Trump says Canada will get steel, aluminum tariffs unless ‘fair’ NAFTA deal is signed
Blaming large trade deficits with Mexico and Canada, US President Donald Trump said that he’d be imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum unless a “fair” NAFTA deal is signed.
In a series of tweets shared on Monday morning, Trump expanded on his initial plans to implement tariffs after his announcement last week.
“We are on the losing side of almost all trade deals. Our friends and enemies have taken advantage of the US for many years. Our Steel and Aluminum industries are dead. Sorry, it’s time for a change,” said Trump on Sunday afternoon. “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump continued on Monday morning to say that Canada has to “treat our farmers much better,” before adding that “Mexico must do much more on stopping drugs from pouring into the US.”
We have large trade deficits with Mexico and Canada. NAFTA, which is under renegotiation right now, has been a bad deal for U.S.A. Massive relocation of companies & jobs. Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum will only come off if new & fair NAFTA agreement is signed. Also, Canada must..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2018
…treat our farmers much better. Highly restrictive. Mexico must do much more on stopping drugs from pouring into the U.S. They have not done what needs to be done. Millions of people addicted and dying.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2018
Last week, Trump announced that tariffs on steel will be set at 25%, while tariffs on aluminum will be 10%.
Meanwhile, Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that as the number one customer of American steel, “Canada would view any trade restrictions on Canadian steel and aluminum as absolutely unacceptable.”
“The United States has a $2-billion surplus in steel trade with Canada. Canada buys more American steel than any other country in the world, accounting for 50% of US exports,” said Freeland in a statement.
Canada-U.S. steel trade: fully integrated, fairly traded, evenly balanced. #cdnpoli #fairtrade #steel #NAFTA pic.twitter.com/SGOUvJ7RRR
— CDN Steel Producers (@CSPA_ACPA) March 1, 2018
The Canadian Steel Producers Association also added that the Canada-US steel trade is “fully integrated, fairly traded, evenly balanced.”
Freeland said that any restrictions would harm workers, the industry and manufacturers on both sides of the border.
#DYK? In 2016, almost 78% of Canada’s total merchandise exports were sent to the United States and Mexico. #NAFTA 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/1cEMLAOMXY
— Canada Trade (@CanadaTrade) March 3, 2018
Ending his series of Tweets on Monday, Trump said, “To protect our country, we must protect American steel.” But even before those thoughts, Global Affairs Canada had a response to the President.
“The steel and aluminum industry is highly integrated and supports critical North American manufacturing supply chains,” said Freeland last week. “It is entirely inappropriate to view any trade with Canada as a national security threat to the United States.”
To protect our Country we must protect American Steel! #AMERICA FIRST
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2018
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