Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will host a Canada-U.S. economic summit in Toronto on Friday, days after President Donald Trump said he would hold off on deploying his threatened tariffs against Canada for a month.
鈥淲e want businesses, investors and workers to choose Canada,鈥� Trudeau said in a news release.
The Prime Minister鈥檚 Office said the pause on tariffs presents an important opportunity to build a long-term prosperity agenda for Canada.
The event will assemble Canadian trade and business leaders and representatives of organized labour to discuss strategies to expand the economy, break down internal trade barriers and diversify exports.
It will also feature members of the Council on Canada-U.S. Relations, formed earlier this year to advise Trudeau on bilateral relations and Trump鈥檚 tariff threat.
Trudeau held a virtual meeting with the premiers Wednesday to discuss the federal government鈥檚 response to the tariff threat. Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford said they talked about how to knock down interprovincial trade barriers, expedite permits for resource development and secure the border.
鈥淚鈥檝e asked the federal government, who is the czar when it comes to drugs overall, especially fentanyl?鈥� Ford said at a campaign stop in Pickering, Ont.
Trump signed an executive order on Saturday to impose 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on all Mexican and Canadian imports, with a lower 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy. The president linked the duties to what he called the illegal flow of people and fentanyl across the borders.
The threat of a trade war 鈥� which economists have said would damage both economies and boost inflation 鈥� was resolved temporarily Monday for both countries after Trump spoke separately by phone with Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Trump agreed to freeze the levies until March 4 in response to border security commitments from Canada and Mexico. Trump said in a social media post that the tariffs will be delayed to see if the two countries can reach a 鈥渇inal economic deal.鈥�
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed victory for Trump in his negotiations with Canada and Mexico. When asked Wednesday whether Trump intends to use tariffs to cut taxes in America, Leavitt said he 鈥渂elieves tariffs are a great revenue raiser for this country.鈥�
Canadian officials have taken little solace from the delay. The president has made a wide range of complaints against Canada, citing trade deficits and Canada鈥檚 modest defence spending. He has said repeatedly he wants to make the country the 51st state.
Experts have warned that ongoing trade uncertainty will make Canada a less desirable place to invest than the U.S.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, Industry Minister Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne and Defence Minister Bill Blair were in the U.S. capital this week looking to arrange meetings with industry representatives, Republican lawmakers and key members of Trump鈥檚 team.
A delegation of Canadian premiers will also make the case for Canada in Washington next week. Ford, who is chair of the Council of the Federation, said it鈥檚 critical to communicate directly with American lawmakers and business groups.
Ford, who used Trump鈥檚 tariffs threat as justification for calling an early provincial election, said he will have 15 meetings on his first day in Washington, during which he鈥檒l discuss the benefits of the United States and Canada working together.
鈥淚 have yet to hear one elected official, no matter Republican or Democrat, (that) thinks this is a good idea to attack your closest neighbour and your cherished ally,鈥� Ford said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 just no reason to be wasting time on this, in my opinion. Let鈥檚 build a stronger two countries.鈥�
