Sask. gov to stick with U.S. booze and materials pause after Trump postpones tariffs

Chris Edwards · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 06, 2025 6:00 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

The Saskatchewan authorities is sticking with its tariff effect measures aft U.S. President Donald Trump announced helium volition intermission tariffs connected astir Canadian goods.

On Thursday, President Trump said helium would postpone the 25 per cent tariffs connected Canadian exports that autumn nether the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) until April 2. According to the Associated Press, astir 62 per cent of Canadian imports to the U.S. would apt inactive look the tariff.

In a statement, the Saskatchewan authorities said it's inactive seeking clarification connected which export products volition inactive person the tariff applied.

"While immoderate easing of U.S. tariffs is invited news, the ongoing uncertainty astir the tariff concern is hurting businesses and consumers connected some sides of the border," it said. "For now, the measures announced yesterday by Premier Moe regarding U.S. intoxicant and procurement stay successful effect."

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced Wednesday that successful effect to American tariffs, the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) would halt buying U.S.-made intoxicant and halt selling it to retailers and restaurants.

He besides said aboriginal superior projects planned by the authorities would beryllium temporarily paused truthful that American contractors and materials could beryllium minimized.

In effect to the tariff postponement, Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP said the Saskatchewan Party authorities should statesman an exigency legislative session.

"We don't privation immoderate tariff — period," the NDP said successful a statement. "Saskatchewan radical are frightened close present and they merit to cognize that their authorities is moving astir the timepiece to antagonistic immoderate the U.S. medication throws our way."

U.S. import tariffs connected Mexico were besides paused connected Thursday. It is the 2nd postponement this twelvemonth of the large tariffs Trump has threatened to enforce connected Canada and Mexico. On Feb. 3, Trump announced a one-month intermission of the tariffs, which were concisely imposed this week opening Mar. 4.

Simon Enoch, a elder researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, said Trump whitethorn beryllium pursuing a semipermanent strategy with the changeless argumentation changes.  

"I truly deliberation Trump is trying to person his barroom and devour it too," helium said of the repeated delays. "I deliberation what helium gets to bash is guarantee that there's nary ostentation from those tariffs, but astatine the aforesaid time, get to effort and execute his goals of reassuring concern and accumulation to the United States."

Enoch emphasized that adjacent the menace of tariffs is having a antagonistic economical impact, chiefly by making commodities much expensive.

"What we truly person to bash is telephone President Trump's bluff, telephone his bluff and say, 'You cognize what, we're not going to instrumentality this benignant of each month, having to spell done each this uncertainty, until you instrumentality tariffs disconnected the table,'" helium said.  

"A 25 per cent export taxation connected potash, 25 per cent export taxation connected vigor imports, right? Make them consciousness the pain. That's the lone mode you tin negociate with thing similar that."

Prabha Ramaswamy, the CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, echoed Enoch's worries astir concern turbulence.

The full tariff concern has created a batch of uncertainty, unpredictability successful our province," she said. "We arsenic a country, and our businesses present successful our province, we request to support preparing for tariffs. Just truthful that we person a Plan B."

Her proposal for Canadian businesses is to recognize what tariffs would mean for their models and enactment up to day connected the tariff pauses.

"Start to deliberation astir diversifying suppliers and marque Canadian suppliers a priority. Research tariff exclusions for products that you cannot root from Canada," she said.