Quote:
Originally Posted by afc wimbledon
While I wouldn't argue that Canada should attempt to promote trade everywhere if you take Australia as an example, it's top trading partners are all the major economies closest to it, China Japan and India, Asia makes up about 60% of its imports and 75% of it's exports, proximity is always king when it comes to trade due to not just price but speed and ease of support due to time difference, it is easier for me to order from the US than the UK because by the time I have woken up at 8am everyone in London is going home
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Proximity of course matters, but using Australia as an example, it's not like they are close to their major trading partners either. For example, the straight line distance in nautical miles from Australia's major ports to the closest Chinese major port is roughly 4,500. From Vancouver to Shanghai, it's roughly 5,000. And that is in a straight line. It's a much windier path between Australia and China, Japan, and South Korea so it's probably pretty much the same. They make it work because they have to and I don't see any reason why Canada couldn't make it work.
I am definitely not saying that Canada should not trade at all with the U.S., or that the U.S. shouldn't be looked at as the main trading partner. I'm just saying that it shouldn't be so lopsided to the point that we're at their mercy and they have the ability to destroy our economy. Are there any other major industrialized countries that have roughly 65% of their trade with just one market?