Murray Wood: Trump's Bag O' Tariffs
The U.S. President is enacting new tariffs on Canada. For retaliating to his tariffs. He's also threatening tariffs over...
Over the past year and a half, Canada has had to deal with round after round of tariffs – and threats – from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe joined The Evan Bray Show on Wednesday morning to discuss the 50 per cent tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods announced by the president on Monday. Those tariffs are expected to take effect on Aug. 19.
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Listen to the full interview with Premier Scott Moe:
Moe said Canada needs to work through this round of tariffs like it has with the others, and needs to stay focused on getting to the negotiating table and supporting a renewed free-trade agreement with the United States. He added that the latest tariff threats intensify the need for a renewed CUSMA agreement.
“I would say that I’m bullish with this 28-day window we have in this respect, but not confident that we’ll find our way to an agreement and I’m equally not confident that these latest round of tariffs will actually follow through,” said Moe.
The premier said he does have concerns that Canada’s manufacturing sector, and particularly agricultural manufacturing in Saskatchewan, could be hit hard by additional American tariffs.
Moe said there are already some impacts in Saskatchewan due to current tariffs – pointing to the forestry industry in particular – and said there will be even more if the new tariffs go into place.
“We’re working hard to do our part as a sub-national government and really leverage the relationships that we have with a number of secretaries in the Trump administration… as well as congress and senate, to advance Canada’s position at that negotiating table so that we don’t lose more jobs in the future,” said the premier.
Moe is set to meet with Canada’s other premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday, with trade expected to be at the top of the list of topics.
Sask. producers concerned about potential for new tariffs
Grain farmer Aaron Agar said U.S. tariffs on goods such as canola, pulses and cereals would reduce the bottom line for farmers by as much as 50 per cent, as many raw materials come from or through the U.S.
“I don’t think that they would start tariffing our industry’s export(s) to Canada, because they need that,” Agar said, noting that other industries involving equipment have been more heavily affected by the ongoing trade dispute.
Farmer John Breckton, said he believes a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian goods would be a “terrible mistake” by the U.S. government.
“A lot of the stuff they’re putting tariffs on, they need it, and their people are going to have to pay for it,” he said.
“As long as they don’t touch our grain sales and hog sales down there, I guess I’m OK,” Breckton added.
Breckton said he wouldn’t be able to sell his animals in the United States if a 50 per cent tariff was imposed.
“That would be the end of supplying them, and they need them,” he said.
–with files from 650 CKOM’s Mia Holowaychuk
