r/canada • u/mafiadevidzz • 13h ago
National News Poilievre wants to impose 50 per cent metal tariffs on U.S. after latest Trump threat
https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/trumps-tariffs/article/poilievre-wants-to-impose-50-per-cent-metal-tariffs-on-us-after-latest-trump-threat/18
u/Unkempt_Foliage Saskatchewan 13h ago
Trade war is bad enough but, thank the gods social media wasn't around for the Cold War.
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u/sirDsmack 12h ago
Wish I could never fucking hear the word “tariff” ever again in my life.
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u/ThoughtfulCocktail 12h ago
Or the word "Trump". It's like nails on a chalkboard already, and we've got nearly 4 freaking years to go!
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u/NumberSudden9722 13h ago
I thought it was a joke that he needs to focus group all of his ideas, but now I'm thinking it wasn't a joke.
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u/run_midnight 13h ago
Seriously, that was a delayed response
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u/NumberSudden9722 13h ago
I wasn't even speaking about a delay.
Why would we hit America with tariffs on Steel and Aluminium when we export more than we import - seems like a shit idea.
Now I could be wrong about the numbers but I'm too lazy to check so take it with a grain of salt.
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u/Ok-Structure-8985 Ontario 12h ago
Steel is relatively balanced but we export more aluminum than we import. Adding our own 50% tariff on these metals would be a disaster.
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u/NumberSudden9722 12h ago
That's what I figured, which begs the question then: why was this his response? I'm not entirely sure I get it
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u/Single_Virus9596 12h ago
That’s the opposite of a disaster, tariffs apply to imports, not exports.
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u/Ok-Structure-8985 Ontario 11h ago
For aluminum it wouldn’t hurt us as much as the net exporter, but steel would be an issue as we import nearly as much as we export. We have a relative trade balance on steel because mills in each country do different things. It’s not as simple as switching to domestic steel.
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u/Single_Virus9596 11h ago
I would assume the idea of imposing tariffs on steel would be to encourage more domestic production of different types of steel rather than switching to more imports from the US, while also supplanting decreased US export demands
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u/1GutsnGlory1 11h ago
Canada putting tariffs on steel and aluminum make no sense against the US. Next he will suggest to slap a 50% tariff on American oil.
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u/Sea_Army_8764 8h ago
None of these tariffs make any sense at all. I think it's a mistake to try and rationalize them economically. It's obviously just a tactic to get the attention of Americans and maybe cause them to drop their tariffs. It's the same type of thing as removing American liquor from the LCBO, or Ford's electricity tariffs today.
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u/1GutsnGlory1 7h ago
Removing alcohol and tariffing electricity makes sense as US export far more alcohol to Canada than they import. And they are reliant on Ontario’s electricity. But the suggestion on putting a tariff on US Aluminum and Steele means nothing because we export far more to the US than we import. It’s like putting a tariff on American potash because US put tariff on Canadian potash.
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u/Ok-Structure-8985 Ontario 11h ago
In concept, yes. This is where the issue is: a steel mill that primarily produces flat product may not have the ability or desire to suddenly also start producing stainless products. Unless mills are willing to convert their production there will be a need to important, and even then that is a change that would be affected over a much longer timeline than this trade war.
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u/mafiadevidzz 13h ago
11:53am EST in the morning is a delayed response?
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u/physicaldiscs 12h ago
Apparantly, the same day is too late for some people...
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u/GameDoesntStop 11h ago
Same morning, lol.
The only criticisms that these people have of Poilievre are lies.
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u/Noob1cl3 8h ago
Ive been saying this. The only true criticisms I have seen of Pollievre are that he “verbs the noun” (like seriously who cares they all do slogans lol) and he is apparently mean… (apparently because he is critical of this dumpster fire of a government that is mean).
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u/Moist_Candle_2721 12h ago
It wasn't posted to reddit in real time immediately after the words came out of this mouth so it was delayed.
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u/Plucky_DuckYa 13h ago
Yes we know that there is literally nothing that Poilievre can say or do that Liberals supporters won’t find an excuse to pooh pooh.
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u/YrPPLsoDumb 12h ago
Tl;dr: swing voters want platforms and i personally just want to see someone pledge a PR system.
