Politics

U.S. President Donald Trump’s unprecedented move to pull America’s closest neighbours into a trade war has left some Republican lawmakers precariously navigating how to support the leader’s tariff agenda while their local economies brace for impact. Many Republicans — caught between risking the president’s ire and facing backlash from constituents concerned about rising costs — remained quiet about the damaging duties, set to be deployed Tuesday. Other came out loudly in support.“Canada needs to come to the table,” Kristi Noem, the former governor of South Dakota and the new head of the Department of Homeland Security, told NBC News on Sunday.“They need to work with us to make sure that not only can we be good neighbours, but that we can help each other’s economies by getting in line.”Trum...

Long simmering trade issues between Canada and the United States have now blown up into a full-blown tariff war.  Starting Tuesday, President Donald Trump’s tariff threats will kick in, hitting Canadian goods sent south of the border with a 25 per cent tariff. Canadian energy was spared slightly, with tariffs of 10 per cent. A few hours after Trump’s order was official, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hit back, slapping 25 per cent tariffs on $155 billion worth of American goods shipped to Canada — on items ranging from orange juice to household appliances.Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc was at Trudeau’s side for the announcement, and as chair of the recently formed Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. relations, he’s been inside many of the trade negotiations.“We’re not seeking to escalate thi...

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Canada is hitting back against U.S. tariffs with a lengthy list of counter-tariffs of its own. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the measures — $155 billion worth — Saturday, in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order imposing tariffs on Canadian (and Mexican) goods.The government released a list Sunday of the first $30 billion in affected goods, marking the first phase of Canada’s response.Among the U.S. goods affected by the Canadian government’s tariffs (a full list is available online):PoultryMeat and edible meat offalMilk and cream, yogurt, buttermilk, curdled milk, whey, butter and other milk-derived fats and oils, cheese and curdEggs and egg yolksNatural hone...

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has outlined a wide-ranging plan for retaliation against U.S. tariffs, saying “we must put Canada first,” during an address to Canadians on Sunday. Speaking to the country from Vancouver, Poilievre shared a wide-ranging plan for retaliation, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced counter-tariffs worth $155 billion.“Common sense conservatives condemn President Trump’s massive, unjust and unjustified tariffs, which will damage both American and Canadian economies,” Poilievre said.U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on most goods from Canada and a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy products on Saturday. The tariffs will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday, Feb. 4.In an address to the nation on Saturday, Pr...

Less than two weeks into his second term as U.S. president, Donald Trump has fuelled even more uncertainty for longtime allies, upended the civil service and targeted any dissent in his administration. That combative approach is likely making one-time friends to the U.S. look elsewhere for stability, a former Trump administration official says.“It’s making America a less predictable ally,” Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as Trump’s White House communications director during his first term, told Mercedes Stephenson in an interview that aired Sunday on The West Block.He said the tariffs Trump threatened on Canada and Mexico — with threats of more to come for other countries around the world — are just one example of that approach put into practice.“It’s going to cause places like Cana...

Descrease article font size Increase article font size The LCBO will pull U.S. booze from its shelves after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Canada, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. Ford announced the details of the plan on Sunday, 12 hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hit back against Trump’s tariffs with counter-tariffs worth $155 billion.“Every year, LCBO sells nearly $1 billion worth of American wine, beer, spirits and seltzers. Not anymore,” Ford said in a statement.“Starting Tuesday, we’re removing American products from LCBO shelves. As the only wholesaler of alcohol in the province, LCBO will also remove American products from its catalogue so other Ontario-based restaurants and retailers can’t order or restoc...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has responded to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. Trudeau spoke to media Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing the tariffs.Trump said in a statement that he has implemented a 25 per cent tariff on imports from both Canada and Mexico, which drops to 10 per cent on Canadian energy, as well as an additional 10 per cent tariff on imports from China.Canada has been told the tariffs will go into effect on Tuesday.Here’s the English transcript of Trudeau’s full speech.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: Good evening. Today, the United States informed us they will be imposing a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian exports to the United States and 10 per cent on Canadian energy, a decision that, should they elect to proceed with, should take...

By Paul Wiseman The Associated Press Posted February 1, 2025 11:49 am Updated February 1, 2025 2:46 pm 5 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Tariffs are making big headline news at the moment.  Here’s what they are and what you need to know about them. Tariffs are a tax on imports. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Tariffs ...

Descrease article font size Increase article font size It remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will impose tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods Saturday. This comes after weeks of U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly warning Mexico and Canada — two of the United States’ top trading partners — he will impose tariffs if the two countries do not end fentanyl trafficking and the flow of migrants across U.S. border.He has also complained about deficits in trade after both countries took steps to boost security.On Thursday, Trump said they “may or may not” include a tariff on Canadian oil and gas — Canada’s largest export to the United States — but whether tariffs will be the threatened 25 per cent ones on all exports or lower, mor...

Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarks this weekend on his first foreign trip in office, heading to Central America to press President Donald Trump’s top priority — curbing illegal immigration — and bring the message that the U.S. wants to reclaim control over the Panama Canal despite intense resistance from regional leaders. It’s an unusual destination for the maiden voyage of America’s top diplomat, whose predecessors have generally favored Europe or Asia for their initial outings. It reflects not only the personal interest that Rubio — the first Hispanic to hold the nation’s most senior Cabinet post — has in the region but also the Trump administration’s intent to focus much of its foreign policy energy close to home.“It’s no accident that my first trip abroad as secretary of state will...