Trump’s press secretary says Feb. 1 deadline for tariffs ‘still on the books’

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump’s press secretary says the plan to slap Canada with punishing tariffs on Saturday is still in play.

Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House that she spoke with the president Monday night and he indicated Feb. 1 was “still on the books” for the introduction of damaging duties against Canada and Mexico.

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• Saskatchewan NDP calls for emergency sitting on possible U.S. tariffs
• Building provincial budget in face of tariff threat ‘challenging’: Scott Moe
• What impact will tariffs have on AGT Foods and the agriculture industry?

Trump initially promised 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs in response to what he called the failure of both countries to curb the illegal flow of people and drugs across the border.

He has since linked the tariff threat to economic and trade concerns with Canada and has said repeatedly that it should become the 51st state.

Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson, who was in Saskatoon on Tuesday to announce a $41 million investment in Foran Mining Corporation to help it produce copper without emissions in the future, was continuing to reiterate the message of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal government on the tariffs.

That message is that Canada will respond with counter-measures if Trump does  follow through on his threat.

“If you have 25-per-cent tariffs on all Canadian products, the result will be that food will be more expensive in the United States, gasoline prices will go up by about 75 cents a gallon, (and) an increase in electricity costs,” Wilkinson said.

“ … we are trying to ensure that they are aware of the negative implications of moving forward in this way.”

For right now, Wilkinson said the federal government still doesn’t know what Trump is going to do.

“I don’t think that Trump has decided yet whether he’s going to impose tariffs — and if he does, whether there will be any exemptions,” he said. “We are making the case that the tariffs shouldn’t go into effect, but we’re also being very clear that if they do go into effect, we will need to respond.

“This is a process and we will be working through this process, I would expect for some time. People should get ready for a bit of a bumpy ride,” he added.

Wilkinson reiterated that despite Trump saying that the United States doesn’t need Canada’s oil or natural gas, Wilkinson said that the U.S. does in fact need Canada’s resources.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has spoken out against broad retaliatory tariffs.

“We need to ensure that we have all of the tools that are available in the context of whatever may come from the United States. But do you start with retaliatory tariffs on energy and critical minerals? No, of course not,” Wilkinson said.

“You would start with things that actually Americans sell in large amounts in Canada for which there are ready alternatives — like orange juice and Kentucky bourbon and a range of other things — to try and create pressure in the United States.”

Wilkinson said he has heard the concerns from Moe and is meeting with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Wednesday to talk about the threat.

“I think people should take a deep and collective deep breath,” he said. “We’re going to be moving through these things in a thoughtful way.

— with files from CKOM’s Shane Clausing

Read more:

• Saskatchewan NDP calls for emergency sitting on possible U.S. tariffs
• Building provincial budget in face of tariff threat ‘challenging’: Scott Moe
• What impact will tariffs have on AGT Foods and the agriculture industry?