Manitoba’s prime minister is questioning the federal government’s decision to leave most counter-tariffs against the United States, saying that he does not want the prime minister to begin adopting a “elbow” approach.
Prime Minister Wab Kinew told CBC News in a telephone interview on Friday that is not the right time for Canada to raise the rates.
“I’m not a fan of this movement. Is this ‘the elbows down?’ They believe that Canadians want to see a stronger answer to Donald Trump, “Kinew said.
“I think the Canadians want us to fight for this country that we love so much,” he said. “This does not seem to coincide with the moment.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Friday that the country will lift reprisals before September 1, saying that he received guarantees from the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to eliminate tariffs on US imports that are covered by the Canadá-Use-Mexico (Cusma) agreement would boost conversations about other commercial problems.
Carney said that tariffs on steel, aluminum and cars will remain as both governments continue negotiations.
Kinew said he did not have a scheduled call with the prime minister to discuss the decision, and that the province only learned after it was announced.
The prime minister said that in his place he would like to see the federal government eliminate tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles so that the country eliminates its duties over canola, “if we are in the business to eliminate tariffs.”
Last month, the Trump administration raised tariffs on Canadian goods from 25 to 35 percent, using fentanyl traffic and “inaction and continuous reprisals of the Canadian government on the subject to justify the increase.
The goods covered by Cusma have remained exempt from the United States rates.
The decision expects trade chambers to wait for the treatment
Some business groups in Manitoba more supported the last movement of the federal government.
Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of the Chambers of Commerce of Manitoba, said he hopes that the decision moves negotiations with the United States striker.
“The reality is 80 to 85 percent of all goods negotiated with the US. [are] CUSMA-COMPLAND, and that’s how it always, “he said.
“I think what these reciprocal rates have done has made a message to the United States government and President Trump that we are interested in working in an agreement.”
About 75 percent of the imports of Manitoba came from the United States from 2025, according to the Province Statistics Office. That represents $ 6.26 billion in goods.
Barbar Miller, president of Otimo Customs Inc., a specialist in compliance with the Winnipeg headquarters, said that the people who paid for the tasks were not generally exporters or manufacturers, but Canadian distributors.
“I think anyone who matters products of American origin will support it,” he said.
“The particular beauty industry [will be] Super happy … many products such as watermelons and oranges and all that, people will be very happy because of that because it qualifies for Cusma. Then you will see that the cost of food will improve. “
Association of Cautely Optimistic Manufacturers
Manitoba exports to the United States fell 3.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025, according to the statistics office. The country represents 70.8 percent of the total exports of the province.
Dennis Darby, president and CEO of Canadian manufacturers and exporters, said he supports the lifting of tariffs provided he leads to a resolution between the two countries.
“We really hope that this Canada movement is not fulfilled without positive change,” he said.
“Canada, for example, reduced its tax on digital services in July, also in an effort to try to obtain an agreement. The only real change has been that the United States has increased tariffs on Canadian goods.”
