Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Trump Tariffs On Steel, Aluminum Would Have 'Significant, Serious' Impact: PM Trudeau

The Canadian Press, 02 Mar, 2018 01:20 PM
    BARRIE, ONTARIO, Canada — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling Donald Trump's plans for whopping tariffs on steel and aluminum imports an "unacceptable" move that will have "significant and serious" economic ramifications on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.
     
     
    Trudeau, however, was not clear Friday about whether or not he's spoken to the American president since Trump announced the planned tariffs on Thursday.
     
     
    "Obviously the integration of the North American steel and aluminum market is something that has created millions of good jobs on both sides of the border and has benefited companies, workers and individuals right across North America," the prime minister told a news conference in Barrie, Ont.
     
     
    "The United States has a $2-billion surplus on steel with us, so we regard the imposition of any new tariffs or any tariffs on steel or aluminum between our two countries as absolutely unacceptable."
     
     
     
     
    What's more, he added, it makes no sense for the U.S. to claim there's a national-security imperative for imposing the duties, given the level of security co-operation between the two countries.
     
     
    "The level of co-operation and integration of our militaries, our defence of North America and our working together on a broad range of security issues means that it just makes no sense to highlight that Canada and Canadian steel or aluminum might be a security threat to the United States."
     
     
    Trump said Thursday that he plans to announce a 25 per cent tariff on steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminum that would go into effect next week. It remains unclear whether Trump will exempt Canada, which is the largest steel and aluminum exporter to the U.S.
     
     
    Trudeau said he has spoken with Trump numerous times to press Canada's case about the potential impact of trade-limiting tariffs and will continue to do so, but it wasn't immediately clear how recently the two leaders had spoken.
     
     
     
    "I have spoken a number of times directly with the president on this issue, highlighting the integrated nature of the North American steel and aluminum market, highlighting and reminding him of the close security co-operation that we have," he said.
     
     
    "I've highlighted that this is not something we wanted to see and we will continue to engage with all levels of the American administration in the coming days so that they understand that this proposal is unacceptable."
     
     
    Earlier Friday, Finance Minister Bill Morneau told a Montreal business audience that he has had a "constructive" discussion on the subject with his American counterpart,  Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
     
     
    Canada is a "staunch and permanent ally" of the U.S. and shouldn't be affected if Trump declares a matter of national security to override trade rules and raise tariffs, Morneau said.
     
     
    He declined, however, to say whether he believes Trump's action could unleash a global trade war.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Case Of Man Accused In Murder Of Halifax Yoga Instructor Back In Court

    Case Of Man Accused In Murder Of Halifax Yoga Instructor Back In Court
    The case of a Halifax man charged with the second-degree murder of a Montreal-born yoga instructor was back in court Tuesday.

    Case Of Man Accused In Murder Of Halifax Yoga Instructor Back In Court

    Toddler Breaks Leg After Boot Sucked Into Escalator At Vancouver Airport

    Toddler Breaks Leg After Boot Sucked Into Escalator At Vancouver Airport
    A Calgary woman is reminding parents about the dangers of escalators after her toddler's foot became stuck in one and he broke his leg.

    Toddler Breaks Leg After Boot Sucked Into Escalator At Vancouver Airport

    Alberta Shrugs Off B.C. Legal Challenge On Wine Ban, Says Much More At Stake

    Alberta Shrugs Off B.C. Legal Challenge On Wine Ban, Says Much More At Stake
    Alberta's economic development minister is shrugging off a legal challenge filed by British Columbia over Alberta's ban on wine from that province.

    Alberta Shrugs Off B.C. Legal Challenge On Wine Ban, Says Much More At Stake

    Sikh Kirpan Ban In Quebec Legislature Upheld By Top Provincial Court

    Superior Court Justice Pierre Journet affirmed the authority of the legislature to "exclude kirpans from its precincts as an assertion of parliamentary privilege over the exclusion of strangers."

    Sikh Kirpan Ban In Quebec Legislature Upheld By Top Provincial Court

    Justin Trudeau Announces Two-way Investment Deal With India Worth $1 Billion

    Justin Trudeau Announces Two-way Investment Deal With India Worth $1 Billion
    MUMBAI, India — Some of India's biggest companies say they will invest more than $250 million in Canada in the coming years in everything from pulp mills to pharmaceuticals and the IT sector.

    Justin Trudeau Announces Two-way Investment Deal With India Worth $1 Billion

    WATCH: Justin Trudeau Is For One United India, Looking Forward To Meet Punjab CM

    WATCH: Justin Trudeau Is For One United India, Looking Forward To Meet Punjab CM
    The Canadian prime minister’s schedule includes just half-a-day of official engagements in New Delhi.

    WATCH: Justin Trudeau Is For One United India, Looking Forward To Meet Punjab CM