Latest news with #DominicLeBlanc
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
LeBlanc says trade meeting with U.S. was ‘positive' amid looming steel, aluminum tariff increase
Amid President Donald Trump's threats to double tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 per cent in various countries, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc says his Tuesday meeting with U.S. counterpart Howard Lutnick was a 'positive' one. LeBlanc, however, did not disclose whether Canada will be given an exemption on Trump's looming tariff increase.
Globe and Mail
19 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Politics Insider: Trump to sign executive order hiking steel, aluminum tariffs
Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let's look at what happened today. Donald Trump will sign an executive order today hiking steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 per cent, an escalation of his global trade war the White House says will disproportionately hit the Canadian economy. Karoline Leavitt, press secretary for the U.S. President, confirmed at a briefing that Trump will proceed with the tariffs, announced last week and set to take effect Wednesday. Adrian Morrow reports that Canada's Intergovernmental Affairs Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, rushed to Washington on Tuesday for a last-minute meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. LeBlanc and Kirsten Hillman, Canada's U.S. envoy, made no comment as they arrived at the Commerce Department shortly before 3 p.m. ET. Trump imposed 25-per-cent tariffs on both metals in March as part of the trade war that he has since expanded. Canada is the largest supplier of both steel and aluminum to the U.S., accounting for about half of aluminum imports last year and nearly 25 per cent of steel imports in 2023. Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to Canada held out hope for the Canadian auto sector despite Trump's talk of cutting it out of the American market. Pete Hoekstra told a Toronto audience Canada may still be able to work together with U.S. automakers under an industrial strategy focused on the threat from Chinese vehicle makers. The ambassador was asked whether Canadians should be worried about the future of their auto and auto parts industries, which are almost entirely reliant on exports to the United States. Hoekstra said Canadians need not worry. 'Our chief competitor is China,' he said. 'How do we use the strengths of the U.S. auto industry, how do we use the strengths, the capabilities of Canada, and how do we bring those together in such a way that we're beating China and not each other?' And Marie Woolf reports that the federal government is proposing to restrict the ability to claim asylum in Canada, while giving authorities new security powers to combat organized crime and fentanyl smuggling. Legislation tabled today would prohibit anyone who has been in Canada for more than a year from having refugee claims heard by a tribunal. It would also give the government the power to halt or cancel the processing of immigration applications en masse if it is deemed in the public interest. Canadian steel tycoon backs Trump, takes aim at Carney in escalating trade war: Barry Zekelman is blaming Canada for bringing the problem on itself by failing to crack down on foreign dumping into the domestic market. Federal officials drafted travel warnings in response to Trump executive orders: Internal documents shed some light on the warnings, which included suggestions Canadians consider returning home if they do not have proper documents to stay in the U.S. Carney lays out federal criteria for fast-tracking infrastructure projects: At the end of a meeting with premiers and territorial leaders this week, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the criteria include strengthening the economy, offering economic benefits and having a high likelihood of successful execution. Olympic champion kayaker Adam can Koeverden takes the helm of Canadian sport: The MP for Burlington North-Milton West in Ontario is the new Secretary of State for Sport, making him the latest politician to step into the leadership of sport in Canada. Prime Minister's Day: In Ottawa, Mark Carney chaired a cabinet meeting and later attended Question Period. Party Leaders: Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet participated in Question Period. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May attended Parliament and, in the evening, attended a reception held by the National Council of Canadian Muslims. No schedules released for other party leaders. McGuinty in Brussels: Defence Minister David McGuinty is scheduled to be in Brussels to attend a Wednesday meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group – an alliance of countries supporting Ukraine in light of Russia's invasion – and a Thursday meeting of NATO Defence Ministers at the organization's headquarters. 'Yes, it was a big love in because all the premiers want to work hard and to keep working hard for our country and for our economy' - Prime Minister Mark Carney, in Question Period, responds to a question from Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet suggesting this week's first ministers' meeting was a 'love in.' In which year did Canada join the G6, a group of six nations that had assembled to deal with economic concerns? Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer. The risks of bird flu are real. We can't bury our heads in the sand, even for the love of ostriches. Should Canada build a pipeline to the West or the East? Got a news tip that you'd like us to look into? E-mail us at tips@ Need to share documents securely? Reach out via SecureDrop. The answer to today's question: in 1976, Canada joined France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States to form the G7. The other six countries had united in 1975 over economic concerns. Canada is hosting this year's G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., from June 15-17.
National Post
19 hours ago
- Business
- National Post
Trump to double steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada: White House press secretary
OTTAWA — U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to deal another blow to a key Canadian industry when he signs an order on Tuesday to double U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. Article content The order will raise the tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. from 25 per cent to 50 per cent starting Wednesday, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Article content Article content Article content 'He's delivering on his promises to bolster our steel and aluminum industries in this country and to protect those jobs,' said Leavitt. Article content Article content 'The tariff agenda of this president, he believes very strongly in it. And as you have all seen, he is unafraid to use tariffs to protect our industries and protect our workers,' she said. Article content Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick as Trump prepares to sign the tariff order. More than 90 per cent of Canada's steel and aluminum is exported to the United States Article content Asked about the impending tariffs this week, government ministers have refrained from commenting before the order is signed. For now, Canada is focusing on looking for new markets and using more Canadian steel inside the country's borders, said Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne on Tuesday. Article content 'We need to use more Canadian steel, we need to have measures in place to favour that and that's exactly the discussion I'm having with the industry and we're going to be working on that, because you know, a strong and very prosperous steel industry in Canada is at the core of building Canada of the future,' said Champagne. Article content Article content On Friday, Trump toured a steel plant in Pennsylvania and posted on his Truth Social account that it was 'an honor' to raise the tariffs on steel and aluminum. Article content 'Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before. This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers,' wrote Trump. Article content 'He made that announcement in Pennsylvania and he plans to deliver on that promise to Pennsylvanians,' said Leavitt. Article content
Globe and Mail
21 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Trump to sign order hiking steel and aluminum tariffs to 50% on Tuesday
U.S. President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Tuesday afternoon hiking steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 per cent, an escalation of his global trade war that will disproportionately hit the Canadian economy, the White House says. Karoline Leavitt, Mr. Trump's press secretary, confirmed at a press briefing that Mr. Trump will go ahead with the tariffs, which he announced on Friday to take effect Wednesday. 'The President will be signing that executive order today, and steel and aluminum tariffs will be going to 50 per cent, yes,' she said. 'He made that announcement in Pennsylvania and he plans to deliver on that promise to Pennsylvanians.' Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc rushed to Washington Tuesday for a last-minute meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Mr. LeBlanc and Kirsten Hillman, Canada's U.S. envoy, made no comment as they arrived at the Commerce Department shortly before 3 p.m. ET. Mr. Trump imposed 25-per-cent tariffs on both metals in March as part of the trade war that he has since expanded. Canada is the largest supplier of both steel and aluminum to the U.S., accounting for about half of aluminum imports last year and nearly 25-per-cent of steel imports in 2023. The tariffs could backfire on the U.S. by inflating prices. The U.S. imports about a quarter of its steel and more than half of its aluminum, and has only four primary smelters of the latter metal in the country. This could mean many U.S. companies will have to continue importing the metals, paying the tariffs and passing the cost along to consumers. Ms. Leavitt brushed off concerns that Mr. Trump's tariffs were creating uncertainty for U.S. business. 'You also have U.S. business leaders begging to meet with this President and begging to come to the White House to talk to him because they know he is a negotiator in chief, that he is making good deals on behalf of the American worker,' she said. Steel prices in the U.S. have already climbed 16 per cent since Mr. Trump took office in January, according to the government's Producer Price Index. After Canada, Brazil, Mexico and South Korea are the other major steel exporters to the U.S. Mr. Trump announced the doubling of the steel tariffs on Friday at a U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh, a move that had not been signalled in advance. Later, he added the aluminum tariffs to the increase via a post on Truth Social. The President said his goal is to keep all steel imports out of the U.S. 'Nobody is going to get around that,' the President said. 'At 25 per cent, they can sort of get over that fence. At 50 per cent, they can no longer get over the fence.' He accused other countries of trying to 'steal' American jobs by exporting metals to the U.S. The President sees tariffs as a tool for keeping out foreign competition in order to create more manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Canada imposed a suite of retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. earlier this year but has since lifted many of them out of fear of increasing costs for Canadians.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ports, mines and pipelines top premiers' wish lists ahead of meeting with Carney
OTTAWA — Canada's premiers are heading into to a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Saskatoon Monday armed with their wish lists for major "nation-building" projects that could buttress the economy in the face of a U.S. trade war. Carney asked the premiers to each pass on five suggestions for national infrastructure projects, and Monday's meeting will aim to identify the ones that will make the final cut to be fast tracked using legislation Ottawa may introduce as early as this week. The conversation is taking place against the backdrop of an ongoing trade war with the United States, renewed debate about separatism in Alberta and a push to break down interprovincial trade barriers to encourage more trade between provinces and less reliance on trade with the U.S. That push already had a sense of urgency, following several months of unpredictable tariff moves by President Donald Trump, but got another injection of reality on Friday, as Trump indicated plans to double already damaging tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25 per cent to 50 per cent on June 4. Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in a statement Saturday that Ottawa has "taken note" of that new plan and remains "resolute" to defend Canadian workers and communities. "We can give ourselves far more than the United States can take from us," he said on X. "That's why this Monday, the prime minister will meet with premiers in Saskatoon with one goal — build one Canadian economy out of thirteen, and get big, nation-building projects built faster." The federal government is developing what it calls a "national interest" bill to fast-track a small number of nation-building projects with a streamlined regulatory approval process as a substitute for reviews under the Impact Assessment Act. Which projects are the main topic of debate on Monday, with a heavy emphasis on critical minerals mining, energy and ports. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Friday his priority is mining in the "Ring of Fire," a region about 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ont., that contains massive deposits of critical minerals. Another priority is building a new nuclear plant in the province. Ford said he believes Carney will pick a few priorities across the country that would have a major impact. "One has to be the pipelines," Ford said, adding Canada can't "be relying on the U.S. any longer" as its primary energy customer. Ford said he believes Carney wants to work collaboratively with the provinces and that Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe told him Friday morning he's excited to host the event. "I think a priority is to bring the whole country together," Ford said. "The previous government and previous prime minister didn't show enough love, in my opinion, to Alberta and Saskatchewan. We have to be a united country." Moe offered to host the meeting when he spoke with Carney soon after the federal election. Moe said in a social media in May that this will be the first meeting between the prime minister and the premiers held in his province in 40 years. The gathering comes as both Saskatchewan and Manitoba have declared provincewide states of emergency as wildfires threaten communities in remote northern regions. In Manitoba, 17,000 residents have been forced from their homes in recent days, while more than 4,000 people in Saskatchewan have had to evacuate. In a mid-May letter to Carney, Moe pitched 10 policy changes he said the federal government should make to reset Ottawa's relationship with Saskatchewan. His requests include starting negotiations with China to remove its tariffs on Canadian agri-food products, repealing the oil and gas emissions cap, expanding pipeline capacity and building trade and economic corridors across the country. "Your government has the ability to move forward on all 10 of these items quickly, which would clearly signal a new, more positive relationship between Saskatchewan and the federal government than we have had for the past 10 years," the letter said. In May, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt shared on social media her province's priorities for nation-building projects, including critical mineral projects that are ready to move now. She said New Brunswick ports are "ready to increase national and international trade with additional investments" and that the province is a leader in modular home building, ready to "tap into investments to tackle the national housing crisis." Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew also sent Carney a letter in May pitching federal-provincial partnership on several projects, including a trade corridor through the Port of Churchill, establishing Indigenous "fair trade zones" and developing critical minerals infrastructure. In his letter, Kinew called his province "the Costco of critical minerals." Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office declined to provide a statement ahead of the meeting, saying the premier has made her priorities for the federal government clear in recent weeks. British Columbia will be represented at the meeting by deputy premier Niki Sharma, as Premier David Eby left Saturday for a 10-day trade trip to Asia. Eby's office said he booked his trade diversification mission trip to Japan, South Korea and Malaysia before the first ministers meeting was scheduled, and virtual attendance isn't possible because of the time difference. A May 1 letter from Eby to Carney cited four "priority areas" he said require closer partnership between B.C. and Ottawa: the ongoing softwood lumber dispute, efforts to streamline rail and trade corridors, clean energy and critical mineral projects, and housing affordability and homelessness. — With files from Jack Farrell in Edmonton, Allison Jones in Toronto and Wolfgang Depner in Victoria This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025. Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press
