Canada could still avoid being subject to US proposed heavy tariffs on steel and aluminum.
During a daily media briefing on Wednesday, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said that potential “national security” exceptions to the planned tariffs could be applied to Canada and Mexico.
“There are potential carve-outs for Canada and Mexico based on national security – and possibly other countries as well, based on that process,” Sanders said. “That would be a case-by-case and country-by-country basis.”
But White House trade advisor Peter Navarro said that even if Canada and Mexico are exempted when the tariff announcement is made on Thursday, the tariffs could be imposed on them at a later date.
President Trump is facing significant opposition over the tariffs in Washington, including from his own party’s ranks. Some 107 Congressional Republicans sent Trump a letter expressing their concerns over the plan.
Prime Minister Trudeau has taken a cautious approach, declaring that he intends to wait to see what Trump actually does before deciding how to respond.
Source: Canadian Press
