Cory Morgan: Canadian Premiers Should Stand Together Against US Tariff Threats

December 13, 2024 TruthUSA

Commentary

President-elect Donald Trump’s threat of imposing 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods successfully grabbed the attention of Canadian leaders. This led Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and convene an emergency First Ministers’ meeting to develop a unified Canadian response.

Despite the meeting with Trump, little progress seems to have been made, as Trump continues to ridicule Trudeau by referring to him as the governor of the 51st state. Trudeau’s “Team Canada” approach has not been fruitful either, with provincial leaders adopting different strategies in response to the impending trade crisis.

Every province has requested increased federal resources for border security. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s vague response on Sept. 11 did little to alleviate the concerns of provincial leaders about their industries. As Trump’s inauguration nears, premiers are urging the government to take decisive action and make clear statements.

The lack of federal policy has prompted provincial leaders to speculate on retaliatory measures in case of a trade war. Doug Ford has threatened to halt energy exports to the U.S. if tariffs are imposed. Trump’s nonchalant reaction to the threat has only added to the uncertainty.

Premier Smith has made it clear that Alberta will not impede oil exports to the USA under any circumstances and will not allow provincial exports to be used as leverage in a trade war. The only federal politician proposing to cut oil exports to the U.S. is Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, causing concern among Albertans due to past experiences with export taxes. Smith continues to meet with American governors and negotiate deals independently of federal authorities.

Donald Trump’s threats are viewed differently, with some dismissing them as jokes while others take them seriously. The imposition of tariffs could plunge Canada into a severe recession.

The lack of a strong federal plan may lead to tariffs, but questions linger about the government’s capability to formulate and execute one. With internal challenges facing Prime Minister Trudeau and provincial leaders taking matters into their own hands, the risk of exacerbating the situation looms large.

Provinces adopting individual initiatives instead of a unified approach may complicate matters further, potentially harming both the economy and national unity amid the trade war fallout.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Source link

You May Also Like

Heavy Rains Cause Flooding in Malaysia Resulting in 3 Dead and Thousands Evacuated

Ford calls for cutting ties with China and boosting relationships with the US after minerals ban.

Human Rights Group Warns of ‘Serious Safeguarding Risks’ in Assisted Suicide Law

Leave a Reply Cancel reply