Moe in Washington, pushing for end to steel tariffs

Premier Scott Moe spent much of this past week nearly 3,000 km from home, but he kept much of his attention right on Saskatchewan’s problems.

He was part of a delegation of three premiers who attended the National Governor’s Association meeting in Washington, D.C. this week. They were there to talk about relations with the U.S., but Moe also wanted to talk about trade and the American steel and aluminum tariffs more specifically.

“In order for our North American economy to remain competitive, we need to find our way through these tariffs, and we need to do it sooner rather than later,” said Moe, speaking to Saskatchewan media from Washington on Friday.

He said his group had been advocating for the ratification of the U.S.M.C.A. and at the same time, he’s hoping to find a timeline to deal with the steel tariffs.

“We need to come to a better place on these tariffs — a better place would be getting rid of them — so that doesn’t start to cost us Canadian jobs and Saskatchewan jobs more particularly.”

Though he couldn’t put a number on it, Moe said the tariffs are impacting Saskatchewan’s steel industry, manufacturing in general, and it could end up impacting the uranium industry as well.

As he’s been speaking with governors, Moe said he’s been talking about how integrated Canada and U.S. economies are, and by design. According to Moe, he’s generally getting positive reactions in these talks.

“With respect to the steel and aluminum tariffs, those challenges are being felt on both sides of the border and they’re being felt by consumers, and the governors are hearing — from both consumers and people in both of those industries.”

Moe also took part in a roundtable that focused on Canada-U.S. relations, and a talk on the sub-national implications of the new U.S.M.C.A.