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International Trade

Question period focused on U.S. tariffs and Canada’s trade relationship with the United States. Conservative members said tariffs on autos, steel, lumber and tools are costing jobs and plant closures, and asked when the government would get them removed and deliver a promised trade deal. Liberal members replied that Canada already has a trade deal through CUSMA and is engaged in its review, that they will not negotiate a bad deal in public, and pointed to diversification efforts including expanded non-U.S. exports, new trade agreements, and support for affected sectors such as the forestry industry.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

18 statements

Kyle Seeback

Conservative
“The government's plan to deal with American tariffs is to wait and delay. They know this hurts our businesses and costs Canadians their jobs. When will they stop delaying?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it has now been widely reported in the media that part of the Liberal strategy to get Trump’s tariffs removed is to delay. Yesterday at the foreign affairs committee, the Canadian ambassador to the United States said that they have detailed analysis on exactly how much this hurts Canadian businesses. They know the cost, so if the Brampton auto plant closes, that is no problem. It is part of the delay strategy. If steel mills close, that is no problem. It is part of the delay strategy. If tens of thousands of Canadians lose their jobs, that is no problem. It is part of the delay strategy. At what point do they say enough is enough, that there have been enough job losses and enough pain, and stop this strategy of delay?

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Tim Louis

Liberal
“We are working to protect our trade deal with the United States and Mexico. At the same time, we are trading more with other countries. We are working with provinces, businesses, and unions to make our economy stronger.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • A repeated line

    “We are going to build Canada strong.”

    Said 33 times by 14 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canada already has the best deal among U.S. trading partners in the world, and we are working hard to maintain that deal. We continue to engage with our American and our Mexican counterparts to review CUSMA. At the same time, Canadians gave us a mandate to expand our non-U.S. trade with the world. That is what we are doing. The third prong of that is working together with the provinces, territories, industries and unions. Every Canadian is working together to prepare for this. We are ready to build. This is what Canadians sent us to do. We are going to build Canada strong.

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Kyle Seeback

Conservative
“The government charges billions of dollars in tariffs on car makers. This has cost people their jobs and caused a car plant in Brampton to close. I want to know when the government will remove these tariffs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the answer from the Liberal government is $5 billion collected on Canadian automakers, which is putting Canadian auto workers out of work, and $4 billion of those tariffs are to be paid by Honda and Toyota. They will not continue to pay those tariffs. The government’s answer is, “Don’t worry. There’s nothing to see here because we’re going to sign a free trade deal with Ecuador”. The Brampton auto plant that closed is in the Minister of International Trade’s riding. The Liberals’ strategy of delay led to that plant closing. When will they give up on this strategy of delay and get the tariffs off for Canadian workers?

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Anita Anand

Liberal
“Our plan is to double our trade with countries other than the United States over the next ten years. We are also reviewing our trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico, and working to build better trade deals with other countries.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 26 of 100

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

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  • A repeated line

    “That is what building Canada strong means.”

    Said 3 times by 3 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, our strategy is actually to double non-U.S. trade over the next 10 years and to continue working on the CUSMA review, as the minister is doing. I will also say that, in the meantime, we are building trade relationships with Indonesia, China, India, Mexico and Brazil. We are looking forward to an FTA with the ASEAN in 2026 and working on Mercosur as well. That is what working for the Canadian public is all about. That is what building Canada strong means.

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Scott Aitchison

Conservative
“U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and lumber have gone up, and the Prime Minister has not gotten rid of any of them. Millions of Canadians rely on trade with the U.S. for their jobs. I want to know why the Prime Minister is not fighting for tariff-free trade, and when he will deliver on his promises to workers.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, under the Prime Minister, tariffs on steel have doubled, tariffs on lumber have tripled and barriers on Canadian manufacturers have only expanded, yet he has not secured the removal of a single one of those tariffs. While he says those tariffs are part of the reason that Canada’s economy is struggling, Mexico is getting close to a deal with the U.S. There are 2.6 million Canadians who depend on trade with the United States for their livelihoods. Why is the Prime Minister dragging this out instead of fighting for tariff-free trade, and when will he deliver the results that he promised Canadian workers?

