Canada at a crossroads

Canada at a crossroads
Charest speaking to model parliament students at Alexander Galt in April 2018 (Photo : Record archives)

Jean Charest on trade, Trump, and the future of U.S.-Canada relations

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

With Donald Trump currently serving as President of the United States, Canada faces a rapidly evolving trade landscape that could have significant economic repercussions. Trump has taken a firm stance on trade policy, threatening to impose tariffs on key trading partners and pushing for a re-evaluation of long-standing agreements.

According to The Globe and Mail, the latest round of tariff threats has raised concerns among Canadian manufacturers, particularly in the auto and agricultural sectors. Meanwhile, CBC News reports that federal officials are preparing countermeasures to protect domestic industries and mitigate potential economic fallout. Against this backdrop, lawyer and former Quebec Premier Jean Charest provides insight into how Canada can navigate these challenges and protect its economic interests.

“I’m part of two councils,” Charest explained from Florida in a Feb. 4 interview. “One is the U.S.-Canada Trade Council, which is a private sector organization. The other is the Prime Minister’s advisory committee, which is a group of people selected by the prime minister to be debriefed on negotiations and to offer advice.” While these groups operate independently, they share a common goal: addressing the challenges posed by the evolving U.S.-Canada trade relationship.

Navigating a shifting trade landscape

Charest described the current period, in which Trump has delayed his 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on Canadian goods by 30 days, as an opportunity for Canada and the U.S. to develop a common understanding of trade priorities. “This period will allow us to read from a common song sheet in regards to what are the facts and what are the issues,” he said. One of the most pressing matters is the use of tariffs as a political tool. “The use of tariffs to try to sanction Canada is way, way, way disproportionate,” Charest stated. He stressed that any meaningful discussion must start with recognizing the deep economic interdependence between the two countries. “It isn’t just a matter of saying, ‘I’m bigger, you’re smaller.’ It’s a lot more complex than that.”

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