Canadian FM to discuss US tariff threats with US Secretary of State
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Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is seeking to discuss tariff threats with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to prevent their implementation.
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Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly speaks during a news conference with then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at the State Department in Washington on September 30, 2022. (AP)
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said she expects to meet with the new US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the looming tariff threats from the United States.
On Monday, after a cabinet committee meeting on relations with the US, she said, "Our objective is to make sure that we prevent tariffs, and we believe that we can do so…We will continue to engage with different American counterparts. I will be heading to Washington to meet Marco Rubio on Wednesday."
Joly emphasized her confidence in the power of diplomacy, highlighting that discussions with US officials were ongoing behind closed doors, with specifics intentionally kept confidential.
She also emphasized that the Canadian government’s arguments had been positively received during initial discussions with Washington while acknowledging that challenges persisted due to the unpredictability of the new US administration.
US President Donald Trump recently issued a warning that the United States may impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico beginning February 1, unless decisive measures are taken to address illegal immigration and curb the influx of synthetic opioids into the country.
Canada braces for potential 'biggest trade war' with US
Earlier on January 18, Joly stated that Canada is prepared to face off against Trump in what could be the "biggest trade war" between the two nations in decades.
"This would be the biggest trade war between Canada and the US in decades," Joly said during a press conference in Washington. "The Americans would be starting a trade war against us."
She emphasized that Canada is ready to apply maximum pressure, with several measures already prepared in case Trump moves forward with the tariffs which could significantly impact Canadian consumers and jobs.
