the climate hoax crap and won’t budge from that belief. They will take down Snow Mexicans and EU and then walk away into the sunset like the son of Castro.
Please may I have extra butter? This is definitely a special production!! 💁🏻♀️
Just make sure it is REAL butter.
“Honey badger don’t give a s*@%!”
The wolverines are screaming for justice🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Yes. In fact, we should animate those wolverine photos to include the vocals.
Well, it should have been obvious from the very start that Canada and Mexico are very different countries, and that a “single” trade agreement would never suit both.
All they ever turned out to be were vehicles for China to dump stuff into the United States.
Did either of the nominal countries ever benefit from NAFTA, or this brief interim successor? I don’t think so.
The real point of the NAFTA, CAFTA garbage was to make us into one big country.
Hey, I’m Canadian (well, Albertan actually), and I know full well that we are completely and thoroughly screwed. I’m not too upset though, since this will bolster our chances of independence in the referendum later this year.
Ed I’m sorry this is happening to your country. I pray you all get better leadership out of this than Trudeau/Carney style. Good luck to you, hoping Alberta joins us 🇺🇸
Well said…also from The (future) Republic of Alberta♡
Good morning fellow Albertans.
This is where we come to get the real news.
Ed With Alberta’s energy and minerals, Alberta could be a very prosperous and wealthy country.
I did some consulting in Alberta-grounded, practical, hospitable and easy to work with. It was fun. They were all about “you have to come back when it’s warm”
And they have some of the most gob-smackingly gorgeous mountains in the world. Lake Louise is one of my favorite places!
“Canada is doing exactly the opposite and positioning themselves for the worst possible outcome of a deal with the USA.”
In this context I think it’s safe to say that by Canada, we’re referring to the Ottawa Clown Show. Will the Canada as we know it today still be around when it’s time to sit at the table with Trump? I’m thinking of the rumblings out in Alberta and their talk of splitting from the rest of the provinces. When the time comes, I wonder if Trump will be having bilateral negotiations with each province on an individual basis?
Yes they will!
It’s the timing of this that makes a person stop and think, okay, the 2020 usurpation of the election is not without the blessing of our Creator stepping in – as in all things work toward good to those whom loves God – type of blessing, because
now the architect of the USMCA is in the driver’s seat to accomplish the next step, setting up two completely different trade structures for our two neighboring nations.
It’s a Miracle really, and the team 47 now has in position are all on top and in sync with the program.
YESS BESS God is good he turns bad into good.
Here’s the question I want to know. With Mexico being first out of the gate to codify a deal, what stocks or ETF’s within the Mexican or US markets are likely to be the first to see immediate, appreciable gains upon publicly announcing a trade deal?
I’d visit Zerohedge for something like that as well.
Mexico is Cartel controlled so a super corrupt Narco State with CCP infiltration but I definitely have a lot more dislike for Globalist Socialist CCP Canada. It’s just their air of false superiority.
I’m going with LYING for $500.
“While the Snow Mexicans are gnashing their teeth talking about feelings and various shiny things…” 😄🤭😄
I love reading Sundance. It’s sentences like the one above that capture my heart. (sorry Canadians 🤷🏻♀️)
It made me laugh out loud.
Rust Belt survivors remember well that giant sucking sound of their livelihoods being exported and destroyed by NFTA. I wish my father was alive to see this.
I think our dads are looking down, smiling.
Furniture and textile industry in the South, too. I watched in horror as 22,000 well paying jobs disappeared in two Virginia counties within a span of less than 2 years.
Yes, Alleycats. The furniture and textile manufacturing collapse was a gut-punch for our counties down at the border with NC.
Some of the hardest hit locations (e.g., Bassett, Stanleytown) have never recovered. I toured Stanleytown back in Sept with a cousin who worked 40 yrs @ Stanley (and his Dad for 30+ before that). It was a mere shell of its former self.
