Send this page to someone via email The final list of which American goods will face new tariffs in retaliation for steel and aluminum levies announced last month by the Trump administration is expected to be made public on Friday morning. Global News has confirmed Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland will be in Hamilton on Friday to make an announcement related to tariffs, which is anticipated to present the final list of American goods set to be hit with 25 per cent and 10 per cent tariffs worth a total of $16.6 billion and which are set to go into effect on July 1. She is also expected to reveal the details of the federal government’s plan to support Canada’s tariff-targeted steel and aluminum industries. READ MORE: Freeland says tariffs on steel, aluminum represent U.S. ‘putting its thumb on the scale’ The tariffs come in retaliation for U.S. President Donald Trump imposing tariffs of those same amounts on Canadian steel and aluminum on May 31. Story continues below advertisement Her announcement will take place at 11 a.m. at Stelco, a steel factory in the city. WATCH BELOW: Freeland vows ‘equally clear and firm’ repose to Trump auto tariffs 1:24 Freeland vows ‘equally clear and firm’ repose to Trump auto tariffs Freeland vows ‘equally clear and firm’ repose to Trump auto tariffs – Jun 19, 2018 More than 140 American-made goods ranging from whiskey to washing machines, along with steel and aluminum, were included in a preliminary list last month. Freeland then launched a consultation period to seek input on whether the expansive list should be adjusted to minimize harm to Canadians. The European Union and Mexico, both targeted by the same tariffs on their steel and aluminum, put their retaliatory tariffs into effect immediately. Trump has threatened to impose significant new tariffs on auto parts and cars if Canada implements the retaliatory tariffs. Story continues below advertisement Those, as well as the steel and aluminum tariffs, are based on accusations that the import of foreign goods in those industries poses a “national security threat” to the American sectors, despite the reality that Canadian and American manufacturing chains are closely interconnected. In the case of the auto sector, vehicles cross the border roughly six times during the manufacturing process. Freeland has repeatedly warned that the imposition of both steel, aluminum and auto tariffs would hurt American workers just as much as those in Canada. Many of those American workers in the targeted industries are located in states that voted for Trump in the last election. With files from the Canadian Press.<doc-sep>Two days before Canada's retaliatory tariffs against U.S. steel, aluminum and some consumer goods are set to take effect, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone explaining Canada had no choice but to act. According to a readout of the call provided by the Prime Minister's Office, Trudeau began the conversation by expressing his condolences for the victims of the mass shooting at an Annapolis, Maryland, newspaper before going on to talk about trade. "As he has said in past conversations and in public," the readout said. "The Prime Minister conveyed that Canada has had no choice but to announce reciprocal countermeasures to the steel and aluminum tariffs that the United States imposed on June 1, 2018." Trudeau also spoke by phone with President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico. Trudeau updated the president on Canada's tariffs on U.S. imports, according to the readout, which also said the two leaders discussed "the North American Free Trade negotiations and agreed to continue working toward a mutually beneficial outcome." Earlier in the day the federal government unveiled an updated list of U.S. products that are about to be slapped with tariffs while promising to spend up to $2 billion to protect steel, aluminum and manufacturing jobs on this side of the border in the wake of a burgeoning trade war with the U.S. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland revealed the final list of $16.6-billion worth of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products, including steel and aluminum during a stop at a Hamilton steel factory Friday. At the end of May, Freeland and Trudeau announced their intentions to impose dollar-for-dollar tariffs on some U.S. products and sought feedback. On Friday, the government revealed its edited list. While much of it stays the same — tariffs on U.S. whisky, lawn mowers, ketchup and maple syrup remain in place — there have been some tweaks. 'Canada is not part of the problem' Politics News 6:28 International Trade Minister Francoise-Philippe Champagne joins Power & Politics to discuss Canada's retaliatory measures against the U.S. and the government's aid package for the steel and aluminum industries in Canada. 6:28 The government added some items, such as cast-iron grills, refrigerator-freezers and pillows, to the list and removed others: steel and iron beer kegs and prepared mustard. The tariffs will go into effect Sunday. "We will not escalate and we will not back down," Freeland said Friday. Freeland, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, and Employment and Labour Minister Patty Hajdu also announced that their government will offer compensation to affected businesses and will tweak the employment insurance program to keep workers in Canada. The measures are in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian steel and 10 per cent tariffs on aluminum, citing national security concerns. Freeland called the reasoning "absurd" and "hurtful." The government says it will move on a number of steps to help defend the affected industries by: Extending EI work-sharing agreements by 38 more weeks. Offering affected businesses liquidity support. Increasing funding to the provinces and territories for job and training programs Spending up to $250 million to "better integrate the Canadian