Trudeau, Macron mount transatlantic press on Trump’s pending steel tariffs

Ross stared down the concerns by questioning the efficiency of the World Trade Organization and other large institutions: “We would operate within frameworks if we were convinced that people would move quickly.”

The steel standoff highlighted the rift over the rules-based international trade order that is likely to be on full display when Trudeau hosts the G7 leaders next week: a skeptical Trump on one side facing down the rest of the G7, including Trudeau.

Macron and Trudeau are to meet in Ottawa next week ahead of the G7 summit in Quebec to talk strategy.

Trudeau described Wednesday how he pushed U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence during a phone call a day earlier to exempt Canadian steel and aluminum imports to the U.S.

The prime minister said the government is dealing with the U.S. on multiple economic fronts, including trying to forge a deal on a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement.

Canada, the U.S. and Mexico are pushing hard to get a deal on a renegotiated NAFTA before Congressional elections in the fall and what’s expected to be a turning-point election in Mexico on July 1.

Trudeau and his cabinet, as well as premiers and business leaders, have been mounting a full-court press on their American counterparts to prevent Trump from killing NAFTA.

Trudeau also spoke by phone Wednesday to the premiers of Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

“They all agreed to continue to defend the Canadian steel and aluminum industry from unwarranted tariffs and to stand up for the best interests of all Canadian workers and businesses,” said a readout from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Trudeau himself has made multiple overtures to find common ground and forge a personal connection with Trump.

Trudeau emphasized that when he spoke to Pence.

“I had a good conversation with the vice president yesterday and obviously impressed upon him the fact that I’ve been having direct conversations with the president for close to a year now,” said Trudeau.

“He seemed to understand very clearly that national-security issues don’t really apply when you talk about steel or aluminum from Canada.”

Canadian aluminum is a component of American jets and Canadian steel is used to build U.S. armoured vehicles, Trudeau said.

“We’re continuing to work, highlighting that it would be not great for Canadian workers and Canadian industry, obviously, but it also would be difficult for American workers, American jobs and American consumers, who will pay more for various products.”

Macron told the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris that “threats over trade war will solve nothing of the serious imbalances.”

In a dig at Trump, he said: “One can think about making voters happy by saying: ‘I have a victory, I’ll change the rules, you’ll see.’”

The EU has promised retaliation if the U.S. tariffs are imposed saying a range of American products from peanut butter to bourbon will be affected.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, who pushed the steel and NAFTA issues during her meeting Tuesday in Washington with Lighthizer, has also said in the past that Canada would retaliate.

“I would like to absolutely assure Canadians, particularly those that work in the steel and aluminum industries, that the government is absolutely prepared to and will defend Canadian industries and Canadian jobs,” she said Wednesday in Ottawa, hours after leaving Washington empty-handed.

“We will respond appropriately.”

Mike Blanchfield, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Trudeau, Macron mount transatlantic press on Trump’s pending steel tariffs

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