'Strong commitment' to increasing border security in face of Trump tariff threat, says Holt
Move could be viewed as a win for Trump so tariffs are dropped, N.B. premier says
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt emerged from a meeting Wednesday with her counterparts and the prime minister speaking of a sense of willingness among Canadian political leaders to meet U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's demands as he threatens tariffs.
"There was strong alignment around the table for a unified approach, a Team Canada approach, recognizing the unique nature of each province's trade relationship with the U.S. can be considered," said Holt on a call with reporters after the virtual meeting.
"We talked about the need to negotiate with the U.S. and not each other."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met virtually with Canada's premiers in a meeting Wednesday night to discuss the threat of tariffs from the incoming Trump administration. The meeting, scheduled to be 30 minutes, dragged on for close to two hours.
Trump threatened in a social media post Monday night to slap 25 per cent tariffs "on all products" entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico unless those countries curb the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders.
In response, Holt said there was "a strong commitment to strengthening our borders" in the meeting, making the case about the integration of Canadian and American economies.
Holt said Canada would only consider retaliatory tariffs "as a last resort."
When asked by reporters to clarify what changes on border security were discussed, Holt said there was talk of investment in the Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP, adding that federal Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc made clear the government's willingness to make further investments.
"We didn't get into the details of how many agents at which borders … but we certainly want to make sure that while [Trump] might be focused on borders, in particular his southern border, that the northern border is strong and investments are being made and it will continue to be strengthened," said Holt.
When asked if this could be seen as a win for Trump, she responded that it could be.
"Hopefully he'll see it as a win, and we'll drop the tariffs."
But Holt said there would be clear communication with the U.S. about the strength of Canada's border and how a comparison with the Mexican border "isn't appropriate."
"The level of issues with their borders makes ours insignificant," Holt said.
Given New Brunswick's strong cross-border ties with communities in Maine, Holt said the "smooth functioning" of the border could be viewed as a positive as Canada is "reducing and eliminating the movement of illegal goods or people."
Holt said there were no official roles given to premiers to help negotiate, but that premiers will use existing relationships with American governors in border states to engage and keep in regular contact.
She also said she's been speaking with New Brunswick business leaders with ties to the U.S. about "the roles they can play in partnering with us to ensure that messages are being clearly delivered to governors and to the business community in the U.S."
"We've been hearing from different leaders that are there to help, that are ready to join the team to look after the interests of New Brunswick's economy and the people within it," she added.
Trump imposed tariffs on Canada during his first term as president, but eventually removed them after Canada retaliated with penalties of its own and after the two countries and Mexico renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement.
The New Brunswick government says that over 90 per cent of its exports went to the U.S. last year, which has brought concern to the province's major export industries.
Holt said there would be further meetings as a group, but that she was feeling confident after Wednesday's meeting.
"I'm optimistic that the strong relations that Canada has had with the U.S. will continue to prevail."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
