‘If you’re going to put a tariff on oil and potash, Saskatchewan is going to have an issue with that,’ said Moe
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“If you’re going to put a tariff on oil and potash, Saskatchewan is going to have an issue with that.”
Earlier in the day, Quebec Premier François Legault said any retaliatory action that involves curtailing energy exports to the U.S. should require the approval of the province or provinces affected.
Both premiers also said on Wednesday that they opposed placing dollar-for-dollar tariffs on the U.S.
Moe said he favours “small, targeted tariffs” like those used by Canada during Trump’s first presidency.
“They’re very targeted… a couple million dollars on a couple billion dollars of imports from the U.S.,” said Moe.
“They’re not there to have an impact on the (U.S.) economy, they’re there to change the… hearts and minds of specific policy decision-makers.”
Moe wouldn’t give any examples of products that should be tariffed this time around.
Smith refused to sign the same statement, citing her objection to federal officials “publicly and privately float(ing) the idea of cutting off energy supply to the U.S. and imposing export tariffs on Alberta energy.”
She was the lone holdout of 13 provincial and territorial premiers.
Smith has refused to discuss the possibility of retaliatory tariffs, focusing her efforts on cross-border diplomacy.
Her office didn’t respond by press time when asked if she shared Moe’s support for targeted tariffs.
One notable figure who approves of Smith’s approach is Moe’s predecessor, ex-Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall.
“So far, she is the one highlighting for U.S. friends that when you remove discounted Canadian oil… it is the US that has the trade surplus with Canada.”
Wall led Saskatchewan for a decade before being succeeded by Moe in early 2018.
National Post
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