Carney meets with premiers to discuss pushback on latest threat of U.S. tariffs

There was tough talk at the Council of the Federation meetings Wednesday, as Canada’s premiers pushed back on U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat.

Washington’s plan to slap Canada with new 50 per cent tariffs on a much wider range of goods united the premiers who said the prime minister must lead the way on a response.

It comes as U.S. lawmakers grilled Trump’s trade czar, who said the tariffs are hurting Americans.

“Everything’s on the table,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. “We can’t keep rolling over for Donald Trump.”

Ford remained defiant in his belief that Trump’s latest tariff threat requires a strong response, but also saying multiple times that he defers to the prime minister, who they met with virtually Tuesday and will in person Thursday.

“He needs to lead the way, he needs to come up with a strong plan over the next 29 days,” said Ford.

There was tough talk from the British Columbia Premier David Eby too.

READ MORE: Canadian forest sector faces another blow with new U.S. tariff onslaught

“The United States needs to make up its mind,” said Eby. “If you want a strong partner, if you want the friendship that’s benefited North Americans for generations, then let’s have that and if you don’t want that, we need to be looking to the rest of the world.”

The response made Tuesday wasn’t just talk.

Nine of the premiers agreed to lift intraprovincial trade barriers on alcohol sales, in reaction to Trump’s plan to introduce steep tariffs on Canadian alcohol.

The premiers of Ontario, Manitoba and B.C. have made statements confirming their bans on U.S. booze will remain.

In his latest interview on American TV Tuesday, Ford reaffirmed his previous threat to cut off energy exports to the states.

The U.S. president has threatened new 50 per cent tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods, including many that are supposed to be protected by the Canada-U.S.-Mexico (CUSMA) trade pact.

Trump says they are due to so-called “unequal treatment of American cars, dairy and alcohol.”

WATCH MORE: President Trump orders 50% tariffs on select Canadian goods

The tariffs, set to take effect in about 30 days, come after the U.S. declined to renew CUSMA earlier this month.

Official talks between Washington and Mexico have begun, but not between Washington and Ottawa.

Trump’s tariff policies elicited a spirited exchange between several U.S. senators and the president’s trade czar Jamieson Greer.

“How are you approaching the risk of retaliatory tariffs from Canada, now that you’ve imposed 50 per cent duties on a wide range of products that were previously exempt?,” asked Colorado Democratic Senator Michael Bennet.

“We’re keeping the market access in Canada and Mexico, I talked with my Canadian counterpart yesterday, they did not say they were going to retaliate,” said Greer.

Greer’s Canadian counterpart, Canada-U.S. trade minister Dominic LeBlanc, hasn’t said anything about a conversation with Greer.

Another U.S. senator also slammed the new 50 per cent tariff threat, saying he believes Canadians will face higher tariffs than China on some products.

WATCH MORE: Trump to impose 50% U.S. tariffs on some Canadian goods, cites discrimination

“Our staff believe that there are instances where the Canadians are going to pay higher tariffs than the Chinese and that’s not right,” said Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden.

A democratic senator from Vermont asked Greer to improve relations with Canada quickly, saying Trump’s insulting 51st state rhetoric has led to a 40 per cent drop in tourism, and widespread economic pain.

Greer says he hopes to offer options on renewing the CUSMA trade pact by the end of the year.

“We can have at least options for President Trump and the leaders of Canada and/or Mexico to consider potential interim, interim arrangements,” said Greer.

When asked about Greer’s timeline, the premiers of Saskatchewan and Alberta both said they are optimistic a deal can be done before the new tariffs are set to come into place.

Quebec’s premier says the end of the year is months away and a deal needs to be done as soon as possible.

The prime minister has said he spoke with Trump several times earlier this week and the two have agreed to intensify trade talks.

READ MORE: Canadian premiers tout unity in P.E.I. as new threat of U.S. tariffs looms