WASHINGTON — Canada’s premiers had been headed to the White Home Wednesday afternoon for a gathering with U.S.
WASHINGTON — Canada’s premiers had been headed to the White Home Wednesday afternoon for a gathering with U.S. President Donald Trump’s senior advisers, as Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated Canada won’t strike first in a tariff battle with the USA.
A information launch from the Council of the Federation, which incorporates all provincial and territorial premiers, didn’t say which members of Trump’s staff can be within the assembly. Different engagements premiers had scheduled had been cancelled to accommodate the White Home assembly.
“Make no mistake about it, the president is aware of we’re right here,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated earlier Wednesday. “He is aware of we’re involved. He is aware of we’re working throughout the aisle … We simply wish to transfer ahead. We’d like zero tariffs, that’s what we’d like.”
All 13 premiers descended on the USA capital this week for the primary time in historical past. The trouble displays rising alarm amongst Canadians about Trump’s unpredictable tariff technique.
Trump signed an order Monday to impose 25 per cent tariffs on metal and aluminum imports, together with imports from Canada, on March 12. These duties might come on high of across-the-board tariffs on all Canadian imports, with a decrease 10 per cent levy on Canadian power, which had been briefly delayed till a minimum of March 4.
A White Home official confirmed that if each rounds of tariffs are applied, the duties would stack on high of one another. That may imply a tariff of as much as 50 per cent on Canadian metal and aluminum exports to the U.S.
Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc was additionally in Washington Wednesday, the place he was set to satisfy with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trump’s financial coverage adviser Kevin Hassett on the White Home.
LeBlanc first met Lutnick in November at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after he and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travelled there for a dinner with the president-elect just some days after he made his preliminary tariff risk.
LeBlanc insisted there’s nonetheless time to influence Trump to not launch a commerce conflict.
“I am not pessimistic,” LeBlanc instructed reporters forward of the assembly. “I am optimistic by nature. I am inspired by the conversations we have had with Mr. Lutnick.”
Canada has promised to retaliate in variety if Trump strikes on his promise of tariffs, and laid out an inventory of merchandise that might be focused after the president signed his preliminary government order on duties on Feb. 1.
Ottawa put these retaliatory tariffs on maintain two days later when Trump agreed to pause his tariff risk for a month, and after Trudeau outlined Canada’s plan to ramp up border safety and appoint a fentanyl czar.
LeBlanc stated Ottawa won’t make the primary transfer in a tariff conflict as a result of it is not a combat Canada needs.
“We’re definitely not going to do something earlier than the Individuals make their final choice,” he stated.
“What the Individuals have stated to us privately, and what they’ve stated publicly, is that we have now plenty of weeks to work collectively, and President Trump’s phrases had been very exact, to construction an financial take care of Canada. That is precisely the dialog we will proceed immediately.”
Trudeau — talking in Brussels, the place he was assembly with European Union leaders — stated there’s a third risk of much more tariffs touchdown April 1 popping out of the chief order Trump signed on inauguration day financial and commerce imbalances between the 2 international locations.
Trump additionally has floated the thought of taxing Canadian auto imports at between 50 and 100 per cent.
Provincial and territorial leaders remained optimistic Wednesday that diplomatic efforts can nonetheless push Trump away from implementing duties — whilst predicted snowstorms compelled Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King, Newfoundland Premier Andrew Furey and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston to go dwelling early.
The previous couple of weeks have demonstrated Canada can get outcomes when Canadians stick up for themselves, stated Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.
Kinew stated it is not a time to be issuing ultimatums and as an alternative referred to as the premiers’ mission in Washington a “attraction offensive.”
“The aim of the journey right here is diplomacy,” Kinew stated. “It is the nice and cozy and hearty handshake, making the case that the Canadian-American friendship has been the most effective on the earth for many years and a long time.”
Specialists have stated that Trump’s tariff threats are doubtless a negotiating tactic meant to rattle Canada and Mexico forward of a 2026 overview of the trilateral continental commerce pact.
The Canada-U.S.-Mexico Settlement was negotiated to interchange the North American Free Commerce Settlement through the first Trump administration.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stated she believed the president when he stated the primary tariff threats had been about border safety and fentanyl, and he or she thinks Canada’s actions ought to fulfill Trump’s considerations.
“I think diplomacy is working,” Smith stated. “I think that the fact that we got a 30-day reprieve was because we agreed to work on the cross-border problem of fentanyl.”
Monday’s tariff order was in regards to the commerce settlement, Smith stated. She stated Canada wants a federal election quickly in order that it has a mandate to return to the negotiating desk.
“What I’ve seen from this president is he’s ready to make a deal,” Smith stated.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Feb. 12, 2025.
Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press
