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Canada
Related: About this forumCarney's Checkmate: How Canada's Quiet Bond Play Forced Trump to Drop Tariffs
Rewind a bit. While Trump was gearing up his trade war machine, Carney, Canadas Prime Minister, wasnt just sitting in Ottawa twiddling his thumbs. Hed been quietly increasing Canadas holdings of U.S. Treasury bondsover $350 billion worth by early 2025, part of the $8.53 trillion foreign countries hold in U.S. debt. On the surface, it looked like a safe play, a hedge against economic chaos. But it wasnt just defense. It was a loaded gun.
Carney didnt stop there. He took his case to Europe. Not for photo ops, but for closed-door meetings with the EUs heavy hittersGermany, France, the Netherlands. Japan was in the room too, listening closely. The pitch was simple: if Trump went too far with tariffs, Canada wouldnt just retaliate with duties on American cars or steel. It would start offloading those Treasury bonds. Not a fire salenothing so crude. A slow, steady bleed. A signal to the markets that the U.S. dollars perch wasnt so secure.
Carney didnt stop there. He took his case to Europe. Not for photo ops, but for closed-door meetings with the EUs heavy hittersGermany, France, the Netherlands. Japan was in the room too, listening closely. The pitch was simple: if Trump went too far with tariffs, Canada wouldnt just retaliate with duties on American cars or steel. It would start offloading those Treasury bonds. Not a fire salenothing so crude. A slow, steady bleed. A signal to the markets that the U.S. dollars perch wasnt so secure.
And heres the kicker: Canada wasnt alone. Japan, holding over $1 trillion in U.S. debt, signed on and started to sell those US Treasury bonds which scared Trump shitless. Key EU countriescollectively sitting on another $1.5 trillionnodded in agreement. This wasnt a bluff. It was a silent pact. A coordinated move to remind Trump that the free world doesnt just roll over when he swings his tariff bat. Hurt us, Carney said, and well hurt youright where it counts.
Carney also issued Canadian Treasury bonds in USD which was another brilliant way to strengthen Canadas position and financial reputation. Little triggers and strategies you get when the worlds most respected economist is your PM
https://deanblundell.substack.com/p/carneys-checkmate-how-canadas-quiet
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Carney's Checkmate: How Canada's Quiet Bond Play Forced Trump to Drop Tariffs (Original Post)
BlueWavePsych
Apr 12
OP
Read another article about this too, but I've not heard of any "Canadian Treasury bonds" in US dollars
Bernardo de La Paz
Apr 12
#1
Bernardo de La Paz
(54,818 posts)1. Read another article about this too, but I've not heard of any "Canadian Treasury bonds" in US dollars
The overall strategy though has credence, I think.
On edit: Okay, looked things up. There is the "Treasury Board of Canada", the Bank of Canada does refer to "Canadian Treasury Bills and Bonds".
... and ...
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2025/03/government-of-canada-plans-to-issue-us-dollar-global-bond.html
Government of Canada plans to issue US-dollar global bond
Mar 10, 2025 This US-dollar global bond will further strengthen the stability of Canada's foreign currency reserves while meeting investor demand for high-quality assets backed by Canada's triple-A credit ratings from most major credit rating agencies. ... The Government of Canada last issued a US-dollar bond on April 23, 2024 worth US$3 billion ...
Mar 10, 2025 This US-dollar global bond will further strengthen the stability of Canada's foreign currency reserves while meeting investor demand for high-quality assets backed by Canada's triple-A credit ratings from most major credit rating agencies. ... The Government of Canada last issued a US-dollar bond on April 23, 2024 worth US$3 billion ...
Buddyzbuddy
(726 posts)2. In other words, they were going to turn Americans into peasants.

multigraincracker
(35,467 posts)3. Neither a borrower or lender be.
Sound advise.
Irish_Dem
(68,464 posts)4. Carney playing economic 3D Chess.
Trump not even playing checkers.
He is just in his crib throwing out all his toys.