So very sad. I’m thankful I got to visit my cousin’s family many times back in the heyday when the aroma of banana oil from the finishing departments lay heavy across the land. And the constant sound of train whistles filled the air.
Yes, it was very sad indeed. We’ve lost sooo much. Everything we had was good, the best; our clothes, shoes, cars, appliances, etc. We all tried to do well and make things well. These last many generations can’t even imagine how well things were done in this country and how good it was. It was the underlying moral ethics that informed how we lived the rest of our lives and it was evident in the things we made and did. Our work ethic was a product of our moral ethics and things were done with pride and excellence. We can have all the money in the world invested in America, but will it make a difference if we don’t have that moral foundation…
Maybe some think tank ought to craft and publish an analysis of the effects of economic union between Canada and the USA, say on a provice-by-province basis. It would be timely to see such a report in the next quarter. Separatist/independence sentiment is active in AB, SK and QC; and referendums may be put before the voters in the summer or fall for AB and SK.
More encouraging news on the home front. God bless President Trump and his negotiators.
I will never forget nor forgive an article published in National Review by Kevin Williamson. “White Working Class Communities Deserve to Die”. Giddy up indeed.
Canadas GDP 2024 2.24 Trillion GDP growth 1.53% population 41.5 million
Mexico GDP 2024 1.45 Trillion GDP growth 1.45% population 131 million
Would you mind separating the value of goods, services, and raw materials directly sourced from and by Canada, from that GDP number so we can see their profits from CCP produced Goods that were passed through? Because I think everyone here knows that 41.5 million Canadians did not produce 2.23 trillion USD worth of goods and services in 2024.
Sundance, ease my mind with your foresight & wisdom…
BRICS now includes 11 countries; Brazil, Russia, India, China, S.Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia & United Arab Emirates. The E.U. & Canada signed trade deals with China, and China will now build a consulate in London. Pretty powerful trading bloc.
Mary, not sure that will be possible. https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/01/28/giddy-up-ustr-jamieson-greer-and-mexican-secretary-of-economy-marcelo-ebrard-begin-formal-trade-negotiations/#comment-12378692
Canada has Arctic territory, China is interested
This is because Mexico is a real country with a history and culture. Canada is a fake country, defined only by “not the US”.
I pray he’s addressing the 50+ embassies Mexico has in the US and that Mexico will be dealt with harshly for any interference in our elections.
Maybe he can get them on record for the Mexican officials living in the US who represent Mexican nationals living in America?
Also, tell them to stop pushing textbooks with a Mexico First agenda in American schools and stop hyping that lands in America actually belong to Mexico.
The rest is gravy. I trust this administration on trade because of the pictures Sundance posted and what them imply.
Those “little friends” photos crack me up. Thanks for the chuckle.
canada looks like it’s going full-on china
How does/will this play into Mexico’s human trafficking aspect, which, according to Peter Schweitzer, Mexico is trying to ReClaim their lost territories of the American Southwest –
Mexico has a great many consulates across the US through which they are fomenting the anti-Trump unrest, and Mexico states they have already imported almost 40 million Mexicans into the US the past 40 years since Reagan’s amnesty. It’s not about remittances, it’s about splitting the US.
Trump should require as part of any agreement their assistance in getting them out of the us and repatriating them into Mexico.
Trump! You magnificent…..( you know the rest )
No one will recognize Venezuela in six months. Adults in charge make all the difference!
Elon Musk is making a billion robots? I don’t see that we will need Mexico or Canada in the very near future. Actually we should be deporting as many welfare dependents ASAP. We don’t need these populations. Not even temporarily…..
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Wednesday that the automaker is ending production of its Model S and X vehicles, and will use the factory in Fremont, California, to build Optimus humanoid robots.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/28/tesla-ending-model-s-x-production.html
I am betting the Canadian stock market drops by 30% at some point after July USMCA negotions.
I bought put options on EWC with January 2027 expiration. (EWC is the Ishares ETF that represent the Canadian stock market)
Good luck all