LETTER: Trump runs off our allies

Canada’s prime minister announced that the European Union has offered our neighbor a first ever “associate membership.” Donald Trump’s belligerent words are running off our long-time allies and friends.

Our fearless leader seems to think we are the only game in town and countries should be grateful that we allow them to do business with us. But the economy has become global, and goods can be procured from all reaches of the world.

Mr. Trump would do well to tame his tongue and curry favor with economic partners, not insult and threaten them. Based on past performance, though, I don’t see that happening, so our circle of favored nations to do business with will shrink further. Countries will always find ways of instituting work-arounds for their own self-preservation.