Canada attempting to coordinate with Mexico, EU and UK on response to US tariffs
OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) – Canada is seeking to coordinate with the UK, EU and Mexico on US President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Monday ahead of a trip to Washington.
She told reporters in Ottawa she has been in contact with her Mexican counterpart and would reach out this week to British officials and representatives of the 27-nation European Union.
“At the heart of my conversations with the British and Europeans will be how to respond to the tariffs,” she said. “Our approach is for it to be coordinated.”
Trump has threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports unless more action is taken to prevent migrants and illicit drugs crossing into the United States.
After taking office last week, he said those tariffs could begin as early as February 1, adding that the EU would also face duties over alleged unfair trade practices.
“We know that in many European capitals and also in the UK the conversation is on how to deal in terms of retaliation and what could be different responses to tariffs,” Joly said.
She also urged increased trade between Canada and the EU, which signed a free trade pact in 2016, in order to reduce reliance on the US market.
Joly, who is set to meet with US counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday, expressed optimism that Canada can still avoid the tariffs.
“Our objective is to make sure that we prevent tariffs, and we believe that we can do so,” she said.
“We believe that diplomacy can work” and “that our arguments are strong,’ she added.
The top Canadian diplomat noted that the United States has a trade surplus with Canada, if oil is excluded.
“We’re the biggest customer to the US,” she said.
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty, meanwhile, said less than one percent of fentanyl and migrants entering the United States illegally come from Canada.
He is to present to Trump’s border czar Tom Homan this week details of Canada’s Can$1.3 billion (US$900 million) plan to strengthen security at the Canada-US border.
