As tensions rise with the U.S., Trudeau and provincial leaders push for buying Canadian goods to support the economy.
Ottawa: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the premiers had a virtual meeting to tackle the looming trade war with the U.S. They’re trying to come up with a solid plan to respond to President Trump’s threats of tariffs.
During the meeting, they discussed Trump’s recent decisions, including his plan to impose tariffs starting February 1. With this potential trade war on the horizon, Trudeau and the premiers are eager to break down barriers that make it tough to trade within Canada.
They’re looking to change some of the rules in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement to make it easier for businesses to operate across provinces. It seems everyone agrees that some outdated laws need to go, especially those affecting things like alcohol sales and truck tire sizes.
There’s also talk of starting a “Buy Canadian” campaign to encourage folks to choose local products. This could help cushion the blow if tariffs do hit U.S. goods.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who’s leading the charge, is all for retaliatory tariffs that would hit American products hard. He believes it’s crucial to make sure the U.S. feels the impact just as much as Canadians would.
Trudeau is on board with this idea too, and even some of the potential future leaders of the Liberal Party are backing it. However, not everyone is in favor of the dollar-for-dollar approach. Some premiers, like Alberta’s Danielle Smith, prefer smaller, targeted tariffs instead.
Ford is pushing for quicker action to remove trade barriers and revive stalled projects like the Energy East pipeline. He believes this will help Canada become less reliant on the U.S. market.
Trudeau mentioned that there’s still a lot of work to do to make internal trade smoother. The premiers agreed to meet again soon to discuss concrete steps to boost the economy.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston pointed out that it’s silly for Canadian companies to struggle with red tape when they could be selling their products across the country. He’s all for getting rid of those protectionist policies.
Ford also encouraged Canadians to think twice before buying American products, especially with the threat of rising prices. He wants everyone to support local businesses and send a message to big retailers to stock more Canadian goods.
Trudeau even suggested choosing Canadian-made products, like French’s ketchup, over American brands. This way, Canadians can avoid extra costs if tariffs come into play.
Meanwhile, B.C. Premier David Eby is urging people to reconsider their trips to the U.S. He believes spending money in a country that threatens Canada isn’t a good idea.
