Caucus discusses trade agreement

Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) grand chief Cody Diabo said that he’s been checking in with fellow members of the Iroquois Caucus this month to affirm their commitment to an economic trade agreement in light of mounting political uncertainty within the United States.

“We’re going to work on how we can exchange goods and services and resources amongst just ourselves,” said Diabo.

The ongoing impact of tariffs imposed by United States president Donald Trump has caused turmoil in economies both in North America and around the globe, and Diabo said that makes it more urgent than ever for members of the Iroquois Caucus to consider their role in the economy.

“Whatever Canada and the US decide to do with themselves, it doesn’t concern us,” Diabo said.

Trump implemented a 25 percent tariff on some Canadian goods back in March, as well as on steel and aluminium, claiming they were being imposed to address the flow of fentanyl into the United States, amongst other issues.

Data obtained through American freedom of information laws and published publicly in The Globe and Mail casts doubts on the veracity of Trump’s claims, with statistics showing that fentanyl coming from Canada makes up less than one per cent of recorded fentanyl seizures at the United States border.

Trump’s tariffs effectively started a trade war with Canada, which imposed 25 per cent retaliatory tariffs on nearly $30 billion worth of goods from the United States. This week, Trump announced a slew of other tariffs on dozens of other countries around the world.

Diabo said that he doesn’t want the interests of Kahnawake and other Indigenous communities to be drowned out by the trade war, which has increased the likelihood of a recession and caused the stock market to plummet, causing further financial uncertainty for many.

“The resources that they’re tariffing are essentially our resources as First Nations,” he said, noting that other communities have been responsive to the discussion.

“It seems that there’s a lot of support to move in this direction from the First Nations side.”

Diabo called a Caucus meeting with other member grand chiefs last month to discuss the issue and share an economic trade agreement document, which already existed in its preliminary form from years ago. He made minor updates, for example to remove Wahta, no longer a part of the Iroquois Caucus.

Communities are currently reviewing the document, and Diabo said that plans are being made for a symbolic signing ceremony later this month in Akwesasne.

“When I brought it up, the different leaders were really on board and excited and eager to enter into this new era for First Nation development,” Diabo said.

The Iroquois Caucus includes Kahnawake, Kanesatake, Akwesasne, Tyendinaga, Six Nations of the Grand River, and the Oneida Nation of the Thames.

[email protected]