supply chain of steel and aluminum." Investing $50 million to help companies diversify where their products are exported to. Of the pledged $2 billion, about $1.7 billion is earmarked to help business manage an uncertain financial future. Export Development Canada will make $900 million available over the next two years in commercial financing and insurance to companies in the steel and aluminum sectors and related industries. Freeland 'We won't back down' Politics News 0:41 Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland tells reporters in Hamilton that Canada's reponse to US tariffs is firm and measured 0:41 The Business Development Bank of Canada will make another $800 million in financing available for companies "with viable business strategies navigate through the market turbulence." "This financing could help companies expand into new markets, increase operational and environmental efficiency, or purchase new technology and equipment," reads a statement from Global Affairs Canada. According to government figures, the Canadian steel industry employed more than 23,000 Canadians in 2017.<doc-sep>The federal government will announce a compensation package for Canada's steel and aluminum industries on Friday when Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland releases the final list of U.S. products to be slapped with retaliatory tariffs starting Sunday. Freeland, accompanied by Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains and Employment Minister Patty Hajdu, will make the announcement in Hamilton — the heart of Canada's steel production and home to roughly a third of the 23,000 workers directly employed in the industry. Both measures are a direct response to the 25 per cent tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum imports nearly a month ago under a little-used national security provision in American law. They also signal Canada's willingness to fight the $16.6-billion in tariffs rather than capitulate to Trump's protectionist agenda. "Our point to the government has always been that we expect the Canadian tariffs to be truly reciprocal to protect producers and jobs in this country," said Joseph Galimberti, president of the Canadian Steel Producers Association. "If it's 25 per cent being put on steel going to the U.S., it has to be 25 per cent on steel coming into Canada." 'We have nothing to be ashamed of' Ken Neumann, Canadian national director of the United Steelworkers, said he's also been told federal assistance for the industry is on the way. "We're a sovereign nation. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We have lived by the rules, we're not cheaters, we're not manipulators," he said. "And that's why it's so important that the government send that message clearly to the U.S. that we're going to look after our citizens and we're going to fight because this is just wrong-headed and it's illegal." Details of the compensation package aren't clear, but sources suggest it will be in the same range as the $847 million in loans made available to the softwood lumber industry. They didn't just pick these products alphabetically. They really do look at where the tariff could have the most political impact. - Laura Dawson, Wilson Centre One option on the table for the federal government is to support job-sharing in companies hit by the U.S. tariffs. Workers would be allowed to claim Employment Insurance for the hours they give up during the tariff dispute, instead of the usual 26 weeks. Government and industry officials say there have been some changes to the original list of U.S. products to be hit with a 10 per cent tariff starting Sunday. The adjustments were made after public consultations to reflect concerns that some of the items meant to be hit with duties — such as motor boats — were not widely available from non-American producers. Other products, including some home appliances, can't be imported from other countries that build them to standards that are different from those used in North America. But the underlying objective remains the same: Canada is joining the European Union in targeting products from states where the tariffs will have the most political impact. They include bourbon produced in Kentucky — the state represented by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — and dairy products that come primarily from Wisconsin, the home of House Speaker Paul Ryan and a key takeaway state for Donald Trump in the presidential election of 2016. "You're able to link the product to the tariff to a member of Congress," said Laura Dawson, director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Centre in Washington DC. "They didn't just pick these products alphabetically. They really do look at where the tariff could have the most political impact." 'The last thing we need is more protective measures' Politics News 6:48 Walter Koppelaar, CEO & Chairman of Walters Group and Richard Lyall, President of the Residential Construction Council of Canada, join Power & Politics to discuss their fears that Canadian protective measures on steel and aluminum could actually hurt the Canadian construction industry. 