Friday April 4, 2025 | NATIONAL NEWS (Reporting from VICTORIA, BC)
by Mary P BRooke | Island Social Trends
Prime Minister Mark Carney denounced Trump’s latest tariff announcement yesterday.
“If the United States no longer wants to lead, Canada will,” said Carney.
“The President’s actions will reverberate here in Canada and across the world,” said Carney.
He noted that three different sets of U tariffs remain in place, with threats to Canadian workers and businesses.
“All are unjustified unwarranted,and in our judgement misguided, said Carney in Ottawa yesterday. “The Canadian government stands in solidarity with impacted workers,” said Carney in his role as prime minister.
“All of our tariff proceeds go to protect workers affected by the tariffs, said Carney.
The US senate voted on April 2 in a symbolic act that denounced the tariffs.
“The global economy is fundamentally different today than it was yesterday,” said Carney on April 3; Trump made his tariff announcement the day before.
“While this is a tragedy, this is the new reality,” said Carney, adding: “We are a free, sovereign and ambitious country.”
“We will fight to bring each of these tariffs to an end, they have been illegally imposed under US Law and in violation of the CUSMA free trade agreement.”
Carney says that the Canadian government is responding with carefully calibrated and targeted counter tariffs.
He told President Trump last week that Canada will respond to the US auto tariffs, matching 25% tariffs on all vehicles imported from the United States that are not compliant with the CUSMA agreement.
Auto parts are not affected, and also no vehicle content from Mexico which is respecting the free trade agreement.
Every dollar raised from Canada’s counter-tariffs will go directly to auto workers and companies affected by those tariffs. That’s about $8 billion.
Previous retaliatory tariffs remain in effect. Maximum impact in the US and mininum impact in Canada.
More tariffs:
More tariffs are expected from the United States in targeted sectors including pharmaceuticals, semi-conductors, lumber and agriculture.
Canada under a Liberal government will expand trade, build economy and protect sovereignty, said Carney in resonse.
Carney says progress will be made with the US to revise the trade agreement as a whole, not picking away at specific items.
Coalition with other countries:
If re-elected as the Prime Minister on April 28, Carney says he will lead the Canadian government to build “a coalition of like-minded countries that share our values”/ He listed Mexico, the UK and other countries in that group.
That is about Canada taking the lead: “If the United States no longer wants to lead, Canada will,” said Carney.
“We are powerful when we act together.”
Now more than ever we need to do more extraordinary things for ourselves. Breaking down internal trade barriers and making Canada more productive and competitive, building things in this country again, more homes, clean energy, mines and assembly lines. “Building a Canada that works for everyone, that is worthy of its people,” said Carney.
Long road:
The road will be long and sacrifices will be required, as Canada reorients to the impacts of the US change in economic direction, said Carney.
“We do not do things because they are easy but because they are right.”
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