January 10, 2025--Written by Paul Wiseman for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--New year, same political refrain--a nation's longtime leader is blown out of office by shifting winds from voters. Justin Trudeau's Monday resignation followed prime minister changes in South Korea, the United Kingdom, France and other countries in 2024, while other leaders, in India, South Africa and elsewhere, managed to stay in power while seeing their mandates reduced. And in Germany, after a no-confidence vote for Chancellor Olaf Scholz, that nation faces elections in February.

But all those others were overseas, a long way from Washington, D.C. Trudeau's resignation due to inner party turmoil and loss of polling support is right across the border, with the U.S.'s number two trading partner. Southern neighbor Mexico is number one, while China is actually a distant third, according to Department of Commerce numbers.