US President Donald Trump said there is nothing that Canada can do “now” to avoid new ones price This will be imposed from Saturday – including on oil – just a few hours before the deadline takes place.
Canada and Mexico are expected to face 25% prices on all goods imported into the United States, but Trump said it could reduce this number to Canadian oil.
“I’m probably going to reduce the price a little about it,” Trump said in the oval office on Friday evening when he asked him about petroleum exemptions. “We think we are going to bring it back to 10%.”
Trump has reiterated familiar complaints concerning the fentanyl flowing in the United States of Canada and Mexico and the long-standing trade deficit that the United States has with Canada.
China should also face a 10% price from Saturday, in addition to existing tasks, which, according to Trump, is also due to fentanyl.
He denied that the threat of prices was used as a negotiation tactic to bring these countries to do more on border security, and it was “purely economic”.
“We are not looking for a concession,” he said. “We will see what’s going on.”
The comments seemed to precipitate all hopes of Canadian officials that a diplomatic solution, as well as additional investments in border security, could influence Trump. Several Canadian officials were in Washington this week to persuade officials of the Trump administration and the American legislators on the economic costs of the two countries.
Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told journalists on Friday evening that the Canadian government had “seen official decision -making” or specific details of the White House on prices.
“We are still committed,” she said alongside the Minister of Public Security David McGuinty and the Minister of Immigration Marc Miller. “We make our cause and we have a very strong argument.”
Earlier Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned the United States of a “useful, and reasonable but reasonable response” if prices are imposed in Canada.
“This is not what we want, but if he is advancing, we will also act,” he told journalists before meeting the new Canada-US relations council in Toronto.
“We are ready for any scenario.”
Trudeau said the prices would have “disastrous consequences” for the United States, endangering American jobs and causing prices. Trudeau reiterated that less than One percent of fentanyl And illegal crossings in the United States Come from Canada, a fact supported by customs data and the protection of American borders.
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“I think Justin Trudeau would be wise to speak directly to President Trump before pushing bizarre comments like that to the media,” said the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, journalists, interviewed.
Joly said that the Prime Minister’s office was in contact with the White House, including Friday.
Ontario’s progressive leader Doug Ford, who is currently presenting himself to his re -election as Prime Minister, said he was still going to see if Trump would follow.
“Right now, I don’t think anyone knows what’s going on there,” he told journalists during a campaign event on Friday.
“We will be ready, we will be ready, and as soon as these prices arrive, we will equal them to a dollar for a dollar, price for the price.”
Economists and business leaders have warned that prices would cause Major increase in import prices Like Canada aluminum and wood, fruits, vegetables, beer and Mexico electronics and motor vehicles from both countries.
The prices include political and economic risks for Trump, who only takes two weeks in his second term. Many voters have supported the Republican on the promise he could reduce inflation, but the possibility of prices could trigger higher prices and potentially disturb the energy, automotive, wood and L sectors ‘agriculture.
The United States imported nearly 4.6 million barrels of oil from Canada daily in October, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The daily production of the United States during this month was on average nearly 13.5 million barrels per day.
The importation of cheap crude oil in Canada, on which many American refineries are based, helps maintain the prices of low American gases and is The main reason for the American trade deficit with Canada That Trump often complains, say economists.
An increase in oil import prices due to prices would push US oil companies to get their crude from Venezuela Communist, the Canadian government said. US officials were in Venezuela this week by meeting government leaders there.
Prices are successful, says Trump
Friday earlier, the White House confirmed that prices in Canada, Mexico and China were still scheduled for Saturday.
“I was just with the president at the Oval office, and I can confirm that tomorrow, the deadline of February 1 that President Trump set up in a statement several weeks ago,” Leavitt told journalists.
“These are promises made and promises run by the president.”
Trump added on Friday that he plans to priced all international imports of steel, aluminum, pharmaceutical products and semiconductor chips, including those used for artificial intelligence. He also raised a start date of February 18 for prices on oil and foreign gas.
He said the European Union would also see new “substantial” prices and that announcements on this subject would come in weeks.
Trump ordered his administration last week to study the issue of international trade deficits and potential rates, with reports scheduled for April 1.
It remains to be seen how Trump will impose prices. The president has several powers of executive authority at his disposalIncluding the declaration of a national emergency to justify the management of imports, which is generally an authority of the congress.
“You can see the power of the price,” Trump said on Friday evening. “No one can compete with us because we have the greatest piggy bank by far.”
He also denied that prices would result in generalized cost increases for American consumers.
“Prices do not cause inflation, they cause success,” he said. “There could be temporary short -term disturbances, and people will understand. … The prices will make us very rich and very strong. »»
Canada Bank said this week The fact that Canada prices would lead to an increase in inflation in the United States and an economic slowdown in Canada, including investments and lost jobs.
A study published this month published by the Peterson Institute for International Economics 25% prices on Canada and Mexico and 10% prices on China “would damage all the savings involved, including the United States”
Leavitt said that the minimum economic impacts of prices during Trump’s first term should reassure the Americans that prices will not increase this time. But these previous prices were much more selective – targeting Canadian steel and aluminum, for example – while its current policy targets all goods in whole countries.
“The president intends to ensure that he effectively implements prices while reducing inflation and costs for the American people,” said Leavitt.
Have border security improvements been made in vain?
Earlier this week, Canadian officials had expressed their confidence That their arguments to Trump and his allies in Washington were “resonant” and that arguments for increased partnerships in trade, energy and borders were received with excitement.
They also pointed out that Howard Lungick, Trump candidate for the American secretary to trade who would oversee trade policy, Made to American senators this week Canada and Mexico could avoid prices of 25% if they “closed their borders” in fentanyl.
Ottawa is trying to hit a joint working group with the United States to fight fentanyl, said McGuinty shortly after the comments of Lutnick. Other ministers have sent videos and photos of new measures and application equipment to the border to display Canada’s commitments.
“We made enormous improvements on the different fronts, including migration management, the features of the fentanyl problem,” McGuinty said on Friday. “We continue to progress, and we are very encouraged.”
Miller added that it was always important to work with the United States and make sure that the facts prevail about what Canada does to keep the border safe.
“As frustrating as it may be seen that these things can be considered in vain, we must absolutely try,” he said.
“I understand the feeling that people think it could be useless, but I think that is not the case.”
– With Jillian Piper files from Global and Saba Aziz, Reuters and the Associated Press