麻豆传媒AV

SASKATOON - Premier Scott Moe is back from his trip to the European Union, just in time to deal with the fallout from the latest tariffs from the Trump administration.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump declared it “Liberation Day” and imposed a wide range of tariffs on countries across the world.

But Canada seemed to escape the full brunt of the impact this week. Moe said it appeared that Canada’s approach, which he described as a “very coordinated… strong and measured response,” and their advocacy efforts had “seen a relatively positive outcome.”

“Successful would mean that we would return to a free and fair trading environment, but we are seeing a relatively positive outcome relative to many other nations around the world.”

He later characterized the impact on Canada as “not the best position, but a far better position than other countries around the world.”

Moe told reporters in Saskatoon that Saskatchewan would “continue to make the case that the free and fair trading environment, benefits not only all of our citizens in our province, our nation, but across North America and really globally.”

Moe had been on a trade mission to the Hannover Messe, and had also been in London, England. Moe said he met with a number of financial and business leaders as well as innovators, all wanting to hear Saskatchewan’s message of fuel, food and fertilizer.

He said the government remained focused on expanding Saskatchewan export markets, as part of their comprehensive tariff response plan.

Moe also said they remained concerned about the previous tariffs imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum, and would continue to engage with the US to have those removed.

But Moe also identified other challenges beyond Trump, as he pointed to China and the 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil and canola meal as well as the tariff on hogs. He called that the most significant challenge the province faced in the short term.

He said he had spoken to Prime Minister Mark Carney urging him to take the issue up with the President of China and was told he would do so.

“We need that engagement from the federal level, it’s my understanding it has not occurred yet,” Moe said. “I ask for it again. We are Canadians in Saskatchewan and the biggest, and most significant and urgent challenge that we face when it comes to the tariff conversation is not the United States of America. It is China with the 100 per cent tariff on canola oil and canola meal. It will result in job loss… but we need our federal government to represent canola farmers and the Saskatchewan canola industry, and I would ask them to do so.”

Regarding his trip to Europe, Moe said there was a “real thirst to advance trade, not only with Canada but with Saskatchewan because of what we provide.” He pointed to Saskatchewan providing oil security and energy security, as well as the province being in the lithium and helium space.

Even with the Trump tariff situation impacting countries including in Europe, Moe said there are “going to be opportunities that arise in that.”

He said as a province with contacts in many of these countries, they will be “advocating for diverting, switching to Saskatchewan products,” pointing to Saskatchewan being a sustainable supplier from a environmental perspective but also in being there as part of the food and energy security value chain.

In response to Moe’s news conference, the NDP’s Kim Breckner said Saskatchewan had “dodged the worst of what we feared” with Trump’s Liberation Day, but there were still tariffs on aluminum, steel and canola.

“It’s clear that we can no longer be in such a position of reliance on the US economy, and we’re calling on the government to come up with a plan, a plan to grow our trade infrastructure… we need to invest in a new future for Saskatchewan.”