Nova Scotia stops retaliatory measures after U.S. pauses tariffs
'For now, we can all take a breath,' Premier Tim Houston said in a post to social media on Monday
Nova Scotia will not take retaliatory action against the U.S. after President Donald Trump announced Monday he would pause a threatened 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports for 30 days.
In a post to social media on Monday evening, Premier Tim Houston wrote: "For now, we can all take a breath.
"We are relieved there will be a pause on tariffs imposed on Canada. President Trump's tax would have had a very real, very immediate negative impact," Houston said in the post.
Houston thanked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his leadership.
"Canadians watched in real-time as President Trump's desired goals continued to shift. This was not an easy time for our country or our people," Houston wrote.
The premier said the threat of tariffs still looms. He said Nova Scotia will be ready to respond if needed but he believes the strength of "our long-time friendship with the United States will ultimately prevail."
After Trump announced over the weekend that the tariffs would go into effect Tuesday, Houston was quick to respond with Nova Scotia-specific retaliatory measures.
This included doubling tolls at the Cobequid Pass for commercial vehicles entering from the U.S., directing Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation stores to remove all U.S. alcohol from shelves and curtailing business deals with the U.S.
Houston noted in his post on Monday that Canada's friendship with the U.S. has survived wars, recessions and pandemics.
"I believe it can also ultimately survive President Trump."