A Conservative government would respond to Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs in kind – but Pierre Poilievre would rather both countries cooperate instead.
In an interview with British Columbia’s CHEK News, Poilievre outlined what he means by putting “Canada first” and, for the first time, vowed to impose tariffs of his own to counter Trump’s proposed economic pressures against Canada.
Trump threatened in November to impose a 25% tariff against Canada on the first day of his administration if it did not secure its border against drug smugglers and illegal immigration into the U.S.
Poilievre pledged to retaliate with tariffs against American goods that are “necessary” to discourage America from “attacking” Canadian industries.
“I’d rather we work together, though, right? Because if we do, we can have a bigger, stronger economy, and I will use the strength from that enhanced trade relationship to build our military, secure our borders, and help America, just like Canada, become safer, richer and more secure,” he said.
Trump is going to be sworn in as president next Monday.
Trump announced last week that he’d use “economic force” against Canada in a bid to annex the country and make it the 51st U.S. state.
When asked for a response to the incoming U.S. president saying he doesn’t care whether Poilievre wins or not, Poilievre told CHEK that he was only concerned about putting Canada first.
“He’s made it clear he wants to put America first. I’m making it clear. I want to put Canada first,” Poilievre said in the interview. “That means that we have to develop our own infrastructure to export our energy and resources to the rest of the world without going through the U.S. We have to allow more interprovincial free trade in our own country so that we can actually trade across provincial boundaries.”
Poilievre said that Trump’s tariffs would hurt not only the Canadian economy but also the American economy.
He said he would be “making the case” to Midwest refineries that buy Canadian oil that deepening the U.S.-Canadian trade relationship would be better for America and its workers than “attacking your best friend in the world.”
“We send $100 billion of Canadian oil cheap for $15 below market price. We’re giving that energy to the Americans, and then they’re reselling it at a huge profit,” he said. “Frankly, if he cuts off his refineries and LNG plants from our resources, then there are going to be a lot of unionized American workers who are going to be out of a job, and many of them voted for President Trump.”
According to CHEK News, Poilievre’s full interview will be released Thursday.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on Canadian leaders to also “turn off the taps” and withdraw exports of critical minerals to the U.S. as Trump’s inauguration is less than a week away.
Canada’s premiers are also set to have a round table discussion with the federal government on Wednesday to discuss the federal government’s response to Trump’s impending economic pressures.
