Canadian Prime Minister urges strong response to Trump’s tariff threat, minister says By Reuters
Written by Nia Williams
(Reuters) – Some Canadian prime ministers are urging Ottawa to respond strongly to threats of tariffs from incoming U.S. President Donald Trump and highlight minerals and precious metals as products the U.S. relies on, Canada’s finance minister said on Wednesday.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other government ministers met with provincial premiers to discuss Trump’s promise to impose tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports after he is sworn in as President in January.
That pledge raised fears of a trade war between the US and its two biggest trading partners.
“A number of prime ministers have given strong support to Canada’s response, which includes some of the prime ministers who have the ability to name minerals and precious metals produced by their provinces, which are exported to the United States,” Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters after the meeting.
Canada’s emphasis right now is on reaching out to American officials, Freeland said, adding that Canadian business leaders and workers are also reaching out to their American counterparts.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford (NYSE: ) said energy exports to the United States could also be suspended, without providing further details.
Ontario exports electricity to the US, but does not produce any of the 4 million barrels of oil per day that Canada moves south of the border.
“We’re going to use every tool in our toolbox, including cutting off the power we’re putting down,” Ford told reporters.
Trudeau on Monday said Canada would respond with unfair tariffs, as it did during Trump’s last presidency when Ottawa added tariffs on goods including bourbon, Harley Davidson motorcycles and cherries.
Trump said he would keep the trade protection measures in place until Canada and Mexico cut down on drugs and migrants crossing the border into the US.
The federal government has also discussed planned border security measures with the prime minister, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said, adding that Canada will share the details with Trump’s team once they are finalized.
