'A historic existential threat': Furey wants Canada to stand up against Trump's tariffs

U.S President Donald Trump made good on his threats of tariffs on Canadian goods — bringing swift condemnation from Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and prompting industry leaders in the province to begin looking at how to diversify even more ahead of the potentially devastating economic impacts. 

As promised, Trump will impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods entering the U.S. and 10 per cent on oil and gas as of this Tuesday.

According to a White House fact sheet, the tariffs will stay in place until Trump is satisfied that Canada is doing enough to prevent fentanyl from going into the U.S. 

This will have massive implications for industries in the province, including seafood, mining and transportation. It could result in layoffs in those industries. 

Ahead of a meeting with the other Canadian premiers and the prime minister Saturday evening, Furey spoke to CBC News about the tariffs, calling it devastating news. 

"We're in a moment that is a historic existential threat to the country," said Furey, calling the tariffs not just an economic attack but an attack on Canadians and Canadian sovereignty.

Furey said he thinks Canada should push back regardless of how Trump responds.

"Appeasement and capitulation is not the appropriate stance for the Canadian people," said Furey. 

Furey said Canada needs to take a firm position against Trump, describing him as a "bully."

"I know, we all know, if we bend the knee to him, he's just going to take more," said Furey.

For Furey, a united front across provinces and industries is essential to combating the tariffs.

"This is a four-year problem and we need to make sure that we're working across industries to mitigate it for the workers and businesses across the entire country."

In terms of supporting Canadians from potential rising costs, Furey said some sort of federal relief plan is needed. 

"While I understand the prime minister and others don't want to necessarily use the word 'COVID-style relief,' the moment demands some form of those measures to support families."

Fisheries impacted first

Furey said fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador will feel the impact of the tariffs immediately. 

He said the most valuable species exported is the snow crab, of which 90 per cent goes to the U.S. 

Labrador Gems Seafoods president Danny Dumaresque also anticipates the new tariff will cause a significant price shock to consumers. 

He anticipates that higher seafood costs will have a trickle-down impact on seafood harvesters. He said that if there isn't the same U.S. market demand, that will put pressure on them as the processor to buy less from harvesters. 

"To add 25 per cent is in my opinion going to be untenable," said Dumaresque. "That's going to affect how much product we can purchase from fishers and also how much we can afford to take the risk that we will find a buyer for it in the American market."

Potential Pivot to Europe

Dumaresque is already looking to Europe for a new market for his seafood. He spoke to CBC from Madrid, where he is speaking with new potential buyers. 

"Now that the U.S. market is possibly out of the equation, well now we have to pivot again," said Dumaresque. "The European diet has been for centuries surrounded with seafood, and therefore this would be the most appropriate avenue."

While Dumaresque is optimistic about the potential of selling to Europe, he said it will still take some time to replace the U.S. market, especially for snow crab, which isn't as prominent in Europe. 

While there could be some success in introducing his products to a new market in one year, he said it could take eight to 10 years to fully replace the U.S. market. 

While Dumaresque also believes in the Canadian premiers' unified approach to combating the tariffs, he also said that there isn't enough of a market in Canada to replace the U.S.

"This was a wakeup call that certainly we were not looking for, but now that we have it, we must react and diversify because we could have many more years." 

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