Trump’s team says tariffs not going away, demands tighter auto rules...
Poilievre asks where Carney's plan is and a Jordan Peterson health update.
Jamieson Greer, Donald Trump’s trade representative – essentially his trade ambassador – has been in Mexico. He met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard and several business groups. He had a message for the Mexicans that applies to Canada as well – tariffs aren’t going away even with a renewed CUSMA/USMCA.
Reuters reported the news early Tuesday morning saying they spoke to four different sources. He also said he wants stricter rules on North American made parts for the auto industry.
A second source, who attended a meeting between Greer and Mexico’s auto industry, confirmed he told them at least some level of tariffs are here to stay, regardless of the ongoing USMCA review. This source said there may be an easing of auto tariffs to ensure that Mexico is competitive with rival regions, but Greer emphasized they were not going back to zero.
The first source also said U.S. negotiators proposed at a meeting last week between the two sides in Washington changing the rules of origin to require that 100% of key components such as engines, major electronics and software be sourced from North America. USMCA now requires about 75% of a car’s value be sourced from the region, with certain levels of content from the U.S. or Canada.
Of course, those of us paying attention won’t be shocked by any of this.
During my February 2025 trip to Washington, I heard from American officials that there was growing support for a global tariff of say 10% that would apply to all countries, including Canada.
I’ve been talking about that possibility ever since.
Last summer Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters tariffs were a reality.
“There’s not much evidence at the moment — from the deals, agreements and negotiations with the Americans for any country or any jurisdiction — to get a deal without tariffs,” the PM said.
And of course, back in February, after Trump’s State of the Union speech, CBC heard directly from Greer that tariffs were the future.
“If Canada wants to agree that we can have some level of higher tariff on them while they open up their markets to us on things like dairy and other things, then that’s a helpful conversation,” Greer told CBC at the time.
So, it’s a good little scoop from Reuters, but it really isn’t a new position from the Americans.
More than a year ago I was speaking with industry officials in this country who said they could live with and adapt to a 10% tariff while still being competitive. What Canadian industry can’t afford are tariffs of 25%, 45% or 50% and they can’t afford the uncertainty they are dealing with now.
Mark Carney is the unreliable boyfriend...
Given Carney’s ever-changing messaging on dealing with Donald Trump, it’s time to bring back his old nickname from his time in Britain – the unreliable boyfriend.
When Carney was the Governor of the Bank of England, he kept changing positions on interest rates, whether they should be up or down. That prompted Labour MP Pat McFadden to say the bank was acting like “a sort of unreliable boyfriend.”
The nickname stuck for Carney in the financial district of London. Now, in my latest column in the Toronto Sun, I bring the nickname back due to Carney’s changing positions on Trump, tariffs and trade.
Give the column a read and share it on social media or by email if you can.
Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre rightly pointed out that we don’t know Carney’s plan.
Poilievre asked the question I’ve been asking about Carney, does he even want to renew CUSMA. My take on Carney’s video is that he’s softening us up to accept CUSMA falling apart.
I’m not alone in thinking that, Tasha Kheiriddin at the National Post feels the same way.
A Jordan Peterson health update…
Last summer, in the middle of August, Jordan Peterson announced he was stepping away from public life due to health concerns. It was his daughter Mikhaila who actually made the announcement saying that her father was afflicted with CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome).
We had been texting each other just a week earlier discussing the ridiculous court ruling declaring bike lanes in Toronto a Charter right.
Since announcing his condition, he’s been quiet as he tries to recover. I’ve sent a couple of texts wishing him well and I’ve sent my best when I ran into his wife Tammy and his brother Joel on different occasions.
Now Mikhaila has given another update.
Short answer is “No he doesn’t want a deal “ nothing in his behaviour or that of the Liberal government suggests any reasonable diplomacy and has been actually antagonistic. The increasing attacks on Pierre also suggest he’s still the greatest threat to them. They’re investing a lot to convince the public that Pierre needs to go which is exactly what shouldn’t happen in my opinion.
🙏for Mr Peterson.