The Saskatchewan NDP says a potential trade war with the United States could be avoided by sending a special task force to Washington to lobby against a tariff threat from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Earlier in the week, Trump gave Canada a 30-day reprieve from a 25 per cent sweeping tariff on all Canadian goods being imported by the U.S.
The NDP believes Premier Scott Moe should lead a Saskatchewan delegation to lobby against Trump’s tariff threat.
NDP leader Carla Beck said it’s time for an all-hands-on deck approach.
“The work is certainly far from over and many say it’s just begun, we need to see all-hands-on-deck to bring forward solutions and ideas to address trade challenges and take our message directly to American people, because no one wins in a trade war,” Beck said.
Beck feels the proposed task force should be made up of business and First Nations leaders, along with herself.
“I strongly urge that this task force be sent as an official delegation to the United States as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence.”
Premier Scott Moe is already set to join other provincial leaders and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Washington next week.
“Premier Moe will be heading down in advance of the delegation to meet with elected representatives and business leaders,” the province said in a written statement.
The statement did not mention including business leaders or Beck joining Moe.
Beck says she wasn’t counting on the premier to invite her to Washington and said at this point she has not made any plans to travel there on her own.
