Canada’s Premiers Discuss Threat of U.S. Tariffs on Canadian Imports

Canada’s premiers are meeting virtually Wednesday with the prime minister to discuss the threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports, with Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressing his hope to address the country’s approach to negotiations.

This meeting comes two weeks after the premiers’ last meeting with Justin Trudeau, during which they discussed how to respond to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s warning of a 25 per cent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico when he takes office next month.

During the previous meeting, the federal government promised to update the premiers on their plan. Ford stated, “They said they were going to come back with a plan to put together a proposal, number one to strengthen our borders and hopefully meet our two per cent NATO commitment.”

Trudeau has committed to meeting NATO members’ pledge to spend at least two per cent of GDP on national defense by 2032.

Trudeau recently flew to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to dine with the president-elect and some of his cabinet nominees for an informal discussion on trade and border security.

On the same day as the news of the first ministers’ meeting, Trump took to social media to jokingly refer to Trudeau as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada,” hinting at a joke made during their dinner about making Canada the 51st U.S. state.

Trump has stated that the tariffs would only be lifted if Canada and Mexico stop illegal border crossings and prevent drugs like fentanyl from entering the U.S.

It is evident that discussions between Canada’s premiers and the prime minister are crucial in finding a resolution to the looming threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports. Stay tuned for updates on the outcome of this virtual meeting.