N.B. may have dodged bullet with Trump tariff plan, but uncertainty remains, Holt says

Sam Farley · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 02, 2025 7:41 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

Just 2 hours aft U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs Wednesday crossed overmuch of the world, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt was 1 of the archetypal Canadian leaders to talk out.

While Canada was spared the worst tariffs, "that uncertainty doesn't spell away," Holt said astatine a quality conference, calling the effect for New Brunswick a continuation of the presumption quo. 

"After months of uncertainty, this means unnecessary accent and symptom for some of our countries, and that hasn't gone distant today."

Trump announced varying tariffs connected overmuch of the world, but near retired Canada and Mexico, due to the fact that they autumn nether the existing Canada-U.S.-Mexico pact. But a 25 per cent car tariff applies to imports from Canada, along with the recently announced 25 per cent tariffs connected aluminum and steel. 

WATCH | 'You don't dainty your neighbours similar this': 

While she said she's not acceptable to observe yet, Holt said it was fair to accidental New Brunswick dodged a bullet.

"So to beryllium sitting present contiguous without caller tariffs connected Canada speech from the automobile sector, that is amended than expected," she said. But since Trump launched his commercialized war, Canadians person seen however rapidly things tin change, she added.

In New Brunswick, wherever much than 90 per cent of exports spell to the U.S., Holt said the authorities volition proceed with its plan, announced March 4, to financially enactment industries impacted done a $62 cardinal tariff alleviation package, and its  boycott  of U.S. concern volition continue.

While the state has not dispersed immoderate funds to applicants yet, she said, the enactment volition beryllium disposable soon. 

The provincial authorities has stopped purchasing U.S. goods, and American liquor is disconnected the shelves.

About 10 Teslas the state owns are "sitting successful a parking lot" portion the state looks into selling them, she said. 

While steel, aluminum and car manufacturing are not New Brunswick's main industries, the state volition inactive look pain, Holt said. 

"You don't dainty your neighbours similar this."

New Brunswick industries similar forestry and agriculture person been impacted by the uncertainty of the commercialized war, Holt said, due to the fact that U.S. clients held disconnected ordering Canadian goods until they knew what tariffs would beryllium imposed. 

"Uncertainty has had a wide impact, due to the fact that determination has been a existent slowdown of enactment of companies that were going to marque purchases successful Canada."

She said the Team Canada messaging to U.S. politicians and concern leaders astir the dangers of tariffs connected the American nationalist has been working.

And portion Holt said she can't talk for wherefore Trump's code connected Canada has changed during immoderate weeks of threats, she said it's not a coincidence that it coincides with Liberal Leader Mark Carney becoming premier minister.

"It is simply a bully happening that the code has changed and that we're seeing much respectful language."