6:48 Sources tell CBC News that the value of the tariffs on the original list drawn up Freeland's office added up to nearly $19 billion — a sum calculated to give Ottawa leeway to remove some items from the list following public consultations while still matching the U.S. tariffs on a dollar-for-dollar basis. But that doesn't mean Canadian consumers won't feel the pain of what is shaping up as a prolonged and costly battle over Trump's protectionist trade policies. Starting Sunday, tariffs on steel and aluminum will be applied in both directions. And Trump is threatening to use the same national security rationale to impose tariffs on Canadian-built vehicles imported into the U.S. This probably won't end soon Canada's 10 per cent tariff will still apply to a wide range of consumer items — prepared foods, mattresses, table linens, cucumbers and pickles, appliances, candies and paper products — in order to fulfill what Freeland has said will be a dollar-for-dollar response to the Trump administration's actions. Dawson, for one, believes Canadians should brace for a long battle. She said she expects Trump won't budge on the tariffs until after the midterm elections in November. "I think that the president is setting up a situation to make Republicans as electable as possible by his base, the folks who were promised no more unfair trade, no more NAFTA. So he's keeping that promise and that's what the Republicans will take into the midterms." Canadian industry representatives are also bracing for a long battle and an extended period of uncertainty generated not only by this dispute, but by the protracted negotiations to renew NAFTA and the Trump tax reforms that lowered corporate rates in the U.S. from 35 per cent to 20 per cent. Business groups have urged Morneau to lower Canadian corporate rates — and to match the U.S. policy of allowing companies to write off 100 per cent of their investments in new technology and machinery — to encourage business investment in this country.<doc-sep>
Send this page to someone via email Fans of peanut butter or jams and jellies other than strawberry can let out a sigh of relief. Those products are among the ones that have been removed from the final list of retaliatory tariffs targeting American-made goods that are set to go into effect this weekend, along with prepared mustard, beer kegs, and outboard motorboats. READ MORE: Boycotting U.S. products? Here’s how to buy Canadian during a trade war Speaking just moments ago in Hamilton at the Stelco steel factory, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said the government had finalized the list of American goods targeted by the retaliatory tariffs, based on consultations with Canadians and industry over recent weeks, and has made a couple of changes. WATCH: Canada ready to roll on retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products 2:13 Canada ready to roll on retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products Canada ready to roll on retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products – Jun 29, 2018 Tariffs on dozens of types of steel products will remain at the 25 per cent proposed on the preliminary list, while those on aluminum and other products will remain at 10 per cent. Story continues below advertisement Strawberry jam remains on the list of 79 items other than steel and aluminum set to be hit with a 10 per cent tariff starting July 1. The original list, worth a total of $16.6 billion, targeted everything from whiskey, washing machines, steel and aluminum to orange juice, frozen pizza, beer, manicure products, boats, ketchup, coffee, nut butters and jams. Apart from the exempted items, the rest of the list and its value remain the same, Freeland said, and the government is prepared to keep the tariffs in place until U.S. President Donald Trump removes the tariffs of 25 per cent and 10 per cent he placed on Canadian steel and aluminum last month. Items that remain on the list to be hit with tariffs include yogurt, coffee, licorice, chocolate, prepared meals including pizza and quiche, cucumbers, gherkins, soya sauce, ketchup, mayonnaise, flavoured water, whiskies, manicure and pedicure products, shaving products, dish detergent, candles, glue and various types of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. WATCH: Ketchup, lawn mowers and playing cards slapped with 10 per cent duties 0:28 Canada slaps tariffs up to 25 per cent on American goods Canada slaps tariffs up to 25 per cent on American goods – Jun 29, 2018 Also set to be hit with tariffs are plastic bags, toilet paper, serviettes, postcards, cast iron grills, combined fridge-freezers, water heaters, dish washers, household washers and dryers, lawnmowers, inflatable and sailboats, motorboats without outboard motors, wood-framed household furniture, mattresses, sleeping bags, pillows and bedding, playing cards and both ballpoint and felt-tipped pens. Story continues below advertisement “Countless Canadians of many diverse political points of view agree with this approach,” Freeland said. “We will maintain the firm resolve to do so.” Freeland also noted she and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer have already spoken six times this week about the issue and will continue to do so with the aim of getting the tariffs removed permanently. READ MORE: Canada preparing ‘detailed’ response to potential Trump auto tariffs: Freeland Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains also announced an aid package worth $2 billion for the steel and aluminum industries. That funding will come in the form of $250 million for a strategic innovation fund to support the steel and aluminum industries as well as roughly $1 billion in funding through Business Development Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada. Story continues below advertisement Employment Minister Patty Hajdu also announced temporary changes to employment insurance rules to allow workers in those industries whose hours are cut back due to the effects of the tariffs to continue to qualify for benefits. She also indicated the government is open to considering further support actions, if needed. Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger reacted to the tariffs shortly after, applauding the government and saying his city “enthusiastically endorses” the tariffs. “We like the United States. They are our neighbours, allies, friends and business partners,” he said. “Over the past weeks numerous American business and civic leaders have joined us in speaking out against trade barriers and their harmful impacts on our economies and communities. We understand, and history has shown, that global trade and collaboration makes us stronger and more prosperous. Our City has weathered challenging times before.