Melanie Joly off to Washington subsequent week for tariff talks

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International Affairs Minister Melanie Joly will head to Washington subsequent week as a part of her authorities’s efforts to press the incoming Trump administration to not impose damaging tariffs on Canada.

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President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico when he’s inaugurated later this month.

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Joly’s workplace didn’t say precisely when she’s departing or whether or not different ministers will accompany her, and didn’t identify the officers she’ll be assembly with in Washington.

“We’ve to be prepared,” Joly informed reporters Friday morning on Parliament Hill, forward of a gathering of ministers on the Canada-U.S. cupboard committee to debate the retaliatory measures Ottawa would deploy if these tariffs are utilized.

“We have to take him very critically and we have to present the American individuals, and folk and other people round Trump, that there might be actual penalties. That Canada has a deep affection for the U.S., has a robust relationship, is its closest ally — but additionally, we’ve leverage,” she mentioned.

Joly mentioned she spoke Friday morning with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a key Republican. She mentioned she speaks with him “just about daily” and met with him in Florida in December.

She mentioned she additionally has met with Trump’s possible cupboard members, together with her possible future counterpart Marco Rubio, border chief nominee Tom Holman, commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick and Doug Burgum, more likely to be named vitality secretary. She mentioned she’s had “contacts with” Mike Waltz, more likely to be named nationwide safety adviser.

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“These people are beginning formally on Jan. 20, however the actuality is, their motion plan is already prepared,” Joly mentioned, including that Trump is “a seasoned decision-maker” who has a loyal group made up of officers who may restrain him lower than these in his first administration.

She mentioned Canada must be centered because it prepares to welcome Trump and different world leaders to the G7 summit in Alberta in June, including Canada’s allies are “involved” about his administration.

“My job, together with the prime minister, is to be sure that these conferences go properly and that we play a management position,” she mentioned.

Joly famous many Canadians fear after they hear Trump musing about making Canada a U.S. state – feedback that Defence Minister Invoice Blair described as disappointing.

“The remarks that we’ve heard over the previous few weeks are deeply regarding and, in lots of respects, profoundly disappointing,” Blair informed reporters Thursday in Germany, at a gathering of the Ukrainian Defence Contact Group.

He famous the lengthy historical past of defence collaboration and private ties between the 2 nations. “I might hope that that relationship can be revered by our closest good friend,” he mentioned.

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Subsequent week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the premiers will meet in Ottawa to debate Canada’s plan for responding to tariffs, a plan which is anticipated to incorporate retaliatory measures.

The premiers are additionally planning their very own journey to Washington on Feb. 12, led by Ontario Premier Doug Ford. His workplace has been requested which premiers might be going.

Joly additionally introduced Friday she won’t run for the Liberal management as a result of it will distract from her ministerial position throughout what she calls “a vital time within the Canada-U. S. relationship.” She mentioned she had “good probabilities” of successful the management.

“I’m placing my nation first,” she mentioned.

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