As Donald Trump prepares to officially take office with his swearing in on Monday, his risk of 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian items, in addition to feedback about making Canada the “51st state,” have sparked considerations for some in Saskatchewan about what U.S. coverage will appear to be beneath the incoming president.
“It’s an expansionist authorities,” mentioned Tom McIntosh, a politics and worldwide research professor on the College of Regina.
“The first focus at this second is on dominating their closest neighbours.”
Trump made the specter of tariffs in November, saying they’re going to be utilized to all imports from Canada and Mexico if the 2 international locations do not handle what he says is a movement of medication and migrants throughout the borders.
Saskatchewan farmers are bracing for the potential financial and political penalties if these threats grow to be actuality.
The tariffs may have a major affect on Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector, which exported $6.7 billion worth of goods to the U.S. in 2023, based on the provincial authorities.
Garth Massie, a gross sales and advertising and marketing supervisor with Superior Farms Gear, mentioned that tariffs may have an effect on gross sales of farming tools made in Canada.
“Tariffs would make them costlier to construct and fewer worthwhile to promote,” Massie mentioned at the Western Canadian Crop Manufacturing Present, held in Saskatoon this week.
Blue Sky48:16Canada is dealing with a significant risk from the U.S. proper now, each politically and economically
Our nation has to determine what its subsequent steps are. Host Leisha Grebinski explores what which may appear to be with Tom McIntosh (College of Regina), Loleen Berdahl (Diefenbaker Canada Centre), and Jason Hen (First Nations College of Canada).
Loleen Berdahl, the chief director of the Saskatchewan-based Johnson Shoyama Graduate College of Public Coverage, known as Trump’s financial method “financial warfare,” emphasizing the dangers of over-reliance on the U.S. market.
“The muse of our financial system is that this relationship [with the U.S.],” Berdahl mentioned. “It is not simple to out of the blue retool and shift commerce to different companions just like the … [European Union] or Australia.”
The U of Regina’s McIntosh used related language to explain Trump’s proposed insurance policies.
“One of many companions within the North American settlement has determined to declare conflict on the opposite two companions,” he mentioned.
Berdahl praised Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe for standing with most of Canada’s different premiers, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to current a largely united entrance earlier this week.
In a communique signed by 12 of the premiers and Trudeau, the primary ministers mentioned they may do all they’ll to cease Trump from slapping tariffs on Canadian items.
A notice appended to that doc acknowledged that “the federal government of Alberta didn’t approve the joint assertion,” with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s signature absent.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau known as out Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for refusing to signal a joint assertion on Canada’s tariff response. Smith says she opposes utilizing Alberta oil and gasoline as a bargaining chip.
“Scott Moe has an excellent understanding that folks in Saskatchewan really feel a powerful attachment to Canada,” Berdahl mentioned.
McIntosh says it will be important for Canada to answer Trump’s return in unity.
“If Canada does not reply with a unified voice, the affect on our financial system and our lifestyle will likely be extreme.”
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