VANCOUVER, British Columbia — On Wednesday, outgoing Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, indicated that the country’s response to the proposed tariffs put forth by President-elect Donald Trump would be flexible, although it was crucial that the impacts of such actions not fall disproportionately on any single region of Canada.
Trump’s proposal includes a significant 25% tariff on all imports from Canada, prompting Trudeau to hold an extensive five-hour meeting in Ottawa with Canada’s provincial premiers to discuss these developments.
“We need to confront the challenges we are facing decisively, but we must also ensure that the financial burden is equitably distributed across the nation,” Trudeau stated.
He highlighted that “punishing just one region could lead to more severe consequences for that area,” emphasizing the importance of a collective approach.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford echoed Trudeau’s sentiments, stressing the necessity for provinces to present a unified front against Trump’s tariff threats.
Prior to the meeting, Ford expressed the need for strong retaliatory measures. He was seen wearing a hat proclaiming that “Canada Is Not For Sale.”
“It’s vital to communicate a clear message,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson issued a warning to U.S. lawmakers regarding the repercussions of Trump’s tariff threats, cautioning that they would not only impact Canada but would also result in increased prices and job losses for Americans.
As Trump prepares for his inauguration on Monday, he has indicated intentions of using economic pressure to coerce Canada into becoming the 51st state of the U.S.
He has also inaccurately characterized the trade deficit with Canada as a form of subsidy, despite the fact that Canada is a resource-abundant nation supplying essential commodities including oil to the U.S.
Canada remains a crucial export partner for 36 U.S. states, with nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (approximately $2.7 billion) worth of goods and services traded across the border daily.
There have been considerations that Canada might halt energy shipments to the U.S., although this viewpoint faces opposition from Danielle Smith, the Premier of Alberta, which is rich in oil resources.
Smith shared her perspective via a post on social media, indicating her agreement with various strategies discussed in the meeting.
However, she was firm in her stance against imposing export tariffs or bans on energy products.
“Alberta simply cannot endorse any tariffs on our energy or other exports, and we oppose banning exports altogether,” stated Smith, who participated in the meeting virtually.
She further added, “Until these threats are neutralized, Alberta will not be able to fully back the federal government’s strategy concerning the threatened tariffs.”
Notably, Canada supplies nearly a quarter of the oil consumed in the U.S. daily, with Alberta alone exporting approximately 4.3 million barrels to the United States.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that the U.S. consumes around 20 million barrels of oil each day while producing about 13.2 million barrels domestically.
During the news conference, Quebec Premier François Legault was posed with a question regarding the potential cessation of hydroelectric or aluminum shipments to the U.S.
His response was cautious, stating, “We must await Mr. Trump’s actions before taking any measures. However, it should be noted that nothing is off the table.”
In other developments, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty announced that Ottawa will introduce 60 new drones at the Canada-U.S. border and deploy two helicopters this week as part of an initiative to enhance border security.
The Liberal government has committed nearly $1 billion towards upgrading border security infrastructure following Trump’s concerns over the flow of migrants and illegal drugs entering the U.S. from both Canada and Mexico.
