Trump open to removing steel tariffs if he gets his way on NAFTA

U.S. President Donald Trump says he'llonly exempt Canada from the tariffs he hasbeen threatening to impose on steel and aluminum imports if a "new and fair" North American Free Trade Agreement is signed.

Calling the trade pact a "disaster" that has pulled factories and jobs from the U.S., Trump said the new tariffs would only be dropped as part of a successful renegotiation of NAFTA. He called it disgracefulthat past presidents have not addressed trade issues that have cost the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars througha "very bad deal" with Canada and Mexico.

"Ifwe don't make a deal I'll terminate NAFTA, but If I do make a deal which is fair to the workers and to the American people, that would be, I would imagine, one of the points we'll negotiate, will be tariffs on steel for Canada and for Mexico," he told reporters during a photo op with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"So we'll see what happens."

As the seventh round of NAFTA talks wrapped up in Mexico Citytoday, Foreign Affairs Minister ChrystiaFreelandsaid any updated NAFTAmust be good for all three countries and calledthe tariff proposal "absolutely unacceptable."

Speaking to reporters,Freelandsaid she was unwilling to reveal what kind of trade response Canada will offer to the tariffsbut confirmed there will be one.

"If necessary, we would consider any section 232 action directed at Canada to be totally unacceptable and in that event we would take responsive measures to defend our workers and our industry," she said. Section 232 refers to a portion of a 1962 U.S. law that gives the president authority to impose tariffs in the name of "national security."

Freeland's message to the US

7 years ago

Duration 1:24

Freeland's message to the US

At the closing news conference, Freeland said "solid progress" has been made, but much work still lies ahead.

"This seventh round was a round which showed some really solid progress particularly on some of the bread and butter issues," Freelandlater told reporters. "We made progress in closing some important chapters and on the harder issues ... There is certainly significant further work to be done on NAFTA but we made some solid progress here in Mexico City and we have a foundation upon which to build."

U.S. Trade RepresentativeRobert Lighthizerwas less sanguine, warning that time is running out for a dealand that, despite the hard work of officials, negotiators have not made as much progress as he had hoped.

Of the 30 chapters to be signed, only six have been closed today, including three from this latest round.

Freelandlater told reporters that it is not unusual for trade negotiations to begin with the closing of only a few chapters, because many other chapters are being worked on. She insisted thatprogress is being made that will come together closer to the end of the talks.

Tying steel tariffs to NAFTAdeal

Lighthizer also said the political climate could soon affect NAFTA negotiations. A presidential race is set to begin in Mexico next month, and mid-term electionsin the U.S. and provincial elections in Ontario and Quebec will be held this year.

"All of this complicates our work. I fear that the longer we proceed, the more political headwinds we will feel," he said.

Trump said the U.S.has been ripped offby every country around the world, regardless of whether they are"friend or enemy."

While he did not show any signs of backing down or granting Canada an exemption, Trump said he does not foresee a trade war on the horizon.

Earlier Monday, the president took to Twitter to reiterate his viewthat NAFTA, which is undergoing contentious renegotiations,is a job-loser for the United States.

"We have large trade deficits with Mexico and Canada," he tweeted Monday morning. "Tariffs on steel and aluminum will only come off if new [and] fair NAFTA agreement is signed.

"Also Canada must 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."

Last week,Trump announced the impositionunder the rarely-used 1962 lawof a hefty new25 per cent tariffon imports of steel and a 10 per cent tarifffor aluminum, meantto boost U.S. manufacturers.

Canada has been seeking an exemption on the tariffs a point Freelandmentioned again Monday.

"I did feel given the seriousness of the matter, that although these are separate negotiations and although ambassador Lighthizer is not the lead minister on this issue, I felt it was important to raise it," she said. "He was very responsive, he was very prepared to talk about it and I think we had a good conversation."

On Monday, Finance Minister Bill Morneausaid Canada remains "firm" in its opposition to the tariffsand will wait for official news from the Trump administration before deciding how to react. But he said both countries stand to lose economically if the proposed tariffs are imposed.

Bad for business

"In fact we see it as a disadvantage, a disadvantage for American businesses,"Morneautold reporters in Toronto at a post-budget event.

"We see a disadvantage for Americans with potentially higher costs, we see a disadvantage from a security standpoint as we see Canada as a staunch ally of the United States, being integral to their supply chain."

Canada's position also received support fromU.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said the tariff proposal poses risks to the economy.

"We are extremely worried about the consequences of a trade war and are urging the White House to not advance with this plan.The new tax reform law has boosted the economy and we certainly don't want to jeopardize those gains," said AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for Ryan, according to Reuters.

Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the tariff proposal "absolutely unacceptable" and warned of a"significant disruption" in the continental supply chain.

In 2017, the U.S. imported 26.9 milliontonnesof steel, with16 per cent of that coming from Canada.

A Canadian government official, speaking on background, said Canada believes any new tariffs should not apply to this country due to the highly integrated nature of the North American steel market, and because of the close co-operation between the two countries on defence issues.

Foreign Affairs MinisterChrystiaFreelandtweeted that she spoke with Rep. Kevin Brady, the Texan Republican who chairs the powerful ways and means committee, about the trade relationship between the two countries.

Brady has been one of the more vocal Republican opponents ofthe blanket tariffs.

NAFTAtalks continue

The political leaders from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico who are overseeing the negotiating processmeettoday as the seventh round ofNAFTAnegotiations continue.

Plans are in the works to schedule an eighth round of talks in the U.S. in late March.

During the Sunday talk show rounds, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro saidsome industries could get exemptions.

"There'll be an exemption procedure for particular cases where we need to have exemptions so business can move forward," Navarro said on CNN.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told NBC'sMeet the Press that Trump could change his mind on the tariffs, but he didn't think he would.

Is Ontario ready to take on Trump over steel tariff threats?

7 years ago

Duration 6:51

'Ontario is very hopeful that Canada can get the exemption,' says Minister of Economic Development Steven Del Duca.