Shadowing Practice: U.S. excludes Canada from trade talks with Mexico - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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We're about a month away now from Canada Day,
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We're about a month away now from Canada Day,
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also the review deadline for Kuzma.
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Our next guest warns that Canada shouldn't be in a hurry to come to new terms
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if big sacrifices are part of them.
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Let's go to John Weeks.
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He's a member of the expert group on Canada-U.S relations,
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former NAFTA chief negotiator.
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John, thanks for joining us.
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Thank you, Mirella.
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Good to be with you.
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How do you interpret that Canada is not even in the room for the discussions going on between the U.S and Mexico?
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I don't know.
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I think we should be there.
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And, you know, they've said that these are basically technical discussions.
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But in the end, a trade negotiation is made up of a whole series of technical discussions,
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plus some high-level diplomacy.
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And I think you need to be there for all the parts of it.
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So I think we should be trying to make sure that Canadian negotiators are in the room for what's going on now.
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Because what happens there will likely mean some pressure on Canadian negotiators,
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perhaps to give up more than they want to.
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Well, I think the first problem is that,
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you know, they've said that the Mexicans and the Americans,
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they issued a press release saying they're having technical discussions on,
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including on major industrial sectors.
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And I understand that they're actually talking about how they might improve the rules of origin,
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improve in quotes.
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in the automobile sector.
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So that's definitely something of major interest to Canada.
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And if they start developing some ideas about how to put these different,
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you know, for changing the rules,
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then we may have an uphill battle to try and change it to make sure our interests are taken account of.
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Yeah.
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So basically, just to loop the viewers in a little bit more,
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they're looking at how much of an automobile,
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for example, would come from American,
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well, both American resources and, I guess, American workers.
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And that could significantly affect Canada's contribution.
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Is the auto industry, you think,
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the biggest focus of these discussions?
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Well, I think that is one of the biggest places where Canada stands to be put at some risk.
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But I think, you know,
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potentially it's going to cover a number of other sectors, too.
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You know, we still have major tariffs in place on aluminum and steel products, for instance.
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So that's a big problem as well.
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You talk about the fortress North America approach.
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Can you explain a little bit about how that works and why that could also be a problem for Ottawa?
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Well, I think what the Americans would like us to do is,
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particularly in a number of major industrial sectors is agree to erect trade barriers against countries outside North America
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and in exchange for having lower tariff barriers inside North America.
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They haven't been clear about whether we'd still get back to
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the real free trade conditions we had with the United States earlier.
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And I think the problem here is if we start erecting trade barriers against other countries,
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like the European Union or our partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership,
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we may well, you know,
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that'll violate our obligations under that agreement,
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and we'll have repercussions for the kind of trade relationship we have with them.
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So this is really possibly we get into a fortress North America situation
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and we make it much more difficult for Canada to diversify its trade relations with other countries.
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Can you be a little specific about what sectors that would pose a problem for?
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I know we're sending more energy and we now are getting more energy contracts with other countries,
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as you mentioned, European Union, China, maybe India.
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So I'm wondering if there are certain sectors that it would be hurt more by that fortress North America idea.
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Well, I think one I think the government should should be
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honest with Canadians about where it would be prepared to contemplate a fortress North America approach,
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because potentially this this could be a big a big problem in a number of areas.
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And basically, any area where you start creating a fortress in North America,
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it's going to create problems for us in our relations with other countries.
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So, you know, I think to some extent,
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China's perhaps been the biggest focus in thinking about adopting this approach.
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But there's certainly been no assurance that it would be limited to China.
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Wondering if Canada can delay the negotiations.
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Midterms are in November, of course.
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There could be a change in the power balance in Washington.
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But the second part of that question,
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of course, is can our economy withstand a delay?
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Well, I think, you know,
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obviously we're under a lot of pressure.
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Some sectors are in real difficulty right now,
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and I think we need to do what we can do to try to alleviate that pressure or eliminate it.
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But it's not clear that we can do that very easily,
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and maybe not at all.
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And I think that the question is,
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do we want to enter a new deal with the United States now that would be less favorable than KUSMA,
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the current agreement that we have,
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and that we would have duty,
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we would agree to having duties applied to us?
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Or is it better to be constructive in the talks,
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but not be in a big hurry to conclude them,
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because I think there's some prospect that Trump's trade policy is really under pressure in the United States.
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And I think, you know,
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with the run-up to the midterms elections and what can possibly come out of those elections,
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it's quite likely we'll see some shifts in American trade policy in terms of what they would actually like to see happen.
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And that could create more conditions in which we would have a better shot at getting a reasonable deal.
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John Weeks, and we'll leave it there,
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sir, but appreciate your time.
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Thank you.
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Thank you, Muriel.
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It's pretty complicated.
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Yeah, I know that it is.
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Thank you for your time.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking with this video is an excellent opportunity to engage with real-world English conversations. The discussion revolves around important topics such as trade relations and international negotiations, which not only enrich your vocabulary but also enhance your familiarity with academic and professional contexts. By using the shadowing technique, learners can imitate the speaker's intonation, pacing, and pronunciation, leading to a more natural English speaking style. This method, often referred to as shadowspeak, helps reinforce language acquisition through active listening and repetition.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In the video, several key structures and expressions are highlighted that are crucial for advanced English learners:

  • Conditional sentences: Phrases like "if big sacrifices are part of them" illustrate the conditional form, helping learners understand how to express hypothetical situations and implications.
  • Passive voice: The speaker mentions that "Canada shouldn't be in a hurry to come to new terms," emphasizing the passive construction to focus on the action rather than the subject, enhancing formal expression.
  • Direct speech: The use of phrases such as "they're looking at how much of an automobile" provides insight into how to frame questions and direct conversations effectively.
  • Descriptive language: Terms like "pressure on Canadian negotiators" exemplify how to articulate complex ideas clearly; learners can adopt similar structures to articulate their thoughts persuasively.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While watching this video, pay close attention to the following tricky words and phrases to improve your English pronunciation:

  • Negotiate: This word is often mispronounced; make sure to emphasize the second syllable: ne-GO-ti-ate.
  • Automobile: A common pronunciation error involves stressing the wrong syllable. The correct pronunciation is AU-to-mo-bile.
  • Tariffs: Many learners struggle with the 'tar' part of the word; ensure you pronounce it as 'ta-riffs' to maintain clarity.
  • Aluminum: This word varies in pronunciation between British and American English. In American English, say it as a-LOO-mi-num, while British speakers pronounce it as a-LOO-min-i-um.

By focusing on these elements, learners can significantly improve English pronunciation and become more confident speakers. Using the shadowing technique with this video will not only help you grasp grammatical structures but also refine your pronunciation skills, enabling you to participate more effectively in discussions about complex topics like international trade.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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