Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will do “whatever it takes to defend and support our families, our workers and our businesses,” amid an ongoing trade war with the United States. Carney is meeting with Canada’s premiers in Charlottetown on Thursday, on the final day of the provincial and territorial leaders’ annual gathering, as the topic of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of stacked tariffs on Canadian goods continue to loom large. “We are in a stronger position than we were when this trade war started 18 months ago,” Carney said. “We’re in a stronger position because of the determination of Canadians themselves, and I will say this, because of the focus of the premiers around this table.” The leaders of Canada’s provinces and territories spent the lion’s share of Wednesday in closed-door discussions — covering a range of topics, according to a statement released afterwards — and say the focus Thursday is on hearing Ottawa’s negotiation plan when it comes to Trump. On Monday, Trump signed an executive order to impose a new 50 per cent tariff on some Canadian goods, including wine, hockey sticks and cement, for what his administration is characterizing as discriminatory trade policies. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, meanwhile, was questioned by U.S. senators on Wednesday. Here’s everything you need to know: Expert predicts PM Carney and premiers may clash Some premiers may be frustrated by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s non-retaliative approach towards Trump over his tariffs, one expert says. “He just kind of takes it in his stride and keeps going,” Lori Turnbull, political analyst told CTV News Channel on Thursday. “I don’t know if that is going to be what the premiers want to hear. I think they want to see a clear plan.” She noted that the premiers appear “united” over seeing Trump as “a kind of common opponent.” “But they are experiencing the effects of the tariff war differently,” she added. At the meeting Thursday, premiers will want to know how the federal government is going to “help them” she said.“They’re connecting (the tariffs) back to things they want to do for their constituents,” she said. “They will want to keep focus on domestic concerns like health care, affordability, cost of living, the housing crisis, and get answers ... about what’s going to happen.” Devika Desai, Journalist, CTVNews.ca ‘Let’s get this done’: Lantz In their joint communique issued at the conclusion of Wednesday’s Council of the Federation meeting, the leaders of Canada’s provinces and territories also implored the federal government “to maintain a clear, timely consultation process with provinces and territories during negotiations.” P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz, chair of this week’s annual gathering, told reporters that while premiers have focused their discussions amongst themselves around strengthening each provincial and territorial economy to make the country stronger, “there’s no doubt our conversation with the prime minister tomorrow will have a new level of urgency.” “I expect we’ll hear his strategy about how to deal with this current situation with the U.S. … I hope we go aggressive and try to make real progress that we’ve been hoping for over the last 12 months,” Lantz told reporters Thursday morning before meeting Carney. “Put everything on the table, let’s get this done.” Rachel Aiello, National Correspondent, CTV News ‘Building up this nation’s people’: Kinew Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said maintaining universal access to a working health care system is a crucial part of creating a strong and independent Canada. “There can be no bigger nation-building project than building up this nation’s people,” Kinew told reporters after talks between the premiers wrapped up Wednesday. He said improving health care is not just about figures and percentages but taking care of Canada’s older adults who help build the country. “Team Canada is not just united up against threats to our economy outside of our borders, I’m very happy that this team is united about taking care of people inside our borders, as well.” The Canadian Press Ontario has ‘most to lose’: Ford Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is optimistic ahead of the upcoming meeting, but emphasizes he wants to hear a clear strategy from Prime Minister Mark Carney on how Canada will respond to the latest U.S. tariff threats. “I feel positive… we need a team Canada approach led by the prime minister, and that’s what we look forward to hearing today,” Ford told reporters before heading inside the meeting. He says he doesn’t expect a finalized plan immediately but hopes one is in place within the next two weeks. While emphasizing unity, Ford reiterated that “everything is on the table” for Ontario and said the province has “the most to lose right now.” Jermaine Wilson, Journalist, CTVNewsToronto.ca & CP24.com Houston: ‘Healthy people drive healthy economies’ Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said “healthy people drive healthy economies.” New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt added that Canada can leverage her province’s energy exports to the U.S. for Canada’s benefit. “We want to see all of those connections, all of those regional partnerships that take our assets and energy and offer them up to strengthen Canada’s economy,” Holt said. The Canadian Press ‘Sharpen the pencil, to sharpen the focus’: Smith Alberta Premier Danielle Smith thinks Canada has “a window” over the next month to “sharpen the pencil, to sharpen the focus,” she said during a press conference Wednesday, wrapping up the premier-only portion of the annual gathering. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe voiced similar optimism about reaching an agreement “in the near term,” given the layers upon layers of tariffs Trump has imposed or threatened on this country. “This is an opportunity for us as Canadians, and our bargaining team, or our negotiating team … to really intensify those negotiations in the effort to find some type of a reviewed and renewed CUSMA (Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement),” Moe said. “I’m bullish, but I’m not entirely confident we’ll get there.” Rachel Aiello, National Correspondent, CTV News Ford backs Carney’s lead Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Canada’s premiers will rally behind Prime Minister Mark Carney as they develop a response to the latest U.S. tariff threats. Speaking ahead of Thursday’s First Ministers’ meeting, Ford said he is not expecting a finalized strategy but stressed the importance of presenting a united front. “I don’t expect him to have his t’s crossed and i’s dotted, but it’s a Team Canada approach led by the prime minister, and that’s what we’re going to focus on,” Ford said. “We’ll take his lead, and we all have to be united.” Jermaine Wilson, Journalist, CTVNewsToronto.ca & CP24.com ‘We have to hit them back’: Ford Ontario Premier Doug Ford also doubled down on his call for Canada to respond forcefully if the U.S. moves ahead with new tariffs. “We have to hit them back with everything we have until they feel the pain, and we have to protect Canada. We have to protect our interests and our jobs, and our economy,” Ford said Thursday. The premier also argued U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs amount to a tax on Americans, saying the uncertainty is stalling investment and hurting businesses on both sides of the border. “We can’t fight on our back foot all the time. We have to take the offence,” he added. Jermaine Wilson, Journalist, CTVNewsToronto.ca & CP24.com ‘The ground is shifting down there’ There may be growing concern among American leaders, Doug Ford suggests. Speaking to reporters, the Ontario premier noted that economic uncertainty created by Trump’s tariff policies is not a strategy favoured by all U.S. politicians. “We’re diversifying trade right now … and that’s the reason I’m going down to the U.S. to continue building relationships with governors,” Ford said Thursday. “And I can tell you one thing: no matter if they’re Democrat or Republican, the ground is shifting down there. People are getting anxious. They want certainty. They want to make sure there’s stability in the U.S.” Ford added that “as long as he (Trump) continues to fight with his No. 1 customer in the world, that’s not going to be stability.” Jermaine Wilson, Journalist, CTVNewsToronto.ca & CP24.com Electronic industry could be among hardest hit by tariffs, expert says Trump’s latest round of tariffs could mean an especially big financial hit for Canada’s electronic industry, one expert says. The industry, which exports 90 per cent of its electronics to the U.S., would be among the hardest hit by the tariffs, according to the Electro-Federation Canada, a trade group that represents hundreds of electrical and automation companies. Cherith Sinasac, the trade group’s director of government affairs, said the tariffs could impact production on both sides of the border. “Since we signed NAFTA, we have seen an integration of our supply chains for electrical and automation products, both in Canada and the U.S.,” she told CTV Your Morning on Thursday. The tariffs could derail the recent global push towards electrification and tackling the carbon footprint, Sinasac added. She said her group has asked the federal government for incentives to secure production in Canada, like domestic content requirements and to continue with investment tax credits to encourage companies to manufacture in Canada. Devika Desai, Journalist CTVNews.ca Read the full article here ‘Storm before the calm’: Canadian exporters National leader at KPMG Law, Lachlan Wolfers, called it the “storm before the calm.” “This is a repeat of what happened with the initial announcement back in February 2025 that preceded the Liberation Day tariffs,” he said. Lisa McEwan, co-owner of customs brokerage firm Hemisphere Freight says they have been on this “roller-coaster” now for a “couple of years.” “At this point in time, people are just going to do the wait-and-see,” she said. In a matter of weeks, however, that cool reaction from shippers could shift into something more feverish. “A little bit closer to the 30-day timeline, then I do expect a rush of products coming across the border, because the impact, if it hits, is 50 per cent” — with no CUSMA exemption — said Wolfers. Desjardins managing director Royce Mendes said this fits U.S. President Donald Trump’s “signature style” of “leveraging the American market to force partners into making concessions.” “It’s a bit like the schoolyard bully that punches a kid and then says, ‘Mommy, mommy, he hit me back,’” added Michael McAdoo, a partner at consulting firm BCG’s global trade and investment group. “Well, you threw the first punch.” “The fragility of the U.S. economy at the moment, the inflationary pressures, the political cycle coming into the midterm elections — you can see why time may in fact be Canada’s friend on this,” said McAdoo. The Canadian Press Would disrupt fragile pharmaceutical supply chains Jim Keon, president of the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association, said in a statement that pharmaceutical supply chains in Canada and the U.S. are highly integrated. “Canada imports U.S.-manufactured generic medicines, including essential hospital medicines, while Canadian manufacturers rely on active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients, packaging and other critical inputs made in the U.S. This cross-border trade supports patients, manufacturers and workers on both sides of the border,” he said. He added that a resilient supply chain for generic drugs is critical to patient care, health-care systems and the security of both Canada and the U.S. Tariffs, Keon said, would disrupt fragile pharmaceutical supply chains. The Canadian Press Canadian businesses are ‘in for a rocky road’ Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters’ president and CEO, Dennis Darby, told BNN Bloomberg that Canadians are “in for a rocky road.” Darby says Trump’s latest proposed tariffs hit about US$20 billion which is $28 billion worth of products that have been tariff-free, creating new concern for businesses. “We’re hearing from companies who we haven’t really heard from much in the last year and a half because they had been mostly exempt,” says Darby, adding that businesses have already been delaying investments because of prolonged uncertainty surrounding CUSMA. “It adds to the complexity, and complexity of business planning for sure.” Darby says businesses are now less likely to invest in production, buy new equipment or build new factories because of the uncertainty over where trade with the U.S. is headed. “In fact, 73 per cent of our members across Canada say failure to get a renewal of CUSMA will lower their confidence and future expectations for the company,” says Darby. Anam Khan, Journalist, BNNBloomberg.ca
