Saskatchewan Prime Minister Scott Moe, lashed out on Wednesday with American and Chinese tariffs, saying they will have a devastating impact on Saskatchewan workers.
“They are not mistaken: a 100 percent tariff on Chinese canola and meal exports, along with the challenge we are seeing in the United States with on and off rates again on several products, they will take the canola industry in Saskatchewan,” Moe said at the annual conference of the Saskatchewan association of rural municipalities (SARM) in Saskatoon on Wednesday.
“Immediately. In a matter of several weeks, not months.”
China has announced that it will impose 100 percent retaliation rates aimed at Canola, as well as other Canadian products such as seafood and pork.
The decision is produced in response to 100 percent Canada rates in Chinese manufacturing electricity Vehicles and a 25 percent tax in Chinese and steel products imposed on October 1.
Chinese tariffs are scheduled to begin on March 20, just one day after Saskatchewan’s budget is introduced into the provincial legislature.
“I am not sure that I listen to the budget specifically of this, but he will listen to the Saskatchewan government to talk about this,” Moe said.
The prime minister said that nobody wants to buy Chinese electric vehicles in Canada, and move to protect Canadian and American car industries is directly damaging agricultural provinces such as Saskatchewan.
The anger of Moe not only focused on the entria of Canola. On Wednesday morning, 25 percent of rates on all imports of steel and aluminum to the United States officially entered into force.
In response, the Canadian government announced a new set of 25 percent tariffs on US imports worth $ 29.8 billion. They include steel products worth $ 12.6 billion, aluminum products worth $ 3 billion and $ 14.2 billion in other goods. They are in force at 12:01 AM EDT on Thursday.
These new rates are at the top of the first retaliation rates of the federal government announced earlier this month, which are applied to US goods worth $ 30 billion and will increase to $ 155 billion at the end of March. The federal government said they will remain in place until all US rates are lifted.
MOE confirmed that Saskatchewan retaliation measures announced last week will also remain in place. They include the blocking of the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) to buy and distribute alcohol made in the United States, and stop future government capital projects to evaluate how US contractors and suppliers could minimize US contractors and suppliers.
“Things are literally changing per hour,” Moe said. “And we have seen it during the last number of weeks. Therefore, a quiet hand is necessary.”
Aleana Young, the Critics of Economics and Jobs of Saskatchewan NDP, said Wednesday at a separate press conference in Regina that the government should prioritize Canadian steel manufacturers.
“Stop using steel from outside Canada, stop using cheap Chinese steel, stop using US companies when it comes to building projects here in Saskatchewan,” said Young.
More than half of Saskatchewan’s exports go to the United States, for a total of around $ 26.7 billion in 2024. About three quarters of them were one of the four products: crude oil, potassa, canola and uranium oil.
According to Statistics Canada, in 2024 Saskatchewan exported iron and steel products worth $ 387 million and $ 26 million in aluminum to the United States.
Regina is home to one of the 13 steel plants in Canada. It is directed by Ervaz PLC, a steel manufacturing and mining company based in the United Kingdom.
According to United Steelworkers Local 5890 President Mike Day, about 30 percent of the steel produced in the facilities is sent to a sister plant in the United States
“At this time, everything is in the air and we do not know what the next movement is,” said Patrick Veinot, a representative of United Steelworkers staff. “It is important that we meet and discuss it. All parties, all interested parties. That includes finance, which includes businesses, which include unions, you know, as organized labor.
“Everyone needs to sit at a table and discuss this.”
