Ahead of a trip to Washington, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated Monday that Canada is looking to work with the UK, EU, and Mexico on the tariffs that US President Donald Trump has threatened.
Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, she said she has been in communication with her Mexican counterpart and would call British officials and representatives of the EU’s 27 member states this week.
“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.
In order to lessen dependency on the US market, she also called for expanded commerce between Canada and the EU, which concluded a free trade agreement in 2016.
Joly said he is hopeful that Canada can still avoid the tariffs and is scheduled to meet with US colleague Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday.
“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.
Less than 1% of fentanyl and illegal migrants entering the United States originate in Canada, according to Public Safety Minister David McGuinty.
This week, he will give Trump’s border czar Tom Homan the specifics of Canada’s Can$1.3 billion (US$900 million) plan to bolster border security.
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