Americans will tell Trump to back off on tariffs, says Canada’s industry minister

François-Philippe Champagne is just out of a trip to Washington, DC, and says that Canada has many American allies in the commercial war.

The Minister of Sciences, Innovation and Industry of Canada, was south of the border last week to launch the leaders of the industry and the members of the Congress that the threatened tariffs of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, About Canadian products will be bad news for both countries.

This week, several Canadian prime ministers are making similar Visits to the capital of the United States.

While Champagne admits that “the rules of commitment have changed” when it comes to dealing with the administration of the United States, he says that all this work builds relations with US business and political leaders, ultimately, it will be worth it.

Here are part of your conversation with As happens Host Kӧksal.

You were [in Washington with Defence] Minister Bill Blair. The prime ministers have also made other trips. However, yesterday, [the Trump administration said it will impose] 25 percent Canadian steel and aluminum tariffs. Everything you are doing, at a certain point, does it feel like a waste of time?

No. I think we need to duplicate.

Yesterday I was talking to the CEO of us, and they didn’t see him come either. Then only the world we live in. The rules of the game have changed. The rules of commitment have changed. It seems that it is a kind of new normality now that you see things that come from the White House in the way we come.

The work we have been doing, the relationships we have established will be useful. Now, our work is to reject rates [and] Make sure our American friends understand that tariffs will undermine the security and competitiveness of the United States. Because today, economic security is national security.

The steel we produce in Windsor, [Ont.,] For example, he will go to the defense industry … They also go to naval construction. They go to the aerospace industry [and] In the automatic sector. The same with aluminum.

So, my point is that undermining these critical supply chains will make the United States less competitive. And that is really the message we need to bring to Washington.

You have been sending that message. Others have been. The business leaders, there they say, as we are listening, that they really do not agree with this idea and these threats. But the administration adheres to them hard and fast, and increasing the bet, even. So, when you talk about rules, there are no rules. How do you deal with that?

I listen to you in that. But there is no alternative than the commitment.

However, I can tell you that the tone has changed … for example, the Kentucky’s governor was in the news saying: Wow, now farmers in Kentucky are being affected. The distilleries are closing. Orders are being arrested.

So I think that voices like that and many others will help, because what we need is for Americans to talk to Americans and make sure they understand that there can be no rates without consequences. There can be no impact rates. And there can be no higher prices rates for American consumers.

Just what you said there in terms that the tone changes from US leaders: do you have the feeling that they are being vocal enough and have enough leverage or influence to change the trajectory of what this administration says it will do?

I think they are beginning to realize how shocking this could be and the harmful one that could be for the United States.

I can tell him, for example, we were talking about some critical minerals that are essential … for the United States defense industry. When you talk about things that could affect the national security of the United States, I feel that people are listening.

If he says no to Canada, he will basically have to say yes to China or Russia. I do not believe that there is where you want to be in terms of critical supply chains that are essential for the defense of North America.

These are very serious discussions. And I hope and I think they will bring that voice to the White House. Because at the end of the day, we are his closest partner.

Look | PM Justin Trudeau on Trump’s tariff threats:

Tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum ‘completely unjustified’, says Prime Minister, says

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that Canada will work with the US. In the coming weeks to highlight the negative impacts of “unacceptable” rates of 25 percent for both Canadians and in the Americans. “If it’s about that, our answer, of course, will be firm and clear.”

We know that the prime minister is compiling a list [of retaliatory tariffs] And speaking of that, but do you have more details, at this stage, what is on the table?

We publish the list Initially, what we take advantage of when this suspicion of tariffs existed … so that they know we know how to answer. They know we will respond.

Regardless of rhetoric on the way, the reality on the field is that our American friends need Canadian steel and Canadian aluminum.

So let’s press for an exemption. We will make sure they understand that Canada is different from any other country.

Prime minister [Justin] Trudeau has said that the president of the United States talks about absorbing Canada It is real.“Should it be the objective to reach an agreement with this administration, or are you simply trying to survive?

No one can violate Canada’s sovereignty. Never before. Never in the future. We will always be sovereign. We hope to be treated with respect.

They must value and appreciate this great relationship they have with a country like us … we join in conflict. We join together by making this continent more competitive. And I would say that we are the envy of the world in many ways.

So I hope we can convince them to eliminate that rhetoric and make sure we can work more together.