Premier Scott Moe says Canada retaliating with broad-based, dollar-for-dollar tariffs against the U.S. if they come to fruition is not the answer, because it hurts Canadians and the general economy. He says his government is not supportive of broad-based tariffs on anything Canadians produce. Instead, the Premier would like to see targeted tariffs which would affect certain American policy makers in their regions. He explains that there would be a small batch of tariffs targeting where U.S. policy makers are, so the people making the decisions are most affected. It’s a federal list though, so Moe can’t name anything on the list, which hasn’t been made public.
Moe says Canadians would lose in a broader tariff war, but so would Americans, and there are other countries around the world which would have much to gain from this type of environment. The Premier believes the way to de-escalate the situation is to stop talking about 25 per cent tariffs on February 1st and instead engage with decision-makers and businesses in the U.S. about why tariffs are not a good idea, which is what various levels of government are doing. He urges businesses with contacts south of the border to do the same.
Moe says President Trump’s announcement of 25 per cent tariffs, doesn’t mean it’s going to happen like that. “I think it’s important for us to prepare for all, but to not take into account or comment too much on what may be hypothetical at this space. As I say often is we need to take what President Trump says very seriously, but not always do you take it literally as we see just there, a little bit of crossing of what the Trump administration is moving forward with, versus what was said.”
In response to Moe’s press conference on potential tariffs, the leader of the NDP says she is still looking for assurances that Saskatchewan won’t be disproportionately affected by any retaliatory federal measures taken.
Carla Beck says she reached out to Moe last week regarding what assurances he’s received, and she has yet to get a response. “There’s no doubt, that if these tariffs come into place, it’s going to be devastating for people across this country, for industry, for economy, for the cost for consumers, but it is also going increase costs for people in the U.S.”
Beck remembers back to 2023, when the Sask. Party advertised on billboards in Dubai in conjunction with COP28. “The government of Saskatchewan spent $200,000 advertising on Dubai’s subways. This, at least, is as urgent. I would suggest, and I think most people would understand, that this is more urgent.” She suggests the party should spend that, if not more, on advertising in the United States to explain how big of an impact the tariffs will have on both country’s economies.
