The clock continues to wind down on U.S. President Donald Trump’s subsequent deadline for imposing sweeping tariffs on Canadian items. Within the meantime, some American lawmakers are pushing the president to again off tariffs altogether — and so they hope Canada notices.
“I definitely hope the pause continues,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear mentioned in an interview on Rosemary Barton Stay. “However my actual hope is a few closing settlement could be reached. Tariffs are solely going to extend costs on the American folks and doubtless on the Canadian folks.”
Each nations have agreed to face down on a commerce struggle — for now. On Monday, Trump was set to position 25 per cent tariffs on nearly all Canadian items, which prompted Canada to declare retaliatory tariffs hours in a while a slate of American items.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear talks in regards to the positive aspects within the state’s annual financial development, in Frankfort, Ky., on Dec. 18, 2024. (Timothy D. Easley/The Related Press)
Beshear, a Democrat, criticized the U.S. president’s tariffs.
“Canada is considered one of our strongest allies, considered one of our strongest pals, considered one of our strongest companions,” he mentioned. “So to me as governor, it is actually necessary that we transfer previous this and get again to that robust relationship we have had.”
A Canada-U.S. tariff struggle would threaten Kentucky in a number of methods. The state exported $9.1 billion US in items to Canada in 2023, representing 23 per cent of the state’s whole items exports, in keeping with the Workplace of the USA Commerce Consultant.
Earlier than the pause got here into impact, a number of Canadian provinces and territories started taking American liquor off retailer cabinets, together with Kentucky bourbon.
Beshear identified that Kentucky’s two Republican senators, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, have each criticized tariffs in interviews with American media shops or on social media.
“I do hope that the Canadian authorities, in its response, sees people who find themselves attempting to do proper, rise up for the suitable issues,” Beshear mentioned. “And we do not need to deprive nice bourbon from anyone around the globe.”
Tariffs are merely taxes. Conservatives as soon as united in opposition to new taxes. Taxing commerce will imply much less commerce and better costs.
—@RandPaul
Illinois Rep. Nikki Budzinski informed host Rosemary Barton she’s involved about Canada’s retaliatory tariffs as a result of they would proceed to raise costs for farmers, making it tougher for them “to maintain their heads above water.”
Budzinski, a Democrat, additionally mentioned she’s involved in regards to the instability Trump is inflicting for Canada-U.S. relations and for companies in the USA.
“We additionally have to cease enjoying these political video games with a few of our most necessary companions on this planet, and that is Canada,” she mentioned.
Are the tariffs actually about fentanyl?
As a part of a last-minute take care of Trump to keep away from the tariffs, Canada promised to nominate a “fentanyl czar,” listing Mexican cartels as terrorists and kick in $200 million to launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Pressure tasked with combating organized crime and cash laundering.
When requested if he thinks fentanyl is fuelling Trump’s tariffs, Beshear mentioned the opioid and drug epidemic within the U.S. is an actual concern, particularly in Kentucky.
“However while you take a look at the numbers, the Canadian border just isn’t one of many causes of this epidemic,” the Kentucky governor mentioned.
WATCH | RCMP commissioner talks about Canada’s incoming fentanyl czar:
What position would a Canadian ‘fentanyl czar’ play in border safety?
Chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme about elevated safety on the Canada-U.S. border and what an appointed ‘fentanyl czar’ would possibly accomplish.
Figures from U.S. Customs and Border Safety present the company seized 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl on the border with Canada final yr, in contrast with 9,570 kilograms on the border with Mexico.
“Actually, I feel what we have seen from the Canadian authorities — and guarantees to step up enforcement — ought to finish this factor fully,” Beshear mentioned.
However there is a totally different idea about Trump’s true tariff motives: to stress Canada into turning into the 51st U.S. state. The president has mentioned Canada can keep away from tariffs if it turns into a U.S. state, and he is additionally mused about utilizing “financial power” to soak up Canada.
In a sizzling mic second on Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed a room of enterprise leaders on the Canada-U.S. Financial Summit that Trump’s menace to annex Canada is “an actual factor” motivated by his want to faucet into the nation’s essential minerals.
WATCH | Trudeau says Trump’s feedback about absorbing Canada are severe:
Trudeau says Trump’s feedback about absorbing Canada are severe
Following his public remarks on the Canada-U.S. Financial Summit, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed enterprise and labour leaders that U.S. President Donald Trump’s feedback about making Canada the 51st state are ‘a real thing.’ Trudeau’s feedback had been heard over the loudspeakers.
Trump has been commenting about making Canada the 51st state since a minimum of November, when Trudeau and senior cupboard member Dominic LeBlanc visited the then president-elect at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida. The journey got here after Trump promised to impose tariffs on Canadian items.
LeBlanc initially informed reporters that Trump was joking and instructed it was an indication the connection was going nicely. However the authorities’s method shifted as Trump doubled down.
In an interview Sunday on NBC Information’ Meet The Press, Trump’s nationwide safety adviser, Mike Waltz, mentioned he does not assume the president has “any plans to invade Canada,” however there are “lots of people” who like the USA and don’t love Trudeau’s governance.
On the Friday summit, Inside Commerce Minister Anita Anand informed reporters that “there will likely be no messing with the forty ninth parallel.”
Canada’s incoming ‘fentanyl czar’
On Thursday, Public Security Minister David McGuinty promised the czar will likely be appointed earlier than the tariff pause ends on March 4.
It is not clear what the scope of the job will likely be, or who will take up the position, however some Canadian legislation enforcement officers are supporting the transfer, together with RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme.
Duheme mentioned he sees the fentanyl czar as a “conduit the place every thing that is being completed from a federal authorities perspective flows as much as this one who then is in a greater place to temporary the prime minister or cupboard.”
“There’s so many authorities departments concerned within the struggle in opposition to fentanyl,” he mentioned in an interview on Rosemary Barton Stay, including that he additionally sees the czar constructing relationships with officers within the U.S. and Mexico.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme waits to seem earlier than the Home of Commons entry to data, privateness and ethics committee in Ottawa on Feb. 27, 2024. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
The RCMP commissioner additionally mentioned the brand new place will not intrude with the Mounties’ work “as a result of we’ve police independence and that is going to take care of.”
Some premiers and provincial politicians have begun to specific concern in regards to the reality the fentanyl czar hasn’t been appointed but, together with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
On Saturday afternoon, Smith mentioned in a social media publish that her province “is perplexed and anxious by the delay in appointing this fentanyl czar and calls on the federal authorities to take action with out additional delay.”
Earlier on Saturday, Ford despatched out an easier message: “Appoint them now.”
After crediting the Canadian authorities’s actions on combating fentanyl, Beshear mentioned that the majority Individuals “do not view Canada in the best way [Trump] does.”
“And I hope that Canadians which might be watching this, watching me and watching the entire thing unfurl — this isn’t the bulk consensus of our nation.”
