Canada seeks to negotiate with US on tariffs

Long Beach cargo port, USA. (Photo: THX/TTXVN)

According to a VNA correspondent in Ottawa, leaders of all Canadian provinces and territories were present in Washington, DC (USA) on February 12 to present their arguments against tariffs to US lawmakers, business groups and labor leaders.

This is the first time all the leaders of the provinces and territories have come to Washington to try to persuade American policymakers. All are united in opposing President Donald Trump's threat of high tariffs.

Ahead of his talks with U.S. Republican lawmakers, the Ontario premier laid out his strategy, a plan he calls “Fortress Am-Can” that would tie Canada closely to the U.S. on national security and resources, and match U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. Canada has imposed tariffs on some Chinese-made goods, such as electric vehicles, similar to those imposed by the U.S.

The trip comes at a sensitive time for US-Canada relations. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is entering his final weeks in office, while much of the country is in uproar over the US president’s claim to use “ economic muscle” to make Canada a US state.

On February 1, President Trump signed an executive order to impose a 25% tariff on most Canadian goods exported to the United States, with a smaller 10% tariff on petroleum and other energy-related products.

Canada announced retaliation that same day, including 25% reciprocal tariffs on a range of U.S.-made goods. However, Canada pledged to increase border staff, equipment and intelligence investments to address U.S. security concerns, and both sides agreed to delay the tariffs for a month.

But just seven days after that suspension, Mr. Trump signed another order imposing a 25% tariff on all imported steel and aluminum, much of which comes from Canada.

On this issue, on February 12, Prime Minister Trudeau warned that if the US imposes import tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, many Americans will lose their jobs and Washington's economic growth will suffer.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Mr Trudeau said Canada would retaliate if necessary. "We have highlighted the fact that there have been significant job losses in the United States as a result of the tariffs they have imposed on Canada. This will harm growth and prosperity in the United States," he said.

Nearly 50% of the aluminum consumed in the US comes from imports, most of which comes from Canada. Last year, the amount of aluminum imported by the US from Canada reached 3.2 million tons, double the amount from the next nine countries combined./.

Source: https://haiquanonline.com.vn/canada-tim-cach-thuong-luong-voi-my-ve-thue-quan-193697.html