Canada’s 13 Premiers Descend on Washington

Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, on Jan. 6, 2025. (David Kawai/Bloomberg)

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The leaders of all Canadian provinces and territories are set to meet up in the U.S. capital Feb. 12 to take their arguments against tariffs to American lawmakers, business groups and labor leaders. For the first time ever, they’re all in Washington together, trying to bend the ears of the most influential American policymakers they can find. Their message: Do business with us and we’ll help you compete against China.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Feb. 11 he believes there’s opposition in the U.S. to Trump’s tariff plans, which include 25% charges on almost everything the country buys from Canada and Mexico. But few will say it openly.

“Over the last few months, I’ve met and spoken with senators, congressmen and women, governors from every region of America, and from both sides of the aisle, and I’ll tell you what they say — they won’t say it publicly — they say ‘This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard,’” said Ford.

Premiers in Canada are akin to U.S. state governors. They span a wide political spectrum and govern vastly different economies, from the remote Arctic to the bustling trade corridors of southern Ontario. But all are united in their opposition to Trump’s threat to impose duties that would disrupt supply chains in the integrated North American economy.

This morning, Canada’s premiers met with Congressman Adrian Smith, Chairman of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee. I shared my concerns about how China is undercutting American and Canadian workers and promoted the need for Canada and the U.S. to continue to work together to… pic.twitter.com/D4ZyiCUoWo — Doug Ford (@fordnation) February 12, 2025

The trip comes at a delicate moment for U.S.-Canada relations. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is entering his final weeks on the job, while much of the country fumes over President Donald Trump’s stated desire to use “economic force” to turn Canada into a U.S. state.

Trudeau announced his resignation Jan. 6, but won’t leave office until after the conclusion of a vote to replace him March 9. That has opened up a bigger role for politicians like British Columbia Premier David Eby, who won a provincial election in October, and Ford, who’s currently campaigning for a third term.

Yet for all their efforts, the Canadian leaders conceded it’s possible they don’t actually get to Trump’s inner circle.

At a press conference at Vancouver’s airport late Feb. 10 — rearranged at the last minute so he could fly before a storm hit the eastern U.S. — Eby said critical meetings might not be confirmed until the same day.

“Things are very fluid right now in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “We are trying hard to get those meetings, and I can assure you that we do have meetings set up with a number of senior decision-makers in government, but those closest to the president will be confirmed at the last minute — if we do get those meetings.”

If America thinks tariffs will crush the resolve of Canadians – they’re wrong.

We will not roll over.

BC is stepping up to do our part by:
❌ Pulling US liquor off shelves
❌ Excluding US products from government purchases pic.twitter.com/xqaWYrfBLR — David Eby (@Dave_Eby) February 2, 2025

Ahead of conversations with Republican lawmakers, Ontario’s premier gave a speech about his preferred strategy — a plan he dubs “Fortress Am-Can” that would closely align Canada with the U.S. on national security and resources, restrict Chinese investment and match U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.

Canada already applies tariffs on some Chinese-made items, such as electric vehicles, that are similar to US duties.

Ford told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce he agrees with U.S. lawmakers that China “is hijacking global supply chains,” adding that “America has had enough. American workers have had enough. And I’ve had enough.”

“I’ve yet to meet one CEO — and I’ve talked to endless CEOs — say ‘Let’s go after Canada.’ ” He added: “I’ll tell you who’s sitting back and laughing, is China.”

So far, Canadian politicians have had limited success deterring Trump from his path, despite numerous conversations with the president or people close to him, such as Howard Lutnick, his choice for commerce secretary.

Trudeau flew down to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump, Lutnick and others in late November, days after Trump issued his first specific threat of 25% tariffs against Canada. The conservative leader of oil-rich Alberta, Danielle Smith, went to Trump’s Florida club in January, then to Washington for inauguration day. And in December, Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai even flew to North Carolina to lobby the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., during a hunting trip.

Trump signed an executive order Feb. 1 to impose 25% tariffs on most of what Canada sells to the U.S., with a smaller 10% tariff on oil and other energy-related products. Canada announced retaliation the same day that included 25% counter-tariffs on many U.S.-made items.

Canada pledged more border agents, equipment and intelligence investments to address U.S. security complaints and both sides agreed to hold off for a month. But seven days after that truce, Trump signed another order placing 25% tariffs on all imported steel and aluminum — much of which comes from Canada.

“I was disappointed,” Ford said. “President Trump said ‘Hey, you have 30 days, let’s work it out,’ and bingo, a couple days later he wakes up and the world’s changed, the goalposts changed.”

Trump’s executive orders justify emergency tariffs on Canada and Mexico due to the trafficking of the deadly opioid fentanyl over U.S. borders. But his complaints about Canada have also included the U.S. trade deficit — incurred by buying oil, auto parts and lumber he has said the U.S. doesn’t need — which, alongside low Canadian defense spending, he deems a subsidy. More recently, he’s said there’s insufficient market access for US banks, too.

Trade adviser Eric Miller of Rideau Potomac Strategy Group, speaking to reporters Feb. 11, said he believed Trump would need to “touch the hot stove” and see stock prices fall, vehicle plants close, or Americans paying more for goods before he backs off on tariffs.

Also on Feb. 12, Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Canada should consider putting export taxes on products such as aluminum to create leverage in negotiations with Trump’s administration.

The leader of Canada’s second most-populous province said the country should retaliate against the U.S. only if Trump actually implements tariffs against its northern trading partner. The president has threatened to do so in March.

If Trump follows through, “I think we should consider also putting exportation tariffs on products like aluminum where they really need us,” Legault told reporters in Washington. That would drive up costs even more for U.S. manufacturers and builders that use the metal.