Former U.S. commerce secretary says he 'can't imagine' Trump would tax Canadian energy

As the world prepares for U.S. president-elect Donald Trump to impose a global tariff when he takes office in January, his former commerce secretary says he "can't imagine" Trump would want to tax Canadian energy.

Wilbur Ross, a billionaire investor who served in Trump's cabinet from 2017 to 2021, said on Rosemary Barton Live that taxing Canadian energy would "raise [U.S.] costs and not help anything with more American jobs."

"We import a lot of energy from Canada," Ross told CBC's chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton on Sunday's episode. "I can't imagine the [president-elect] would want to tax that."

Since Trump's decisive election win, federal Canadian officials, provinces and industries have begun preparing for his second administration and one of his key campaign promises — a minimum 10 per cent global tariff.

Canadian officials received no reassurances in conversations with multiple Trump allies ahead of the U.S. election, CBC News learned from one official privy to the details of those talks.

WATCH | Trump and Trudeau have good relationship, says Canada's ambassador to U.S.:

Canada braces for tariffs, trade disruption with 2nd Trump presidency

16 days ago

Duration 2:02

The federal government is bracing for trade disruption under a second Donald Trump presidency, with former secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross saying Trump will not only focus on tariffs, but target Canada’s supply management sectors during his second term.

Ontario and Alberta, two provinces that would be hit hard by Trump's proposed tariff, have begun taking steps to try to influence the new U.S. administration. 

Earlier this week, Ontario Minister of Economic Development Vic Fedeli said the province will start a marketing push in January to remind the U.S. of the importance of bilateral trade.

James Rajotte, Alberta's representative to the United States, said on Rosemary Barton Live Sunday that the province is reaching out to American lawmakers to make sure "our position is heard on issues like tariffs on the energy sector [and] North American energy security."

"In terms of tariffs, we're obviously making the argument that we're interconnected…. Let's not put up any barriers between that energy trade," Rajotte told Barton.

WATCH | Provinces preparing for Trump's second term, proposed global tariff:

How provinces plan to work with a new Trump administration

17 days ago

Duration 13:39

Chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with Alberta’s senior representative to the United States, James Rajotte, and Ontario's representative to Washington, David Paterson, about their concerns and messages to Washington ahead of a new Trump administration.

The Alberta oil and gas sector accounted for $127 billion worth of trade last year with the U.S., according to ATB Financial. That represented 82 per cent of the province's total exports and made the U.S. its largest trading partner — by far.

Meanwhile, Canada's ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, said on Rosemary Barton Live that Canadian officials have "done a lot of work to lay the groundwork for a substantive conversation on this policy."

Hillman also said it's clear that "former president Trump believes in tariffs as a policy tool," and that Canada needs to "demonstrate through facts" that applying tariffs to Canadian goods would negatively affect U.S. jobs and revenue.

Trump 'will listen' to Canada: Ross

When asked how Canada should approach Trump to get him to listen to the country, Ross said Canada "has to realize that America does have a much sturdier set of principles and policies now than what it had before."

"I think [Trump] will listen. He was respectful of [Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau. He respects other world leaders," Ross said.

"So if I were Canada, I would be looking for what things Canada can volunteer to do to facilitate the relationship with the U.S. ... There's going to have to be concessions on both sides."

Trump and Trudeau have had friction in the past. After a G7 summit in Charlevoix, Que., in 2018, Trump called Trudeau "very dishonest" and "weak." 

At the time, Canada and the U.S. were in NAFTA talks and at odds over adding a sunset provision to the new trade agreement.

Hillman said that Trump and Trudeau have "a really warm relationship" and that "Canadians get fixated on the fact that former president Trump can use quite colourful language."

"But I think we also know, if we watch, it's important to see what [Trump] does and it's important to see how he operates with partners, not just what he says," Hillman said. "And I can say that we've had a very effective relationship in the past and I'm actually very confident that we will again."

In a phone call Wednesday evening, Trudeau congratulated Trump on winning a second term and discussed trade and security issues. A source familiar with the call who spoke to CBC News said that overall, the conversation was warm and friendly.