'Trade wars are good, and easy to win,' Trump tweets

[robkelk]

Here's a reminder that there's also trade in intangibles.

CBC Radio Opinion: One fan's plea to NAFTA negotiators: Throw Canada's touring bands a bone
by Prof. Stephen Hunt, University of British Columbia

Here's the meat of the article:

Right now, Canadian bar bands have to apply for a P2 visa in order to enter the States. That takes two things a lot of bar bands lack: planning and money.

One application for a band costs $460 U.S. And if you need it expedited, it'll cost you an extra $1,200, just to have them push your paperwork to the top of the pile.

American bands, on the other hand, can just show up at the border with a letter inviting them to perform and away they go, whether the muffler is still hanging onto the Econoline van or not.

Look, I know trade negotiators aren't in the business of ranking the intangibles of life. But wouldn't it be nice if we could consider the plight of our cultural ambassadors alongside our IT guys and hewers of softwood lumber?

Let's throw our bar bands a bone.

Chrystia Freeland, I'm talking to you.

One, take us back to that pre-1996 golden age when musicians could enter the U.S. with a simple J1 visa issued at the border.

Two, take a page from the French. Foreign musicians are allowed to play in France until their earnings reach a certain cap. So pick a dollar amount, Minister Freeland. Any number will do. Because whatever it is, you can bet most bar bands will earn less.