In the news today: Reaction to U.S. tariffs, party leaders campaigning in Quebec

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

China and Canada impose tariffs on imports of U.S. products

With the world still reeling after U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs, China is now saying it will impose a 34 per cent tariff on imports of all U.S. products beginning April 10. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada would respond to new U.S. auto tariffs by imposing a counter-tariff of the same 25 per cent on American auto imports. It’s part of a flurry of retaliatory measures following Trump’s slate of double-digit tariffs on Wednesday.

Federal party leaders are campaigning in Quebec today

Party leaders will be in Quebec today as the second week of the federal election campaign comes to a close. Leader of the Conservative Party Pierre Poilievre will hold a press conference in Trois-Rivières, Que., this morning. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh will make an announcement and visit a local business in Montreal. Liberal Leader Mark Carney is expected to deliver remarks and make an announcement in Montreal before touring an auto manufacturing facility in Woodbridge, Ont., and holding a rally in Toronto later in the day.

Canadian economy lost 33,000 jobs in March

Statistics Canada said Friday the economy shed 33,000 jobs in March, the biggest loss since January 2022, while the unemployment rate ticked higher. The agency said the unemployment rate for March rose to 6.7 per cent compared with 6.6 per cent in February. The hit came amid increased uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs that have threatened economic growth.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

Auto prices to rise due to Trump tariffs: experts

Experts say U.S. tariffs on Canadian auto imports will drive prices higher for both new and used cars. Sean Mactavish, CEO of used-car marketplace Autozen, says prices are already rising on some used cars as sellers anticipate buyers looking for a better deal compared to a new vehicle. U.S. President Donald Trump has enacted 25 per cent duties on imported vehicles, with temporary reprieve for some parts compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement, and Canada has announced some retaliatory tariffs on automobiles coming in from the U.S.

Bay closures to cause job losses beyond the store

When Hudson’s Bay closes the vast majority of its stores in June, the job losses will expand well beyond the storied retailer’s own workforce. Experts say Canadians working for salons, spas and other service providers located within the Bay and its sister stores, Saks Fifth Avenue or Saks Off Fifth, stand to lose their jobs, along with staff hired directly by some brands to preside over beauty counters, jewelry departments or fashion boutiques throughout the stores. People whose companies sell merchandise to the Bay and are thus losing one of their key revenue streams, could also wind up on the chopping block with the retailers’ 9,364 workers.

Nuclear waste agency eyeing second repository

An organization tasked with managing Canada’s nuclear waste found one site to store millions of bundles of radioactive used fuel for thousands of years hundreds of metres underground — and now it’s looking for a second. The used fuel from Canada’s current fleet of nuclear reactors is ultimately destined for a deep geological repository in northern Ontario, expected to be in operation starting in the 2040s. The organization says currently, the waste is stored in above-ground or in-ground storage silos, but that won’t be adequate for the hundreds of years or longer that it will take for the radioactivity to decay to naturally occurring levels.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 4, 2025.

The Canadian Press