Trump’s tariff threat to have ‘minimal’ impact: Sask. Premier

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says most of the province’s exports will remain exempt after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Thursday to impose 35 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports starting Aug. 1.

In a statement to media on Friday afternoon, Moe said that 95 per cent of Saskatchewan exports comply with the CUSMA, and the White House has confirmed those goods are exempt from the new tariffs.

“That said, all tariffs and trade disputes hurt businesses, workers and consumers on both sides of the border, so we will continue to engage with U.S. officials to encourage free and fair trade with the U.S., while also continuing to expand Saskatchewan’s export markets around the world,” Moe said.

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Canada and the United States had committed to working on a new economic and security agreement with a July 21 deadline. But in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said the trade deficit with Canada is a threat to the American economy and national security. He wrote that if Canada works to stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States, he may consider a tariff adjustment.

He also pointed to supply management in the dairy sector, repeating his inaccurate claim about Canada putting 400 per cent tariffs on American dairy farmers.

Moe’s response to the new tariff deadline pointed to Statistics Canada numbers released on Friday that showed Saskatchewan’s “strong and growing economy.” He noted more than 20,000 jobs created in the past year as evidence that “Saskatchewan’s approach is working.”

Opposition Leader Carla Beck countered those remarks in a social media post on Friday afternoon, stating “Moe has the second-worst job creation record in the country.”

Beck accused Moe of pandering to Trump “at every turn,” and pointed that “American booze is back on store shelves. American contracts are being approved right here in Saskatchewan.”

Donald Trump is now threatening to hammer the Saskatchewan economy with 35 per cent tariffs.

Scott Moe has pandered to him at every turn. American booze is back on store shelves. American contracts are being approved right here in Saskatchewan.

There is no plan, no contingency…

— Carla Beck (@CarlaBeckSK) July 11, 2025

The prime minister will be meeting with his cabinet and premiers on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade negotiations.

Sask. analyst calls Trump’s latest move ‘erratic’

Business analyst Paul Martin questions if Trump’s latest announcement is a reality or just a bargaining tactic.

Trump is “erratic in terms of his willingness to change dates and use these as bargaining chips,” he said in an interview with 650 CKOM.

“At this point it’s really difficult to say whether it’s going to have an impact, (but) If it does go through it would be tough on us.”

Martin said if these tariffs are implemented it would make Canada less competitive in its market, and could push Americans to find alternate suppliers.

Martin said tariffs have generated around $100 billion for the US government out of its buyers and consumers, but said it hasn’t filtered through to the end user yet. Martin also predicts it will at some point.

“The pressure will continue to mount on the White House to back off this policy of tariffs but Trump is apparently convinced that this is the answer” he said.

Martin explained that while many goods are covered under CUSMA, suppliers aren’t automatically covered unless they have filled out the required paperwork to be part of the agreement.

“I’ve talked to a lot of business people who didn’t know that,” Martin said.

“A business in Canada that hasn’t gone through that exercise would be really well advised to take the time to become compliant,” he said.

–With files from The Canadian Press and Mia Holowaychuck