Saskatchewan Premier Moe says killing tariff on Chinese EVs 'not as simple as that'

OTTAWA — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said Tuesday that Ottawa must work in tandem with the provinces to relieve tariff pressures being placed on Canada’s economy by both the U.S. and China.

Saskatchewan, which produces more than half of the nation’s canola crop, has been hit hard by the 76 per cent tariff China placed on Canadian canola seeds last month, a move widely seen as a response to Canada’s 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles.

Moe was quick to call for Canada to drop the electric vehicle tariff , but appears to have changed his tune slightly since returning from a trade mission to China last week.

“I was quoted on this a while ago, and I’d just clarify it’s not as simple as that,” said Moe when asked again about dropping the electric vehicle levy on Tuesday.

“Our largest trade partner is the United States of America (and) we’ve aligned with the EV tariffs, on which there’s been a response from China,” said Moe.

He said his talks in China last week were “constructive” but added that he wouldn’t disclose any of the details publicly.

He also admitted that restoring Canada’s market access to one superpower may not help it restore access to the other.

“Here’s the dance that I think all countries are finding themselves in, and it’s a sensitive and delicate dance. Decisions that you make (with one trade partner) will have an indirect impact on your relationship with another partner,” Moe told reporters on Parliament Hill.

Moe was in Ottawa to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney, joined by leaders of Western Canada’s tariff-ravaged canola industry.

He said he had a “good meeting” with the prime minister but stressed the urgent need for movement on the tariffs, saying it was unsustainable to keep throwing relief dollars at canola and other hard-hit sectors.

“I don’t know that we can afford to backstop all the industries that might be impacted in what is such an uncertain trade environment globally … What we need is market access,” said Moe.

Moe, who endorsed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre ahead of the recent federal election, said he trusted Carney’s leadership on trade matters.

“There’s a marked improvement, I would say, with the dialog that we’re seeing from the current prime minister versus, you know, the last number of years, and we’re appreciative of that,” said Moe.

National Post rmohamed@postmedia.com

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