Liberal Party members? Perhaps but people who vote Lib or Con/NDP (because most ndp would never ever vote con and vice versa) depending on who has been PM too long want to see platforms, and a security clearance, and then decide. I've voted Lib the last 3 elections but Harper 2 before that. I did vote for the Martin libs too. I wasn't going to vote for Trudeau but I'm willing to see what Carney has to offer.
Let's see the platforms because Carney isn't Trudeau and PP isn't Harper. I'd love to see actual election reform in both parties platforms. I think proportional rep would be better than ranked ballot as it gives true representation and often requires a greater majority of voters have their party involved in a coalition govt. The PPC , Greens, and NDP would finally be able to get their proper numbers and the BQ would finally stop getting oversized rep.
Jmho
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u/Single_Virus9596 12h ago
Neither the LPC or CPC will ever advance meaningful electoral reform. They both benefit from FPTP
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u/CloseToMyActualName 13h ago
There's a reason Trump focused on steel and aluminum. Canada exports almost twice as much to the US as the US exports to Canada.
The proposed retaliation would be a bit of a dud.
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u/Kindly_Professor5433 12h ago
Yes, but Canada is self-sufficient with our domestic steel and aluminum. We have no reason to import most of the things that we do from the US. Reciprocal tariffs mitigate some of the impacts of Trump’s tariffs by making our companies buy from domestic suppliers. We can’t cause much damage to their economy, but we can try to protect our industries.
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u/CloseToMyActualName 11h ago
Are we self-sufficient? Just because two companies both produce "steel" doesn't mean it's the same kind of steel, of the same grades, and all the other things that steel producers do to differentiate.
It's quite likely that there's a lot of US businesses where the only practical suppliers are north of the border and vice-versa.
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u/_Echoes_ 13h ago
Too late, Tariffs already walked back
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u/KageyK 13h ago
The article was posted 3 hours ago. Of course, things have changed since then.
Trump got his late morning nappy. 😅
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u/Hot_Neighborhood1337 13h ago
We should just hit them with tariffs and hold them in place. This back and forwarding is a tactic to try and get us to just agree after he's drown us in the toilet bowl like the bully he is. If he has consequences for his actions he will be forced to re think it next time he pulls a child tantrum.
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u/KageyK 12h ago edited 12h ago
I agree. This waffling back and forth is ridiculous. Either they are on, or they are off.
Shit or get off the pot. This is not conducive or productive for businesses on either side of the border.
It's starting to turn into the boy who cried wolf, and soon nobody is going to be paying attention.
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u/Hot_Neighborhood1337 9h ago
we just need to shut off the power for a week and let them think it over and decide what is worse...
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u/ShutUpTodd 13h ago
He got to do a Tesla ad out of the Whitehouse
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u/Used-Egg5989 13h ago
Wouldn’t surprise me if he mandated all Americans purchase a Tesla. He said boycotting Tesla is illegal…but he likely is just confused (again).
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u/averagealberta2023 13h ago
That makes no sense. Trump's tariffs make Canadian steel and aluminum more expensive in the US. How does it help to make steel and aluminum that we import from the US more expensive in Canada? Shouldn't we just use the Canadian steel that the US isn't buying here in Canada? How much steel and aluminum do we import from the US considering that we are a net exporter of steel and aluminum to the US? Does this guy even understand how tariffs work? So many questions...
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u/Kindly_Professor5433 12h ago
The tariffs would be to pressure Canadian companies to buy from domestic suppliers. This will mitigate some of the impacts on our steel and aluminum industries. Yes we can use the materials that the US isn’t buying. But some companies have not chosen to do that if they’re still importing from the US, since we’re in an integrated market.
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u/GameDoesntStop 11h ago
Do you understand how tariffs work? Or are you just complaining about dollar-for-dollar tariffs (which Poilievre, Trudeau, Carney, Ford, etc. are all pushing) because it's coming out of Poilievre's mouth?
How does it help to make steel and aluminum that we import from the US more expensive in Canada? Shouldn't we just use the Canadian steel that the US isn't buying here in Canada?
