International Trade

Question period focused on Canada’s trade dispute with the United States and the absence of a deal to remove American tariffs. Conservative members said the Prime Minister had promised a deal by last July, pointed to doubled steel tariffs, tripled lumber tariffs, job losses and closed plants and mills, and asked why formal negotiations had not happened for seven months and why Mexico appeared to be making progress. Liberal ministers replied that the government will not accept a bad deal, has spent months consulting provinces, territories, businesses and labour, has created a new committee to advise on Canada-U.S. trade, and pointed to record non-U.S. trade and investments in ports, energy and other projects across the country.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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5 statements

Connie Cody, Cambridge

Conservative
“The Prime Minister promised a trade deal with the United States by last July, but he failed. Now tariffs on Canadian steel, lumber, and manufactured goods have gone up. His broken promises hurt workers and businesses in my community.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, just one year ago, the Prime Minister was telling everybody who would listen that he would get a trade deal with the Americans by last July. He set the deadline. He made that commitment. Now, the Prime Minister has surrendered as tariffs on steel have doubled, tariffs on lumber have tripled, and the tariffs on manufacturers got bigger. The workers and job creators in my community now know that the Prime Minister’s promises were more empty words from just another Liberal politician. He says our relationship with the U.S. is a weakness, but is the real weakness not the Prime Minister’s constant over-promising and underdelivering when it comes to U.S.-Canada trade?

Fred Davies, Niagara South

Conservative
“American tariffs on Canadian steel and lumber are hurting manufacturers and local jobs in Niagara. I want the Prime Minister to fight these tariffs to protect the millions of Canadian jobs that depend on U.S. trade.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is capitulating on U.S. tariffs. Tariffs on steel have doubled. Lumber tariffs have tripled, and new barriers continue to hit our manufacturers. Nowhere is this failure felt more than in my region of Niagara, where cross-border trade is the lifeblood of local jobs, supply chains and our communities. While he blames tariffs on the shrinking economy, he fails to show up, and Mexico actually has a seat at the table. The Prime Minister is dragging his feet. When will he finally stand up and fight for the 2.6 million Canadian jobs that depend on U.S. trade and deliver the tariff relief he promised?

Rob Moore, Fundy Royal

Conservative
“Our economy is shrinking while other countries make trade progress. I want the Prime Minister to protect the 2.6 million Canadian jobs that depend on trade with the U.S. and get results.”
  • A repeated line

    “We have the only shrinking economy in the G7.”

    Said 3 times by 3 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have the only shrinking economy in the G7. As the Prime Minister dithers, even Mexico is making progress on a deal. Why does he seem to keep wanting to drag this on? Why is he not fighting for the 2.6 million Canadians whose jobs rely on trade with the U.S.? With millions of jobs at stake, when will the Prime Minister deliver results instead of the same speeches, excuses and failures?

Kyle Seeback, Dufferin—Caledon

Conservative
“The government has not negotiated for seven months to remove American tariffs. This delay has cost tens of thousands of Canadian jobs and closed plants and mills. What does the government have to say to the people who lost their jobs?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it has been seven months since there has been a formal meeting or negotiation to exchange offers to remove these American tariffs. What is worse is that it is now being reported that this is a Liberal strategy, which has led to the loss of tens of thousands of Canadian jobs, the closure of the Brampton auto plant, the closure of steel mills and the closure of pulp and paper mills. This has had a devastating effect on Canadians, and now there are expanded tariffs on all manufactured goods, which will make it worse. What do these Liberals have to say to the Canadians who have lost their jobs as a result of their strategy of delay?

Kyle Seeback, Dufferin—Caledon

Conservative
“Tens of thousands of Canadians have lost their jobs. The government signed a trade deal with Ecuador instead of fixing tariffs that threaten 2.6 million Canadian jobs. When will the government go back to the negotiating table to protect these jobs?”
  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Clarity 17 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal answer to the tens of thousands of Canadians who have lost their jobs about their strategy of delay is tell them to not worry about their EI, not worry about their families and not worry about how they are going to pay their mortgages because they signed a free trade deal with Ecuador, which is a rounding error in Canada’s GDP. If these Liberals are serious, they will explain why they decided their strategy is to not negotiate to try to get a deal on the tariffs that affect the 2.6 million Canadians whose jobs are tied to trade. When will they go back to the negotiating table to protect those jobs?

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