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Maninder Sidhu

Liberal
“We need to sell our goods to more countries around the world, not just the United States. Our plan is working. Canadian exports to other countries are growing, our ports are setting records, and we are making new trade deals.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as we approach the CUSMA review, we need to focus on trade diversification. Our efforts are working. They are leading to real results. Last year, there was a 17% increase in non-U.S. exports. Fact number two is that we also had 170 million metric tons from the port of Vancouver, which is a historic record. That is more shipments to China, Japan and South Korea. Just in from the port of St. John’s, cargo is up by 30% at that port alone. Our efforts to open up new partnerships around the world are working. That includes Indonesia, Ecuador, UAE with the European Union, and of course others such as India, ASEAN, Mercosur, Philippines, Thailand, UAE and Saudi Arabia. We are at the door. We are creating opportunities for Canadian workers.

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Scott Aitchison

Conservative
“Trade tariffs are hurting Canadian workers. Millions of jobs depend on trade with the United States. I want the government to share its plan to get these tariffs removed.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Signal 40 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have heard this over and over again, but alas, Canadians cannot survive, and their jobs will not survive, on Liberal rhetoric alone. Tariffs are higher, and they are broader. They are hurting Canadian workers, yet the government has not gotten any of them removed. On behalf of the 2.6 million Canadians whose livelihoods depend on trade with the United States, where is the plan? Where are the results?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B– View analysis

Tim Louis

Liberal
“We are taking our time to get the best trade deal for Canadians. We are talking to the provinces and industries, and we will not negotiate in public.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 38 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, Canadians sent us to Ottawa to get the best deal, not to settle for a bad deal. We are working at our pace to make sure we get the best deal for Canadians. We are consulting with Canadians. We are consulting with industries. We are using every legal, diplomatic and economic tool, and we are working with provinces, territories and Canadians to make sure we get the best deal possible. We are not going to negotiate in public, but we are working together.

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Kathy Borrelli

Conservative
“New tariffs are hurting tool, mould, and die companies, and hundreds of thousands of workers could lose their jobs. I want the Prime Minister to present a plan and negotiate to protect these workers.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the new section 232 tariffs are gutting our tool, mould and die companies in Windsor-Essex and across the country. These shops are vital to our manufacturing industry. Hundreds of thousands of skilled workers will lose their jobs. Where is the Liberal Prime Minister’s plan? Workers need results now in order to survive. When will the Prime Minister finally do his job, get to the table and put our workers first for a change?

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Karim Bardeesy

Liberal
“We are supporting workers in Windsor. We cut the excise tax to help families. A local car plant added a third shift, and the new battery plant just made its millionth cell. We are helping build and grow Windsor's economy.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 8 of 100

    Only 9% of this answer directly addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I entirely reject the premise of that question. We are there for the workers right now. My colleague, the deputy government House leader, is in Windsor today marking the reduction of the excise tax, which will help workers and all residential households in Windsor. In addition, the third shift has come to Stellantis in Windsor. The millionth battery cell has just been manufactured at the NextStar plant. We are working hard to develop the economy of Windsor with Windsorites, while also helping them with the diversification that they and we know we need to do in this changing era.

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Scot Davidson

Conservative

Linked statement

“The Prime Minister missed his deadline for a trade deal with the United States. This delay puts 2.7 million Canadian jobs at risk. I want to know the date Canada will finally have this deal.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it has been 278 days since the Prime Minister’s own drop-dead deadline for a trade deal with the United States. In that time, 2.7 million Canadian jobs that depend on cross-border trade have been threatened by tariffs and uncertainty. While Mexico is at the negotiating table, the Prime Minister is on YouTube calling Canada-U.S. trade a weakness instead of fighting for our businesses and workers. There has been enough talking. We just want the date. When will Canada have the trade deal with the U.S. that the Liberals promised?

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Kody Blois

Liberal
“We already have a trade deal with the United States, and we are talking with them now to review it. We will not take a bad deal. Right now, we are helping the Canadian workers and businesses hurt by unfair American tariffs.”

  • A repeated line

    “We will take no lessons from the Conservatives.”

