WINNIPEG – Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says he’s hoping Canada can still avoid United States tariffs but our country can’t be a punching bag.
Kinew says he’s hopeful the U.S. won’t follow through on threats to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods and he’s focusing his efforts on persuasion.
He says if U.S. President Donald Trump sees footage of helicopters and law enforcement officers on the border, for example, tariffs might not be imposed.
Kinew says if tariffs do come, the province is looking at helping businesses through measures such as tax deferrals.
He says he’s not ruling out countermeasures later on and, if tariffs get applied, Canada would have to respond in a way that gets noticed.
Kelvin Goertzen, a legislature member for the Opposition Progressive Conservatives, says Manitoba should follow other provinces in laying out possible retaliatory measures on items such as alcohol.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2025.
