{"id":16226,"date":"2025-02-11T09:23:44","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T09:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/11\/premiers-head-to-washington-amid-u-s-tariff-threat-what-to-expect-national\/"},"modified":"2025-02-11T09:23:44","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T09:23:44","slug":"premiers-head-to-washington-amid-u-s-tariff-threat-what-to-expect-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/11\/premiers-head-to-washington-amid-u-s-tariff-threat-what-to-expect-national\/","title":{"rendered":"Premiers head to Washington amid U.S. tariff threat. What to expect – National"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Canada\u2019s premiers<\/a> are heading to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday on a diplomatic mission to underscore the Canada-U.S. trading relationship in the face of increasing tariff<\/a> threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.<\/a><\/p>\n

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The two-day trip comes a day after Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs<\/a> on all foreign steel and aluminum imports, including from Canada. At the same time, the clock is ticking on talks to avoid sweeping tariffs on all other Canadian exports to the U.S., which were delayed for 30 days early this month.<\/p>\n

The premiers are set to make the case to U.S. lawmakers and business leaders that tariffs would unnecessarily harm both countries\u2019 economies.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re jam-packed with meetings, we\u2019re building relationships \u2014 folks, this is all about building a relationship,\u201d Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who\u2019s currently running for re-election, told reporters at a campaign stop in Oakville on Monday.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe all know, the U.S. knows, that Canada needs the U.S. But what we\u2019re going to communicate is everything the U.S. needs off of Canada, everything the U.S. needs off of Ontario, and how important the trading partner of Ontario and Canada is.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tTrip comes at precarious moment\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The trip marks the first time all 13 premiers have taken a joint international trip together, according to the Council of the Federation, a fact that underscores the critical moment in the relationship.<\/p>\n

Ford on Monday promised Ontario would react \u201chard\u201d and \u201cfast\u201d to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, which Trump said he was imposing without exemptions to shore up American sectors.<\/p>\n

Trump has previously threatened to impose 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs and a 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy. Those duties are set to return as soon as March 4 if the two countries don\u2019t reach what Trump called an \u201ceconomic\u201d deal.<\/p>\n

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Trump has also said the tariffs would return if his administration determines Canada hasn\u2019t done enough to reduce illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking into the U.S.<\/p>\n

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At the same time, Trump has repeatedly made comments about wanting to make Canada part of the U.S., something his administration has insisted does not mean annexation.<\/p>\n

The Canadian government and the premiers all vowed retaliatory actions, including reciprocal tariffs and a freeze on U.S. investments, if Trump goes ahead with tariffs.<\/p>\n

Canadian officials have also sought to present a united front, appearing on U.S. media and pressing their American counterparts on the benefits of maintaining open trade and dialogue with Canada.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need that unity in this moment,\u201d said Max Cameron, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe need for the country to be strong and united, and not to give any aid or comfort to those in the United States who seem to think that somehow we, as a country, will cave in the face of threats of economic force.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tPremiers push ‘Team Canada,’ but also their own agendas\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Monday said she will be joining her fellow premiers in Washington as part of that \u201cTeam Canada\u201d approach. She also plans to continue highlighting the \u201csignificant\u201d role Alberta energy exports play in helping the U.S.<\/p>\n

The premier said in a statement previewing her trip that she will \u201ccontinue efforts to de-escalate tensions between our two countries, work together on shared goals and find common ground so that we can restore our mutually beneficial and enduring friendship.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In January, Smith broke ranks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the other premiers, dismissing the possibility of a counter-tariff or freeze on Alberta\u2019s oil and gas shipments, which had been floated as a potential response.<\/p>\n

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Smith has also been more vocal than her provincial and territorial counterparts in pushing Ottawa to do more to tackle border security and drug crime. On Monday, Smith called on the federal government to reverse what she called a \u201csoft-on-crime\u201d federal law and reintroduce mandatory minimum jail sentences for drug offenders.<\/p>\n

Smith and Ford have also pushed Trudeau to expedite the appointment of a \u201cfentanyl czar\u201d that would coordinate the government\u2019s response to the deadly opioid, a key concession that convinced Trump to delay his tariffs.<\/p>\n

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Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said Friday<\/a> he was travelling to Washington ahead of the other premiers to emphasize his province\u2019s \u201cimportant role\u201d in trade, especially in the energy and food sectors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s incumbent on us as sub-national leaders to approach this with as calm and steady hands as we can,\u201d Moe said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe goal for myself, and I believe for all other premiers, is have a non-tariff environment. That\u2019s how we work best together. That\u2019s how we grow the North American economy and that\u2019s how we ultimately create wealth in this province.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Council of Atlantic Premiers said Friday they will \u201cemphasize the importance of Canada to the security of the United States, and the benefits that the continental economic partnership has brought to both countries,\u201d as well as the deep integration between Atlantic Canada, New England and the northeastern U.S.<\/p>\n

Several federal officials traveled to Washington to meet with Trump administration officials and lawmakers in the lead-up to Trump\u2019s Feb. 1 announcement of tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Those meetings did not appear to sway Trump, who only agreed to back off after speaking with Trudeau a day before the tariffs were set to take effect.<\/p>\n

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Cameron said diplomacy is still important while the tariff threat persists, and believes the premiers are doing the right thing by showing up in force to present a united front.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it hurts to do everything possible,\u201d he said. \u201cIt may be intangible, it may be hard to show results in the near term, but in the longer term there can be real benefits.<\/p>\n

Among the pitches being made to U.S. officials is an expanded energy partnership that could include increased oil trade as well as critical minerals.<\/p>\n

At the same time, provinces are pushing ahead with programs to support local businesses and producers by turning Canadians away from U.S. products, as well as diversifying their international trade relationships.<\/p>\n

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, while speaking at a \u201cBuy Local\u201d campaign launch event last week, said there were \u201cactive conversations\u201d about where to set up a new permanent trade office for the province after opening one in Washington early this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that going to be in the U.S. or is that going to be in South Korea, or maybe another location around the world,\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

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