While Canada was spared from further tariffs — for now — N.L. plans to hold its ground

Elizabeth Whitten · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 05, 2025 4:30 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

While Canada was spared from further U.S. tariffs connected Wednesday, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey says it was lone a "partial relief" and that Canada needs to proceed to support itself.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump rolled retired sweeping reciprocal tariffs that targeted dozens of countries astir the world, though Canada and Mexico — which person been aboriginal targets during Trump's 2nd word — were not included.

"While we were each blessed not to spot Canada connected that ridiculous billboard, I inactive deliberation that we request to beryllium reserved successful that relief," Furey told CBC News connected Thursday morning.

There already exists tariffs connected alloy and aluminum, car manufacturing, arsenic good arsenic potash and vigor products coming retired of Canada.

Canadian premiers and the national authorities volition request to proceed the fight, Furey said.

In doing so, Furey confirmed his committedness to keep provincial measures successful place, similar keeping U.S. intoxicant disconnected of Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation store shelves.

"We look to diversify our markets. We look to change our procurement processes truthful that we're securing what we tin crossed Canada arsenic opposed to the United States. But this has been incredibly disruptive," said Furey.

Speaking up of a virtual archetypal premiers gathering connected Thursday, Furey said helium wants to spot a alleviation bundle that volition enactment those impacted by U.S. tariffs.

He says immoderate Canadian effect has to beryllium proportional to the interaction the U.S. tariffs person connected Canada.

"We request to marque definite that we person a presumption of strength, which we bash arsenic a earthy resource-based economy," Furey said.

Diversification

In the aftermath of Trump's announcement this week, Labrador Gem Seafoods president Danny Dumaresque said it's reassuring to beryllium successful a presumption wherever helium tin springiness directions to his production.

The Canadian seafood manufacture has been spared by the U.S. so far, though China issued its ain 25 per cent tariff successful precocious March.

"I was pleased that we'd dodged a bullet, but there's nary question determination is simply a planetary commercialized warfare raging," Dumaresque told CBC News.

"By nary means are we retired of the woods."

Financial markets successful Asia and Europe are trending downward and economists are predicting a planetary recession, said Dumaresque, and Trump's announcement connected Wednesday doesn't alteration his determination to diversify markets distant from the U.S.

"Fool maine once, shame connected you. Fool maine twice, shame connected me," helium said.

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