Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says Americans are about to find out U.S. President Donald Trump is wrong when he claims his country doesn’t need Canada.
Moe spoke out Tuesday as a sweeping 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods came into effect.
“Americans are about to find out he is wrong,” Moe said in a social media post Tuesday afternoon.
“American farmers need Canadian fuel and fertilizer to grow their crops. Trump’s tariffs will drive up the cost of oil, potash and uranium and that will drive up the cost of groceries for every American family.”
Canadian energy is subject to a lesser tariff of 10 per cent.
Moe says Canada’s response needs to be economically sound and reasoned.
“It should not result in the same kind of self-inflicted harm that Trump is imposing on his citizens.”
Moe said Saskatchewan does not intend to escalate the trade war with its own counter measures.
In Ontario, Manitoba B.C.,Nova Scotia and Newfoundland American alcohol was pulled off shelves on Tuesday — just some of the retaliatory measures announced by other provinces on Tuesday. Provincial NDP leader Carla Beck has called on Moe to join the those provinces in their boycott of American alcohol.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has threatened to tax or stop sending electricity to the U.S., said Moe should stop sending potash, uranium and oil south of the border.
Federally, Canada responded immediately with a 25 per cent tariff of its own on $30 billion of American goods, with more to follow on $121 billion worth of U.S. products in three weeks.
Moe said Saskatchewan is carefully considering its response, adding that cabinet will meet Wednesday to weigh its options.
“As we have always done, our government will continue working to expand trade to other countries and expand trade within Canada by reducing interprovincial barriers and promoting the construction of necessary infrastructure, like pipelines,” Moe said in his post.
Moe, who has travelled to Washington twice in the past month hoping to stop the tariffs, ended his statement by saying that further measures in response to the U.S. tariffs will be announced in the days ahead.
Saskatchewan exported $26 billion worth of goods to the U.S. in 2023, with potash and oil among its major exports. Agricultural products represent about 22 per cent of the province’s total exports to the country.
Moe has said tariffs would result in job losses in both countries and that Canadians would lose if the two countries become mired in a trade war.
Bill Prybylski, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, said the tariffs are disappointing and create uncertainty in the sector.
He said commodity prices may fall, resulting in farmers getting less for their grain. On the flip side, costs for crop inputs -- like fertilizers and machinery -- are likely to go up.
While countermeasures will also hurt, Prybylski said they’re necessary.
“We’re hoping once consumers and producers on both sides of the border start feeling the effects of the tariffs that they’ll be putting enough pressure on their elected officials to try and get a settlement sooner than later,” he said.
Nutrien Ltd., the world’s largest potash producer with its headquarters in Saskatoon, said in a statement it has been working with representatives in both countries to promote free trade.
More than 80 per cent of potash used by American farmers comes from Canada, it added.
“While we will continue to serve our U.S. customers, the cost of tariffs would ultimately be borne by U.S. farmers,” the company said.
“In anticipation of tariffs, we’ve moved as much potash south of the border as possible ahead of the spring planting season.”
Earlier in the day Tuesday, NDP leader Carla Beck said it was a hard day they hoped wouldn’t come.
“The families and businesses right across this province are scared right now. They deserve to know that their government and their leaders have their back and that they’re doing everything possible to support them,” Beck said.
-With files from The Canadian Press