    Said 9 times by 4 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we already have a trade deal with the United States. It is called CUSMA, and we are going through the review process. We understand the challenge to Canadian workers and to Canadian industry. As the Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and the Prime Minister have made very clear, we are at the table. We are having conversations with the U.S. administration. We are engaging. The Conservatives have made very clear, and the Prime Minister has made very clear, that we are not going to settle for a bad deal. In the interim, we are supporting industries and supporting workers who are being impacted by the tariffs, which we feel are unjustified. We will take no lessons from the Conservatives. I will take Canadians back to 2018 when they would have had us fold before we got the best deal for Canadians.

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Scot Davidson

Conservative
“Our trade with the United States supports 2.7 million Canadian jobs. The Prime Minister is not fighting for these workers, and he should admit his own weakness.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, by the time I finish asking this question, Canada will have done more trade with the United States than the value of this Prime Minister’s trade agreements with Ecuador, India and the UAE combined. The reality is that our trade relationship with the United States, what the Prime Minister calls a weakness, represents over $900 billion in annual trade and 2.7 million jobs, but he refuses to fight for these workers under our economy. Will the Prime Minister admit that the only real weakness is his own?

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Anita Anand

Liberal
“We are trading more with countries other than the United States. We made over 12 trade deals in the last six months. We will also make it easier to trade between Canadian provinces and build major projects at home.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 38 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 reality is that we, along with this country as a whole, are continuing to diversify non-U.S. trade. That means real results. There have been more than 12 agreements over the past six months across four continents, which is a result that I ask my hon. colleague to acknowledge. Furthermore, as we work to double non-U.S. trade, we will build Canada strong internally. We will bring down internal barriers to trade. We will build national projects.

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Jim Bélanger

Conservative
“American tariffs on Canadian lumber have tripled to 45 percent, and sawmills in my riding are shutting down. I want the government to fight these tariffs so our workers can keep their jobs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, tariffs on softwood lumber have tripled to 45%. Now hundreds of workers in Nairn Centre and Gogama are facing indefinite sawmill shutdowns, leaving families in real uncertainty. Workers in my riding whose jobs rely on free trade with the U.S. need real action now. When will the Liberals fight against these tariffs and fight for tariff-free trade?

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Corey Hogan

Liberal
“American tariffs on Canadian lumber are going down to 35 percent, but they are still unfair. We are talking with the United States to fix this, and we have already given $2.5 billion to support our forestry sector.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we will always stand with mill towns. The combined duties and tariffs are scheduled to go down to 35%, based on the updates that came out the last couple of weeks, so there is a small correction there, but all still too painful and all still unjustified with the United States. That is why we are working to both control the issues we can control and engage with the Americans on this issue. We have given $2.5 billion of supports to the forestry sector. We are going to be taking receipt of the forestry transformation task force’s report imminently, and it has many great ideas. We will be there for workers, and I welcome the member to join us and work with us on that.

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Jim Bélanger

Conservative
“The Prime Minister has not lowered tariffs, and people in northern Ontario are losing their jobs. I want to know when he will deliver the fair trade deal he promised.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister was elected on the premise that he was the man. Well, it seems that the man with the plan has disappeared. The Liberal government has been on the sidelines for far too long, failing to secure a single reduction on tariffs, while North Ontarians continue to lose both patience and jobs. Communities are being pushed to a breaking point, yet there is still no progress and no real results from the Liberal government. When will the Prime Minister finally get his act in gear and deliver the fair trade deal he promised a year ago?

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Corey Hogan

Liberal
“We will only take the best trade deal for Canada. Our economy is strong. Wages are beating inflation, foreign investment is way up, and we are creating lots of jobs. Trade wars are hard, but we will win this one, and we want the opposition to help us.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues across the way have heard countless times, we will continue to make sure we get the best deal, not just any deal. Let us talk about the last year. Wages have grown faster than inflation every month that the Prime Minister has been Prime Minister. FDI, foreign direct investment, is the highest in 18 years, double that of the next nation in the G7. We have record oil production, and non-U.S. trade is way up. Last year we created more jobs than the United States did. Trade wars are brutal, but we are going to win this trade war. We want the member’s help doing it.

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  18. Government Orders Strong and Free Elections Act 41 statements
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  20. Private Members' Business Jury Duty Appreciation Week Act 13 statements
  21. Oral Questions International Trade 4 statements