Chrystia Freeland says a unified stance toward China will give Canada a “firm footing” in upcoming trade negotiations with the United States and President-elect Donald Trump.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Freeland spoke to reporters Friday after the first meeting of the newly reactivated Cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations, which she will once again chair.
He compared the committee to the task force created during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brings ministers together periodically to address an “urgent issue”. In this case, it is the relationship between Canada and the United States, whose border and trade relations will be the focus under the incoming Trump administration.
Trump, who was declared the winner of the 2024 US presidential election on Wednesday, promised during the campaign that he would impose blanket tariffs on all goods entering the country as part of his economic strategy. He also said he would seek to renegotiate the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which was signed during his first administration.
The news that Trump will return to the White House in 2025 has caused consternation among leaders of Canada’s steel and aluminum industries. The first Trump administration imposed tariffs of 25 percent on Canadian steel and 10 percent on aluminum in 2018, a tactic that lasted about a year and saw Canada impose retaliatory tariffs on American products.
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But Freeland said Friday that Canada “learned a lot” from its negotiations with Trump in his first term.
“The important thing about that whole experience is that Canada and the United States agreed, at the end of the day, that it didn’t make sense for both of our countries to have those tariffs imposed,” he said.
“To me, that’s very powerful evidence of the fundamental economic rationale, of the fundamental economic benefit that both countries derive from the economic relationship.”
Freeland also pointed to shared steps taken this year in Canada and the United States to impose tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum and electric vehicles.
Positioning geographic neighbors as a united front against China, Freeland argued that the United States will see Canada as a reliable trading partner that can match the American giant in its economic and geopolitical priorities.
“Canada is very aligned with the United States in that sense. And that is one last area where I see a firm foundation for our work together,” he said.
David MacNaughton, Canada’s ambassador to the United States under Trump, told Mercedes Stephenson on The west block Last week, U.S. officials on both sides of the aisle were “pleased” that Canadian trade policy had aligned with that of the United States on China.
“I think we have to look like we’re on the same page with them when it comes to the relationship with China, because if we’re not, we’re going to have real problems,” he said.
Brian Kingston, president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association, told Global News this week that he believes Canada will be able to win exemptions from Trump’s tariff proposals by becoming a preferred source of critical minerals as the United States moves away from China. .
“If a Trump administration acts more aggressively in its approach toward China, Canada is perfectly positioned to be that strong partner and ally and help make that transition happen. So I think there is an opportunity,” he says.
“If we combine that with an effort to increase our mining capacity and be the preferred supplier to Americans, I think we could come out of this in a much better position.”
Freeland, who met with Canadian steel producers in Hamilton, Ont., on Thursday, acknowledged that the country has more to do on the trade front, particularly in combating circumvention that can cause exporters to ship steel across borders. friends to avoid costly tariffs.
But when asked Friday whether she was the right person to negotiate with Trump for a second and final term, Freeland insisted she was prepared for the new pressure.
He also highlighted his relationship with Robert Lighthizer, Trump’s former trade czar who is also expected to play a key role in the president-elect’s second administration.
“In my experience, President Trump respects strength and respects people and countries that are strong and clear in defending their countries, in defending their national interests,” Freeland said.
“That’s what I’ve always done and that’s what I will continue to do.”
– with files from Sean Boynton of Global News
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
