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Canada’s Leaders Appear As United Front Against U.S. Tariff Threats

 

Most of Canada’s premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared to present a united front Wednesday following their high-stakes meeting to address president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian products the U.S. imports.

Photo: Ivey Business School

Trump’s inauguration is set for Monday. During the election campaign, he threatened to slap tariffs on imports from several countries, and on Nov. 25 singled out Canada for 25 per cent tariffs.

The premiers and Trudeau huddled Wednesday to discuss the tariff threat and plan a response. The meeting, held in the former Ottawa city hall, included discussions on trade, energy, and sovereignty.

Canada’s premiers, including Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok at far left, meet in Ottawa on Jan. 15 prior to their mission to Washington, D.C. in February to confer with Trump administration officials over plans to levy a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods imported to the U.S. Photo by Nehaa Bimal

However, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s refusal to back the joint statement signed by the other 12 premiers and Trudeau underscored the challenge of achieving a “Team Canada” consensus.

Premier Danielle Smith at a press conference in Calgary on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. Photo: Darren Makowichuk / Postmedia

Everyone has a job that is defending the interests of their own constituents, their own industries, as well as standing up for the national interest, said Trudeau.

But being able to come together on a consensus that has largely been supported, as you have seen, is a good thing.

Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok did not speak during the media conference that followed the meeting between Trudeau and the premiers.

Premier P.J. Akeeagok is pictured at a February 2023 meeting with Canada’s premiers. Akeeagok is set to meet with the premiers on Wednesday in Ottawa, and next month in Washington, D.C. Photo: Jeff Pelletier / Nunatsiaq News

Akeeagok nodded in agreement and mouthed “well-said” to Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew’s statements that Canadian pride will lead people to better invest in the country.

The leaders discussed strategies to mitigate the impact of potential U.S. tariffs, including targeted retaliatory measures and support for affected industries.

Quebec Premier François Legault pointed to his province’s export of electricity to several U.S. states as a potential leverage point.

If President Trump implements tariffs, nothing is off the table, he said.

Although Legault said he would respond to tariffs using what he described as “retaliation measures,” he did not specify what actions he might take.

Trudeau said leaders agreed to mitigate economic harm by ensuring less-affected provinces will support those hit hardest.

No one region of the country should disproportionately bear the burden, he said.

Although it was not brought up during the press conference, a statement from the first ministers on the Canada-United States relationship, released by the Prime Minister’s Office, reaffirmed commitments to “safeguard Arctic security and sovereignty.”

However, Alberta’s premier voiced strong opposition to federal proposals involving export tariffs or cutting energy supplies to the U.S. Alberta is a major exporter of oil.

Alberta will simply not agree to export tariffs on our energy or other products, nor do we support a ban on exports of these same products, Smith wrote in a post on X after attending the premiers’ meeting virtually.

She said Alberta will take necessary actions to protect its economy from federal policies she described as destructive.

In the joint statement, Canada’s plans to meet its target of spending two per cent of the country’s gross domestic product on national defence were highlighted, along with “working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples toward economic reconciliation.”

The first ministers agreed to move forward with major projects that have a big impact on the economy in areas like transportation and infrastructure.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford (on the right) said he would take a wait-and-see approach to see what sectors of the province will be most affected by the 25% tariff. Source: CTV News

Ontario Premier Doug Ford — who heads the Council of the Federation, which is composed of all 13 premiers and promotes co-operation and closer ties between provinces — emphasized the importance of supplying the U.S. with more energy, critical minerals, and other essential goods to promote shared economic growth.

He voiced strong support for increasing exports of energy, electricity, and nickel to the U.S. — but stressed that such co-operation must come without attacks on Canada.

In their joint statement, the premiers and Trudeau also committed to meeting weekly following Trump’s inauguration.

Akeeagok will join his fellow premiers on a trip to Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12 to meet with representatives of Trump’s administration, members of Congress and business leaders.

In addition to Canada, Finland has also adopted a cautious approach in response to the tariff policy of the Trump administration. Timo Vuori, Head of the Confederation of Finnish Industries, suggests a strategy of cunning in dealings with Donald Trump. Trade policy today is power politics. The WTO is a museum of free trade: it has almost no role. The EU and Finland defend a rules-based international system, but we also have to recognize that the old rules no longer apply, as articulated by Risto E. J. Penttilä, a renowned expert in international politics, in a recent interview.

Source: Nunatsiaq News, Demorkaatti (in Finnish)

Read more:

Bell: Danielle Smith is no traitor and neither are Albertans / Calgary Herald (16.1.2025)

Braid: Danielle Smith painted as national demon for shattering premiers' unity / Calgary Herald (15.1.2025)

Alberta premier rejects Team Canada approach to tariff threat response / CTV News (15.1.2025)  

Nunavut has ‘so much to offer’ U.S., Akeeagok says ahead of D.C. trip / Nunatsiaq News (14.1.2025)  

‘It’s not going to be good’: Ford says Trump’s tariffs could cost Ontario 500,000 jobs CTV News (14.1.2025)

17.01.2025
 
 

 

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