Federal cupboard ministers are gathering in Montebello, Que., in the present day as Donald Trump returns to the White Home.
Trump has pledged to signal an government order on inauguration day to impose 25 per cent tariffs on merchandise from Canada and Mexico.
When he first made the menace, the president-elect mentioned the tariffs had been a response to what he referred to as inaction by each international locations on protecting migrants and unlawful medication out of the USA.
The Liberal authorities laid out a $1.3-billion plan to beef up the border in December that features further police and border guards, helicopters, drones and drug-sniffing canine.
Trump has since pivoted to saying the tariffs are being launched due to the USA’ commerce deficit with Canada.
The federal authorities has ready a number of plans to reply if the levies come into place in the present day — plans that would embody billions of {dollars} in retaliatory tariffs.
Two federal authorities sources who weren’t licensed to talk publicly about particulars of the plan say the federal government is ready to see what occurs Monday earlier than revealing its response.
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The sources say that if Trump units the tariffs at 25 per cent, Canada’s opening salvo could be counter-tariffs value roughly $37 billion, with a potential second wave of tariffs value one other $110 billion.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened a gathering Friday of a newly shaped advisory council on Canada-U. S. relations that features former premiers, labour leaders and representatives of the auto business.
Trudeau met with the nation’s 13 premiers final Wednesday to debate potential retaliatory actions.
On the finish of these conferences, he and 12 premiers launched a press release pledging to current a united entrance to their American counterparts.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith broke with the group, refusing to signal on to the assertion and posting on social media that she can’t help the “Crew Canada” strategy if power exports could possibly be a part of the federal authorities’s response.
Trudeau has mentioned the whole lot should be on the desk, together with power.
Trump repeatedly pledged all through the presidential marketing campaign to deliver down the price of gasoline and groceries for People.
Canadian officers have been travelling to Washington, D.C., in current weeks to attempt to persuade key Republicans that tariffs would accomplish the other of that.
Overseas Affairs Minister Melanie Joly advised reporters on Friday that many lawmakers and Trump administration officers she’s met with in Washington have been shocked to study concerning the potential impacts of Trump’s tariffs.
She advised CNN that Canada is “pleading for peace.”
“On the identical time, if Trump goes forward with tariffs, he’s beginning a commerce battle and naturally we are going to retaliate,” she mentioned, including that it might enhance the price of groceries, house heating and gasoline for People.
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