The Daily Populous Monday February 16th, 2026 evening edition
Authored by politico.eu and submitted by joe4942

Ottawa is “championing efforts to build a bridge between the Trans-Pacific Partnership [CPTPP] and the European Union, which would create a new trading bloc of 1.5 billion people,” Carney told world leaders and the global business elite in Davos.

The middle powers are taking action. The EU and CPTPP are starting talks this year to strike an agreement to intertwine the supply chains of members like Canada, Singapore, Mexico, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Australia with Europe.

It would bring nearly 40 nations on opposite sides of the globe closer together with the aim of reaching a deal on so-called rules of origin.

These rules determine the economic nationality of a product. A deal would allow manufacturers throughout the two blocs to trade goods and their parts more seamlessly in a low-tariff process known as cumulation.

Earlier this month, Carney dispatched his personal representative to the European Union, John Hannaford, to Singapore to solicit the views of regional leaders on the potential deal.

“The work is definitely coming along,” a Canadian government official told POLITICO. “We’ve had very fruitful discussions on it with other partners around the world.” Like others in this story they were granted anonymity to discuss the preliminary talks.

tcdoey on February 16th, 2026 at 15:45 UTC »

It's amazing to think that I would never have ever thought this was even a consideration just 8-10 years ago.

Too much money and power was 'stolen'. Citizens United basically was the turning point. Now we live in an oligarchy-like country where we are being effectively ostracised. And I don't blame them one bit.

I can't imagine what Tom Jefferson or Abe Lincoln or any of the great people from US history would think of this situation. The 'billionaires' have basically taken over. It will take a huge turnout in the mid-terms to turn this monster around.

I'm also as of today, aware that everything I post, here on Reddit especially, but also everywhere else, will 'put me on the list', if I'm not already on it. It's crazy. Black Mirror.

SirTainLee on February 16th, 2026 at 15:31 UTC »

The incredible damage Trump has done to the US will be invisible to his followers, but will cost their offspring greatly for generations to come.

supercyberlurker on February 16th, 2026 at 15:08 UTC »

The internet was designed to be resistant to nuclear attack. If a node went out, it would route around that node and keep functioning.

People who go no-contact with abusers don't drop out of society. They build new social networks without the abuser in them.

So when Canada constructs a trade alliance without the US, it's probably because the US is acting in some manner similar to an error, a blackout, or an abuser.