As first reported by CBC News, a document is circulating among senior Canadian government officials that lists U.S.-made products that could be hit with retaliatory measures.
This text is a translation of an article from CTV News.
According to some sources, this list includes steel and ceramic products from the United States, including toilets and sinks, as well as Orange juice from Florida.
A senior government source told CTV News the list represents only a small number of items that could be included in a final list of products subject to countervailing tariffs.
“No decision has been made on whether retaliatory action could be taken or what would be on the final list”
-Statement obtained by CTV News
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US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian products imported into the United States if Canada does not take action to combat the flow of illegal drugs and migrants across the border common.
In response to this threat, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Mr. Trump and members of his new administration at Mar-a-Lago at the end of November to discuss this threat. Since then, Canadian officials have received no guarantees that the tariffs could be avoided.
Mr. Trump also attacked Canada, threatening to annex the country and make it a 51st state. On Tuesday, Mr. Trump went further in a wide-ranging press conference, during which he asserted that the United States could absorb Canada through the use of “economic force.”
-SEE ALSO | Can Canada really be annexed by the United States and become the 51st American state?
Blocking exports of oil, electricity and essential minerals from Canada is another option being considered, according to a senior government source in Washington.
Last month, Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to cut off his province’s energy exports if Mr. Trump followed through on his threat. He later clarified that he wanted to export more energy south of the border, but that his comments were aimed at defending Canadian workers.
During an interview on the show Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on CTV Wednesday, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson did not explicitly rule out the imposition of an export tax on Canadian energy to the United States.
“This list will certainly be focused on trying to extract the greatest amount of pain from the United States to ensure that pressure is put on President Trump to remove them (the tariffs),” he said. he mentioned.
However, Wilkinson believes Canada can still avoid being hit with economically devastating tariffs.
“I think it’s possible to have a conversation with the Trump administration, the senators, American businesses, about how we can help them implement the agenda that he articulated during his campaign, which includes reducing dependence on China for things such as essential minerals,” he added.
Mr Wilkinson will travel to Washington next week for talks with US officials.
With reporting from CTV News Chief Political Correspondent Vassy Kapelos and Stephanie Ha