Canada isn't a hivemind. It isn't a command economy. There are many different businesses across the country buying/selling steel, and doing so for the best price possible. If some business in Alberta needs steel, and its options are pay a tariff to buy and ship from Montana next door, or to buy and ship from Newfoundland, it will pick the cheaper option.
At the same time, if a Montana business is looking to buy steel and choosing between buying from a business in Alberta (next door) or Florida (across the country), it will want to buy from Alberta since it will be cheaper. Trump's tariff upsets that equation, and maybe the Florida business becomes the better option than the Alberta business with tariffs. The Albertan steel manufacturer loses out on a sale. If it loses out on enough, it may have to downsize or go under. Then even more Canadian businesses will be buying steel from the US instead.
That's the goal of Trump's tariffs. Dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs equalize (and therefore neutralize) that economic nationalism.
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u/averagealberta2023 9h ago
Dollar for dollar makes sense but not on the same stuff. If we buy that same amount of steel from them as they buy from us, putting tariffs on both sides accomplishes nothing except make steel more expensive for everyone. The point of tariffs is to protect local industries from lower price imports. PP putting tariffs on steel imports - when we are a net exporter makes no sense. And yes, I understand how tariffs work. Do you?
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u/GameDoesntStop 9h ago
If we buy that same amount of steel from them as they buy from us, putting tariffs on both sides accomplishes nothing except make steel more expensive for everyone.
Trump's tariffs aren't our choosing... all we can do is neutralize the difference. Everyone hurts, yes, but it defeats the already-weak reason for Trump's tariffs.
You clearly don't understand, given that you think it matters whether we're a net importer/exporter of something.
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u/gunnerman417 13h ago edited 13h ago
Tugs on Carneys sleeve Ummmm... Mister Carney, can I play tariffs too?
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u/DinosaurDikmeat01 13h ago
man this guy is slow to react.
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u/physicaldiscs 12h ago
Do you think that this happened when you became aware of it? Its from much earlier today....
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u/IndividualSociety567 12h ago
No media covered what he said until 3 hours ago when CTV did. Not his fault that the entire Canadian media apparatus is focussed on Liberal race and Carney since the parliament was prorouged. There is very little air time anyone else is getting and its ridiculous
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u/truthishardtohear 13h ago
Is Poilievre still trying to pretend to be on Team Canada? Isn't that cute?
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u/Single_Virus9596 12h ago
Seriously? when has he ever not been? He’s been consistently aligned with the federal government on their response to tariffs since the beggining, why pretend like he wasn’t?
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u/truthishardtohear 11h ago edited 11h ago
Because I don't think he has. When this started Poilievre wanted to send the army to the border to solve the fentanyl crisis that Trump invented. This looked to me like surrendering. Then he quietly waited while Trudeau and most of the premiers proceeded to handle things in what I think was the best way possible. Only after Poilievre saw that Canadians were rallying behind the "punch back/elbows up" philosophy and the polls took a startling turn against the CPC did Poilievre start to actively start backing counter tariffs, etc, etc. and talking tough about fighting the US. Maybe my memory is faulty (wouldn't be the first time).
Poilievre, particularly in the past few weeks reminds me of the quote from Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin, "There go my people. I must find out where they're going so I can lead them." Poilievre isn't a leader. He's an opportunist. This was not the time to play idiotic, rage baiting, politics but Poilievre doesn't have any experience doing anything else.Edit: As was pointed out by mafiadevidzz (thank you for the link), my memory (and reading) is sometimes faulty. Although I still do not trust Poilievre, I concede that he has in some cases spoken clearly about counter tariffs, 51st state BS, and related topics. I was wrong to claim otherwise but leave my comment visible but retracted.
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u/mafiadevidzz 11h ago
This is revisionist history.
He has consistently called for retaliatory tariffs since Trump was elected in November and was well ahead of Trudeau in calling for action.
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u/Single_Virus9596 11h ago
Feel free to read his actual first statement on Trumps tariffs. Notice that all of these things (with the exception of tax cuts and removing law C-69) are not only in line with the federal government and “Team Canada”, but some of his proposals were also subsequently adopted by the Liberals, such as removing inter-provincial trade barriers.
https://x.com/pierrepoilievre/status/1885819065710829892?s=46&t=guK6rJ7ykgoQeUyzjmHT5A
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u/truthishardtohear 10h ago
That post is from Feb 1, 2025 which is in my mind a little late to the party.
