With U.S. tariffs looming, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe stressed to business leaders at the Western Canada Economic Forum (WCEF) that his province does not want a dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariff war.
“Saskatchewan’s position is, when it comes to the impending tariffs, is we do support a very fine small level of counter-tariffs that are specifically selected to change the hearts and minds of largely Republican policymakers,” Moe said during his speech on Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s promised 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs against Canada and Mexico are “still on the books” for this coming Saturday, according to his press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Moe said Saskatchewan would not support a broad tariff war with the U.S., and instead aims to de-escalate the conversation.
“This is our largest trading partner and we will lose that [tariff war],” he said.
Moe speech also focused on encouraging the business community to communicate with their counterparts across the border on how integrated the two countries’ economies are.
After Moe’s speech, he said in a scrum with reporters that export tariffs on oil or potash would “rip this country apart” and shouldn’t be included in the retaliatory discussions.
Moe said he would bring a similar message to the first minister’s meeting he was slated to attend later Wednesday.
Saskatchewan Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck continued to call on the Sask. Party government to reconvene the legislature for an emergency session to further discuss the tariff threat.
With less than 72 hours before the tariffs are expected to kick in, Beck stressed the importance of making the case to American consumers who are reliant on Saskatchewan exports.
Beck said something she would do differently than the Sask. Party government is advertise to Americans in places like subways.
