Canadian leaders are uniting to push back against tariff threats from incoming U.S. President Donald Trump.
On Wednesday, Canada’s Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that several provincial premiers are advocating for a strong response. They are highlighting critical minerals and metals that the United States relies on from Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other government ministers met with provincial leaders to discuss Trump’s promise to impose steep tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports after his inauguration in January. This pledge has raised fears of a potential trade war between the U.S. and its two largest trading partners.
“A number of premiers offered strong support for a robust Canadian response, including some who proactively named critical minerals and metals produced in their provinces and exported to the United States,” Freeland told reporters after the meeting.
Freeland emphasized that Canada’s immediate focus is on reaching out to U.S. officials. She added that Canadian business and labor leaders are also contacting their American counterparts to address the situation.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested that energy exports to the United States could be halted, although he did not provide further details. “We’ll use every tool in our toolbox, including cutting off the energy we’re sending down,” Ford said.
Ontario exports electricity to the U.S., but it does not produce any of the four million barrels per day of oil that Canada ships south of the border.
Earlier in the week, Trudeau stated that Canada would respond to unfair tariffs, as it did during Trump’s previous presidency. At that time, Ottawa imposed tariffs on goods like bourbon, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and cherries in retaliation.
Trump has indicated he will maintain protectionist trade measures until Canada and Mexico take action on drugs and migrants crossing the border into the U.S.
The federal government also discussed planned border security measures with the premiers, according to Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc. He noted that Canada would share these details with Trump’s team once finalized.
Reference(s):
Canadian premiers urge strong response to Trump tariff threat
cgtn.com
