Latest U.S. tariffs not worst-case scenario, but still not great for Nova Scotia: Premier

Anjuli Patil · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 03, 2025 4:57 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says portion U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariff announcements aren't a worst-case scenario, it's inactive not large for the province.

"The archetypal knowing is that immoderate of our large industries person been spared caller tariffs. The ones that were enactment successful spot earlier are inactive there. And surely the Chinese tariffs are besides having an interaction connected Nova Scotia," Houston told reporters astatine a quality league successful Westville, N.S., connected Thursday.

Dozens of countries astir the satellite were deed with tariffs successful Trump's latest announcement connected Wednesday, but Canada and Mexico were not included successful the list. This means Nova Scotia's fishing, tire-making and lumber industries are not taxable to further U.S. tariffs.

Houston said thousands of Nova Scotians volition nevertheless beryllium impacted and the provincial authorities "will effort to beryllium determination to enactment radical done that" and volition bash "whatever it takes to support Nova Scotians and our economy." 

Some of that support, he noted, could come through loans, grants and "market diversification."

Nova Scotia focusing connected becoming much self-reliant

Houston described the latest developments as a "fluid situation" and said the authorities is moving to "assess the existent interaction of the announcements."

During the quality conference, he spoke erstwhile again astir his tendency for Nova Scotia to go much self-reliant by processing its earthy resources. The state is successful the process of lifting bans connected uranium mining and exploration and a moratorium connected fracking.

"We person to beryllium cautious astir it, but we besides person to person the courageousness to person the discussions and determination forward," the premier said.

Houston said the state is besides successful the process of passing a measure aimed astatine removing interprovincial commercialized barriers and improving labour mobility. 

"Whatever it takes, we'll enactment with Nova Scotians to find the champion enactment for their existent condition during this play of uncertainty."

Tariff responses successful N.S. stay successful place

Houston said Nova Scotia's existing tariff responses — similar pulling U.S. intoxicant from the shelves, expanding tolls astatine the Cobequid Pass for U.S. commercialized vehicles and cancelling non-essential contracts with American suppliers — volition stay successful place.

When helium was asked about the national government's effect to the ongoing commercialized quality with the U.S., Houston said he's supportive of the enactment that's been done truthful far.

Houston said helium spoke with different premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney connected Thursday and is supporting the "Team Canada" attack and however Carney is trying to woody with the situation.

He said helium is not endorsing immoderate national candidates but has written letters to some Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to emphasize Nova Scotia's priorities.