Trump’s tariffs: emergency meeting between Ottawa and the provinces tomorrow
The Trudeau government and the provincial premiers are planning an emergency virtual meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the threat of 25% tariffs raised by Donald Trump.
• Also read: Customs tariffs and borders: Trudeau and Trump had a “productive” conversation
• Also read: Mexico threatens to impose its own tariffs in response to Donald Trump
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated Tuesday morning that he had a “good call” with the president-elect Monday evening.
“I had a good conversation with François Legault too. I thanked him for his constructive approach because we must work together to try, to defend the interests of Canadians,” declared Mr. Trudeau.
Donald Trump has threatened Canada and Mexico to impose tariffs of 25% conditional on changes in migration and the drug trade.
“This promise from President-elect Donald Trump poses a huge risk to the Quebec and Canadian economies. We must do everything possible to avoid tariffs of 25% on all products we export to the United States. Border integrity must be the priority of the federal government. I offer the full cooperation of the Government of Quebec to Prime Minister Trudeau,” declared François Legault on X, Monday evening.
If the president-elect carries out his threat, the Canadian and Quebec economies would be deeply shaken.
According to the Institute of Statistics of Quebec, Quebec exported no less than $22 billion in products to the United States in the second quarter of 2024, of which approximately 10% were aluminum or aluminum-derived products.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called Mr. Trump’s comments ‘unfair’ and ‘insulting.’ “It’s like a family member stabbing you in the heart,” he said.