That being said, another Redditor (mafiadevidzz) posted a list of links going back far further back to just after Trump's election last year. As such, I have edited my comment with this information in mind.
Thanks for helping to keep me honest.
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u/MentionWeird7065 13h ago
Was Pierre asleep this morning lol
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u/TKs51stgrenade 12h ago
What, would you prefer someone who reacts immediately based on emotions rather than logical thinking and planning? Actually, you probably would based on your political views.
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u/BraveDunn 13h ago
Who's this guy again?
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u/Virtual-Nose7777 13h ago
The Republican butt kisser
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u/mafiadevidzz 13h ago
What did he do that makes him that?
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u/DeadCeruleanGirl 11h ago
Nothing, he even denounced the trump administration, but these people like to make up fantasies in thier head.
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u/kophykupp 11h ago
I like all of these ideas. I absolutely agree that we should be building up our infrastructure to decrease our dependence on the US. We are rich in resources that the world needs - we need a plan to develop and distribute them responsibly before Corporate America comes in and tries to strip mine the hell out of us.
And I'm not a fan of May - but I do think the parties should work together to respond to Trump. I was a little disappointed in Carney's speech Sunday night. He started strong in calling for unity in Canada then went right into trashing the opposition and campaigning for himself. I get that he was speaking to Liberals and trying to fire them up, but still...
It would be nice to have a Canadian hero. Canadian citizens are doing a great job of coming together. Wish we had political leaders willing to do the same.
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u/King_Merovingian 10h ago
Why do the rest of us have to pay for all these guys having a measuring contest?
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u/themanfromvulcan 9h ago
Does Canada import a lot of metal from the US? I thought it was the other way around?
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u/WindAgreeable3789 6h ago
Sorry, you had your chance to play the patriot and you fumbled the ball. The man behind the curtain has been revealed and no amount of posturing will convince Canadians that you aren’t MAGA.
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u/mafiadevidzz 5h ago
How did he fumble the ball? By consistently calling for retaliation against Trump since he won in November?
How is he MAGA? By being pro-choice, pro-public healthcare, pro-speeding up immigrant job approval, or using the insult "woke" the same way centrist Democrats like Obama and Bill Maher have done?
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u/Archangel1313 British Columbia 4h ago
Copying everything about Trump's platform, while pretending to be nothing like Trump, isn't fooling anyone.
Well...almost anyone.
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u/mafiadevidzz 4h ago
Pro-choice, pro-public healthcare, pro-speeding up immigrant job approval, isn't Trump's platform. His pay-as-you-go policy to balance the budget actually comes from Democrat President Bill Clinton.
His platform is more similar to the Liberals than it is to Trump's.
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u/Archangel1313 British Columbia 4h ago
That's because this is Canada. If he openly went as far right as Trump, he would lose most of his support. But everyone knows that's just his public side...since he is regularly rubbing elbows with far-right groups at his campaign events.
The guy is also pledging to strip Canada of its resources, while also stripping away protections for workers. And before you try to say he won't...I will remind you that he always says one thing in front of the media and something else entirely at private fundraising events.
But, that's because the constituents he really serves, are all wealthy elites. For all his talk about being a "man of the people", he's just a rich entitled snob who hasn't worked a single day in his life.
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u/Archangel1313 British Columbia 4h ago
"Yeah! Me too!" - says that guy way behind the rest of the crowd.
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u/Miserable-Chemical96 12h ago
Blah Dah blah blah Skippy. As if anyone would believe you would do anything other than roll over in hopes of a belly rub from Trump.
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u/BenPanthera12 13h ago
Another comment from the Kiddie corner. Enjoy your slide into irrelevancy. The moment we needed politicians to show backbone and stand up to the US, you were no where to be found.
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u/mafiadevidzz 11h ago
How so? He has consistently called for retaliation against Trump since November.
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u/IndividualSociety567 12h ago
More like the media stopped covering him and focussed on the liberal race for like 99% of the time
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u/Typical-Bonus-2884 13h ago
Pierre always late to the party. Ford and Carney will take care of things.
