Poilievre says keep counter-tariffs in place despite White House walkback

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OTTAWA — No half measures.

That was the message Friday from Canada’s opposition leader, who said he wasn’t swayed by the White House’s latest walkback on its trade war.

“We need to keep the counter-tariffs in place until the president removes all tariffs, forever, for Canadians,” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters.

“We have to send a clear message to President Trump that if he wants a fight, then we’ll fight back. We will defend our people and our country.”

With Donald Trump hitting the pause button on some tariffs until April, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced Thursday that Canada will likewise hold off on its second round of retaliatory measures until then.

Canadian exports that comply with the existing Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) will avoid Trump’s 25% tariffs — a temporary carve-out that largely covers the North American auto industry.

Poilievre said Trump has two options — attack Canada’s economy and watch Americans endure financial and economic hardships, or resume one of the world’s best trade relationships.

“So that both our workers make more, our consumers pay less, our economies have more money for national defence, and border security, we can stand up to our real enemies on the other side of the oceans,” he said.

“America and Canada as two separate countries will be stronger, safer and better off.”

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume