OTTAWA ANGRY OVER TRUMP'S STEEL, ALUMINUM TARIFFS TALK
Mar 01, 2018
By Bob Komsic
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North American stock markets fell sharply, the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 420 points, after Donald Trump announced he would introduce tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum.
(Evan Vucci/AP)
The president also announced he’ll sign an executive order next week after the U.S. Commerce Department made the recommendations in order to protect two industries that have been hit hard by cheap imports from China.
What’s unclear is will the tariffs apply to Canada — the largest seller of both steel and aluminum to the U.S.?
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland’s issued a statement in which she says quote ”Canada would view any trade restrictions … as absolutely unacceptable”.
A point reinforced by International Trade Minister Francois Philippe Champagne, who told the Commons the government would vigorously defend manufacturers and workers.
Industry and union officials on both sides of the border say they’re not sure if Canada is included or would receive an exemption as it did 16 years ago when then president George W. Bush cracked down on steel imports.
And one auto industry source says the White House has privately indicated it does not want to give Canada an exemption.