Quick quotes: Reaction to Trump’s 35 per cent tariffs on Canada

OTTAWA — U.S. President Donald Trump has followed through on his earlier threat to increase tariffs on Canada to 35 per cent. Trump signed an executive order Thursday night to hit Canada with higher duties, after the two countries did not reach a trade deal by Aug. 1.

Here’s a sample of what political and business figures are saying:

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“While the Canadian government is disappointed by this action, we remain committed to CUSMA, which is the world’s second-largest free trade agreement by trading volume … While we will continue to negotiate with the United States on our trading relationship, the Canadian government is laser focused on what we can control: building Canada strong.” — Prime Minister Mark Carney

“Conservatives share Canadians’ disappointment that a deal with the United States was not reached by the August 1st deadline. Canada faces more U.S. tariffs than ever before, and we stand united with all workers facing devastation from unjustified tariffs on steel, aluminum, softwood, auto and agriculture. These deeply misguided policies will hurt families and businesses on both sides of the border.” — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre

“Mr. Carney gave in on key issues, including scrapping the digital services tax on multi-billionaire tech giants, committing to NATO’s excessive 5 per cent target, and violating Canadians’ privacy rights by signing up to Trump’s ominous ICE security state with Bill C-2. But none of this worked. Instead, Trump has slapped Canada with a 35 per cent tariff and continued his attack on our country and workers.” — Interim NDP Leader Don Davies

“Canada shouldn’t settle for anything less than the right deal. Now is not the time to roll over. We need to stand our ground. The increase in U.S. tariffs to 35 per cent is concerning, especially with tariffs still in place on steel, aluminum, autos, forestry and now copper.” — Ontario Premier Doug Ford

“We are pleased to see that CUSMA-compliant goods remain tariff-free, including the vast majority of goods Alberta sells to the U.S. such as all oil and gas and agricultural products. That said, it’s also disappointing to see tariffs on other Canadian goods increase to 35 per cent. These tariffs hurt both Canadian and American businesses and workers, and they weaken one of the most important trade and security alliances in the world.” — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith

“While Saskatchewan is disappointed in the Trump administration’s decision to increase tariffs on non-CUSMA compliant Canadian goods to 35 per cent, Canada’s efforts to ensure CUSMA remains in effect means that 95 per cent of Saskatchewan exports to the U.S. will remain tariff-free.” — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe

“Canada has what the world wants, and we should not settle for anything less than the best deal for New Brunswickers … Canada is coming together like never before to support our local businesses, workers and build a strong and resilient economy. We have your back. I’m reassured that (Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic) LeBlanc is still at the table and am confident that our federal partners will find a path forward for our people and our economy.” — New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt

“As much as we all hoped Canada could reach a trade deal with the U.S. by August 1, we knew it would be incredibly difficult. Today, we are learning that we still have more work to do. We never wanted to be in this position. No one wanted tariffs. This has been a long and difficult road.” — Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston

“It’s a sad state for us in Canada to have a partner down south that doesn’t honour a handshake, an agreement. It’s hard to do business with somebody that is hard to trust when these things come. Even though they have announced some agreements with the European Union and announced some agreement with the U.K., even those jurisdictions are not sure if they actually have an agreement. And so the uncertainty continues.” — B.C. Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth Ravi Kahlon

“The White House fact sheet should be called a fact-less sheet when it comes to basing trade decisions about Canada on the fentanyl emergency … The Carney government is right to prioritize a strong, future-focused deal over a rushed one. A little more time now can deliver lasting benefits for an integrated North American economy — and that’s well worth the wait.” — Canadian Chamber of Commerce president Candace Laing

“The hike in U.S. tariffs to 35 per cent will harm small businesses on both sides of the border. The fentanyl rationale is even more ridiculous than the decision itself. While it is good news that most Canadian exports will remain tariff-free due to the CUSMA/USMCA exemption, the uncertainty alone will continue to take a toll on Canada’s small businesses.” — Canadian Federation of Independent Business president and CEO Dan Kelly

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2024.

The Canadian Press