White House gets pressure from within U.S. to spare Canada from steel tariffs

The Trump administration is coming under political pressure at home to exclude Canada from global tariffs on steel and aluminum, and while stating its preference for holding firm it’s leaving the door open just the tiniest crack to the possibility of adjustments. Lawmakers, businesses, and hosts on the Sunday political talk-shows all challenged the logic of slapping a nationalsecurity tariff on a peaceful next-door neighbour, pushing the administration to justify its move.

The administration says a final announcement is coming next week. On Sunday, it signalled that President Donald Trump is leaning toward a noexceptions-for-anyone attitude – but then added some potential asterisks.

In the midst of an internal tug-of-war within the White House the administration was represented on the talk shows by two of its most prominent trade hawks, Trump advisor Peter Navarro and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Both appeared to suggest the decision is close to final. While no countries will be excluded, Navarro said some industries could get exemptions.

This is of keen interest to Canada’s auto sector, which is a leading supplier of steel and aluminum to the U.S.

A senator of a border state said he’s already hearing from businesses at home. Angus King, an Independent senator from Maine, compared Trump’s plan to the devastating U.S. tariffs of the 1930s. He said companies in his state fear price increases for steel.

King said any trade actions should be targeted to discourage Chinese dumping – not hit the entire world.

“You want to do these kinds of things with a scalpel – not a chainsaw,” King told NBC.