WASHINGTON—In an encouraging sign for Canada, concerns about the damaging effects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs were raised by state governors at the White House.
The chair of the bipartisan National Governors Association said Saturday he discussed potential problems with a top Trump aide known for having the president’s ear — deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller.
“My point was, whatever you’re doing in this area … whether it’s a master negotiating strategy or we’re just stabbing ourselves a bunch of times, get it done quickly here so we get the stability we need for business and investment,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, told reporters.
“I think he took that message back. He first defended their strategy … but then he did understand that I was asking about making sure we get it done quickly.”
The “stabbing” reference reflects Polis’s fears that 25 per cent tariffs on goods exported to the U.S. from Canada and Mexico would invite retaliatory tariffs, raising prices and putting jobs at risk.
“Nobody should have to go without Kentucky bourbon,” quipped that state’s governor, Andy Beshear, a Democrat.
Views on Trump’s tariff plan appear to be divided along party lines, however.
Two Republican governors interviewed by the Star said they back it as a way to attract more manufacturing.
“I support President Trump and what he’s doing to get manufacturing, get jobs back to the U.S. and he’s using this as a tool,” said Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, vice-chair of the governors association.
“If there’s a lever that we’re using right now for negotiating purposes, we stand behind the president,” he added, echoing comments from North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong.
“We want to reset and make sure we don’t turn into just a service industry country,” the Republican said.
The meeting with Trump, cabinet secretaries and senior staff took place Friday morning as governors of U.S. states and territories gathered for the weekend at a downtown hotel to discuss bilateral issues of national importance and mutual concern.
Polis said tariffs came up in “many conversations” as governors in small groups rotated around tables with various members of the new administration.
With less than a week until Ontarians vote in Thursday’s snap election, Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford attended the governors’ convention to press his case against tariffs that would damage economies on both sides of the border and put millions of jobs at risk.
He was joined by Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, who said governors tend to lend a sympathetic ear and have “a lot of respect for the (Canada-U. S.) relationship.”
“But, you know … the president is the president.”
Ford said being in tariff limbo is difficult, with Trump levies slated to take effect next month after being delayed at least once — and lingering questions as to whether that will happen again.
“We need certainty. A lot of companies are wavering back and forth,” Ford said Friday before leaving for weekend campaign stops in Thunder Bay and elsewhere in northern Ontario.
“The president is a tough person to nail down, to say the least,” added a frustrated Ford, who called an election that will cost $189 million 15 months ahead of the scheduled June 2026 vote.
He is attempting to frame the ballot question as who is best to deal with Trump tariffs, but been criticized for hypocrisy by NDP Leader Marit Stiles and Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie given he was recently caught in a hot mic gaffe acknowledging he “100 per cent” wanted Trump to win a second term despite his tariff threats.
In an example of the uncertainty caused by the tariff threats, auto giant Stellantis is “pausing” work on the next generation of Jeep Compass slated to be built at the company’s Brampton plant beginning next fall. The plant employs 2,200.
Polis agreed with Ford that uncertainty over tariffs is already hurting business on both sides of the border.
“The premiers have a very receptive and supportive audience with most governors,” he said.
“I hope that whatever we’re doing here, we figure it out in a few months because it’s a freeze on investment, whether its factories in Canada or factories in the United States,” Polis added.
“If nobody knows what the trade regime will look like, it delays business decision-making.”
Polis stressed a renewed free trade agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico is “absolutely crucial with the geopolitical competition we face with China and across the world.”
“We’re excited to work more closely with our Canadian partners and I’ve certainly advocated on that very issue to the administration.”
Like other governors, including Republicans, Polis said reading Trump’s intentions is challenging.
“I don’t think any of us really know what’s in the president’s mind here. If this results in a place with lower tariffs and lower trade barriers, I’ll be the first to compliment that,” he continued.
“If it leads to additional tariffs, I will be the first to criticize that, because that will hurt the American people. It’ll hurt manufacturing, it’ll hurt exports, and it’ll hurt consumers.”
Ford was making his second lobbying trip to Washington in two weeks after leading premiers from across Canada to the American capital earlier in the month in his role as head of the Council of the Federation.
They met with officials, business leaders and managed to get a meeting in the White House, but with less influential aides than Miller and not with Trump.
Other premiers chose not to join Ford and Houston at the governor’s meeting, held a 10-minute walk away from the White House where two men from California protested Trump’s tariffs and a host of other controversial changes.
“I’m sorry for Canada, because Canada has done nothing except be a loyal ally to the United States,” said Greg Nachtwey, a litigation consultant from Berkeley.
“I don’t know why we are attacking our allies and supporting our enemies,” added Dave Fogarty, a retiree, referring to Trump blaming Ukraine for being invaded by Russia.
“It just makes no sense at all.”
