Sask. premier feels Washington meetings aimed to fight off U.S. tariffs were ‘productive’

Premiers from across Canada wrapped up their meetings on tariffs in Washington on Wednesday.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said on his social media channels Thursday that meetings with U.S. officials in Washington, D.C. were “productive,” as he and other Canadian leaders aim to prevent sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he still plans to place a 25 per cent tariff against all Canadian goods imported into the United States after delaying the levies for 30 days on Feb. 4. Energy resources would be subject to a 10 per cent tariff, Trump has said.

The U.S. president also plans to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian aluminum and steel beginning March 12, something he signed off on while travelling to the Super Bowl last Sunday.

Moe said he and other dignitaries met with American officials and key stakeholders the past few days in the U.S. capital, with discussions centered on strengthening trade relationships and advancing North American food, energy and manufacturing security.

“With $40 billion in annual trade between Saskatchewan and the U.S., it’s essential that we preserve tariff-free access for Canadian-made goods,” Moe said on X and Facebook.

Moe, and other Canadian premiers have said repeatedly that tariffs would have a negative effect in both Canada and the United States.

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“Imposing tariffs would disrupt businesses, jeopardize jobs, and reduce investment opportunities on both sides of the border,” Moe said, adding that is a main reason why it’s imperative to ensure continued free trade between Canada and the United States.

Moe said supply chains, market access and expanding trade opportunities were also discussed in the meetings.

“Our collective goal is to ensure that Saskatchewan and all of Canada remain competitive on the global stage, fostering growth and prosperity for everyone.”

Trump, meanwhile, announced he was increasing reciprocal tariffs on Thursday, that he said is meant to match tax rates other countries charge on imported American products.

Trump’s reasoning for tariffs on Canada have varied and included getting the federal and provincial governments to address border security and a claim that Canada has a large trade deficit with the U.S.

“Canada is going to be [in] a very interesting situation because we just don’t need their products and yet they survive off the fact that we do 95 per cent of what they do,” Trump said during a press conference on Thursday, adding that, “Canada’s been very bad to us on trade.”

In 2024, 23 per cent of all steel imported into the U.S. came from Canada. All aluminum imports into the U.S. from Canada added up to 60 per cent.

Around 80 per cent of the U.S,‘s softwood lumber imports come from Canada, as does the vast majority of its fossil fuel imports, including about 60 per cent of crude oil.

Read more on Trump’s tariffs and what Canada exports into the U.S. here

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Moe was also scheduled to travel to Mexico to speak with exporters and further promote the trading of products.

With files from Luca Caruso-Moro and Lynn Chaya