If Canadians still hope to be spared by US tariffs, they may be disappointed. A White House official told Sunday TV’s public affairs programs that President Donald Trump has made his nest: the tariffs on aluminum and steel will apply to all countries.
This includes the main supplier of both products in the United States and Canada.
White House Trade Commissioner Peter Navarro, touring the weekly broadcasts, said setting an exception for one country would create a slippery slope – the other countries demanding the same treatment as the one that would be reserved in Canada.
“It’s not his decision,” said Navarro, when asked about Fox’s possible exclusion of punitive measures.
From the moment he exempts a country, his phone starts ringing with calls from other heads of state or government.
Peter Navarro, Trade Commissioner, White House
White House Trade Commissioner Peter Navarro, touring the weekly broadcasts, said setting an exception for one country would create a slippery slope – the other countries demanding the same treatment as the one that would be reserved in Canada.
“It’s not his decision,” said Navarro, when asked about Fox’s possible exclusion of punitive measures.
“From the moment he exempts a country, his phone starts ringing with calls from other heads of state or government,” he said.
The senior official added more details in an interview to CNN: “Canada accounts for 40% of the [American Aluminum] market. If you exempt Canada, then you have to impose big, big tariffs on the rest of the world. This is a targeted, balanced approach.”
Navarro was pressed for questions on the Canadian file on Sunday.
Some presenters asked him how the White House could possibly justify by national security the imposition of tariffs against a close partner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and member of the military-industrial complex.
National security
In order to implement these tariffs on steel and aluminum, the United States relies on a rarely used article in a 1962 trade law that allows the President to order duties on imports if it is considered necessary to national security. The White House argues that the wording has broad scope, and that national security could include economic stability and manpower in the domestic steel industry.
Supporters of trade and free trade in the United States fear reprisals from other countries. CNN host Jake Tapper asked Navarro to think about Canada’s perspective: “Can Canada say, ” National Security Exemption? ” We fight with you in every war. Our soldiers are right next to your soldiers during each conflict. What scenario do you have in mind with which we would not provide you with steel and aluminum? ”
The senior official left a note of hope for Canada: although no country will be excluded, some key sectors could be excluded. Concerns emanate in particular from the automotive sector in Canada, and the possible impacts on cross-border trips of vehicle components.
“There is a difference between exemptions and the exclusion of a country,” Navarro told CNN.
“There will be an exemption procedure for special cases that will require exemptions so that business can continue. But at this time, there would be no exclusion of any country, “he added.
For his part, the Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, believes that it is unlikely that the President changes his tune.
” We will see. [Mr. Trump] made his decision on this subject. If for any reason he changes his mind, he will change his mind. I have no reason to believe he will change his mind, “he said on NBC’s Made the Press .
Independent Senator Angus King of Maine laments the presidential approach. According to him, the US government should adopt measures to discourage China’s business practices, not to harm the entire planet.
“You have to arm yourself with a scalpel, not a chainsaw,” he said.
Another senator, Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, also believes that Mr. Trump is mistaken. “You let China do as it pleases. You punish the American consumer and our allies. You make a huge mistake. Take it to China, not to the rest of the planet, “he thundered.
Canada must withdraw
In this context, Canada must simply leave the renegotiation table of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), says Unifor’s Quebec director, Renaud Gagné, whose union represents workers in the sectors of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). automotive, aluminum and steel.
“Since the beginning of the negotiations, we have been attacked in the softwood lumber, in the aeronautics, now we are attacked in the steel and the aluminum […] we must give a blow of brightness”, has said Mr. Gagné.
The union, which is accompanying the Canadian delegation to Mexico City, which is currently hosting the seventh round of NAFTA negotiations, is very disappointed with the progress so far. Mr. Gagné regrets in particular the lack of discussions concerning the conditions of Mexican workers and considers that the talks as a whole have made very little progress since the beginning.
These new potential tariffs on Canadian imports of aluminum and steel therefore add to Unifor’s discontent.
“Why would we sit at the bargaining table when we get treated like this? “Said Mr. Gagné.