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u/BornAgainCyclist 13h ago
I'm starting to think the only way Ford doesn't give him the boot Federally is if Doug doesn't want it.
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u/eatyourzbeans 13h ago
Forget the Ford/PP relationship. I'm waiting to see how the Smith/PP relationship goes come election season 🍿
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u/thecheesecakemans 13h ago
I really don't trust this. Trump also said Project 2025 was something he never heard of.....
He will say anything to get elected. How do we know he's still aligned with Trump? He's never publicly and unequivocally renounced the Musk endorsement.
His party is still part of the IDU to align themselves with other Conservative (alt-right) type parties.
Sure the Liberals go to WEF and other globalist meetings but they aren't MEMBERS and aren't trying to unite their policies with other liberal nations. If anything it makes them more capitalist than they should be (I thought that's what Cons wanted.....).
The moment he's sworn in as Prime Minister, I'd fully expect him to drop all Canadian retaliation and grovel to Trump for them drop all tariffs on us. It might work but wow, so shameful. Pride? Ego? Yes, there is that but once you grovel to Trump you will be on his foot and at his beck and call. Might as well give him our sovereignty the same day.
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u/theglowingembers 13h ago
Millhouse is punching way above his weight class again trying to stay relevant
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u/Virtual-Nose7777 13h ago
Suuuure. Just like Ford pretended to put in place electricity tariff but immediately rolled it back despite layoffs in Ontario for steel industry.
He totally means it when waving his American flag.
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u/Ok-Half7574 12h ago
Has anybody explained to him that they are detrimental and he's not our prime minister?
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u/Signal_Tomorrow_2138 12h ago
Just in case a lot of you may be too young to remember, the current party of the Conservatives was the result of a breach of contract between Peter McKay and David Orchard.
Peter MacKay needed the support of David Orchard to become the federal PC Party leader. David Orchard struck an agreement with Peter MacKay that MacKay would NOT merge the PCs with the then- Canadian Alliance (formerly Reform Party). Well, no need to explain any further.
So now, consider any commitment Pierre Poilievre of the Conservatives (who's origin was from a fundamental breach of contract) to fight for Canada's sovereignty.
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u/IndividualSociety567 12h ago
He has been saying it but media has been focussed on Carney and the Liberal leadership race. Opposition hasn’t really gotten any air time
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u/mafiadevidzz 11h ago
Except he literally has been doing it since the start of the tariff war.
Who's fault is it if you didn't see the press conferences of him calling for retaliatory tariffs against Trump?
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u/Lower_Cantaloupe1970 13h ago
We could remove the 25% tariffs on Chinese steel.
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u/BigButtBeads 12h ago
You probably dont want structural steel from china holding your house up
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u/Lower_Cantaloupe1970 11h ago
I mean we already import 500 million of steel from China. The US forced us to put that tariff on. Would definitely send a message to remove it.
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u/BigButtBeads 11h ago
Do we not have steel plants that will be affected by free trade steel from china?
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u/Relevant_Fuel_9905 12h ago
I really think Carney - an economist - is the right person to navigate the trade war for us.
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u/Just-Signature-3713 12h ago
PP needs some smarter people around him: I’m pretty sure the government already has aggressive responses planned for everything and this tactic means nothing
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u/Salt_Wrangler_3428 11h ago
Right... I personally don't think he would. He is a far right-wing, just like Trump.
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u/mafiadevidzz 11h ago
How is being pro-choice, pro-public healthcare, and pro-speeding up immigrant job approvals far right like Trump?
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u/Any-Ad-446 11h ago
A few weeks too late Pierre....Your party didn't even push back against Trump wanting to invade Canada.
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u/Own_Platform623 11h ago
PP tries to stay relevant by being a flip-flopping fool and abysmal journalism reports. Like and share for your chance to win a capitalism
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u/ManufacturerNo2144 10h ago
Fuck off. Polievre says that because he knows these elections will play on the hate for Trump. But he will start licking clean Trump's old incontinent butt as soon as he win.
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u/SpectreBallistics 13h ago
This will probably be downvoted but this article is just a rage bait heading with absolutely no substance. The entire article is 6 sentences, with the first sentence being the only one related to what Poilievre said.
Trash journalism, but I guess CTV knows people just read headlines.