Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he remains concerned with U.S. tariffs on Canadian products but thinks talking with American officials helped Canada avoid a worse outcome.
“Where we found ourselves on Liberation Day was not the best position, but a far better position than many other countries around the world,” Moe told reporters Friday after returning from Europe to promote the province’s exports.
“I do think the broader engagement and advocacy that myself as premier (and) what other premiers have brought to the U.S. has had an impact on where we stand today.”
Moe and other Canadian leaders have been travelling to Washington, D.C., in recent months to make the case that levies on Canada harms Americans.
Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on countries this week in a move that he says is meant to generate revenue and encourage companies to do more manufacturing in the U.S. The tariffs have since caused global stock markets to plunge.
Canada was not hit with those broad levies, but U.S. tariffs of 25 per cent still apply to Canadian steel, aluminum and automobiles.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is on the election campaign trail as Liberal leader, has said Ottawa is retaliating with matching tariffs on all vehicles that don’t comply with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement. The levies also apply to any non-Canadian content in compliant vehicles.
Moe said both countries need to find a path back to free and fair trade. He added Ottawa should be measured in how it counters Trump.
“I wouldn’t say (the outcome of sweeping tariffs) is successful,” he said. “But I would say that it is seeing a relatively positive outcome … relative to many other nations around the world.”
Saskatchewan has also been hit with Chinese retaliatory tariffs of 100 per cent on canola oil, canola meal and peas. The measures were in response to Canada slapping Beijing with levies on Chinese steel and electric vehicles.
Moe said China’s tariffs are more urgent than Trump’s levies.
“We need that engagement from the federal level and, from my understanding, it has not occurred yet,” he said.
Moe said the province will continue working to expand its exports to other countries. He was in Germany this week at a trade show and also delivered a speech at the London Stock Exchange.
Moe is scheduled to attend the Canada Strong and Free Network conference in Ottawa next week, along with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
The conservative political advocacy group was founded by Reform Party founder Preston Manning, who has said a vote for Carney’s Liberals in the April 28 election would be a “vote for Western secession.”
Moe said he wouldn’t comment on the issue of Western Canada breaking up with the country.
“We will work with whoever wins the election,” he said.
If the Liberals move ahead on policies that hamper energy development, Moe said there will be a significant issue.
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