Canadian Premiers and the Prime Minister gathered for the Muskoka Summit in Huntsville, Ontario this week to discuss the ongoing trade challenges with the United States.

President Donald Trump has threatened a 35 per cent tariff starting August 1st on Canada and Canadian politicians came together at the summit to create an action plan.

In terms of Saskatchewan’s resources coming up in the U.S. trade negotiations, Premier Moe said about 95 per cent of products produced in Saskatchewan is USMCA compliant which means only about five per cent would be subject to the 35 per cent tariff.

The premiere also emphasized his encouragement of other Canadian premiers to join the New West Partnership Agreement with Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba to help with the free flow of goods across the country.

While the Premier spoke to reporters on the last day he was asked if the premiers are okay giving the Prime Minster a longer runway for these negotiations if the first deal isn’t something the Prime Minister is comfortable with.

Premiere Moe said the runway has been extended a few times now and if we could predict some of the wishes or what the President might say today, tomorrow or next week, he could answer that with more certainty. “I think it’s less about the date and more about the content of the conversation that is happening, and we certainly would shoot for zero tariffs across the board on each and every product-that’s the goal.”

Moe said Canada needs to have the lowest tariffs than any other country given the relationship that Canada has with the United States.

While removing interprovincial barriers for goods across Canada was a big topic at the meeting, international relationships were also discussed.

The Premier said when the government sees the most recent changes impacting some of the steel coming into Canada, the provincial government is supportive on behalf of the steel workers in Saskatchewan but very concerned as well on what any counter response might be. “It often impacts Saskatchewan or Canadian agriculture, which is why it’s so important to be engaging with the Chinese Government, which Prime Minister Carney and his government is doing, unlike what has happened in the last decade.”

The Premier said if Canada is going to truly move and expand its reliance away from the United States, in any way shape or form, he suggests the only way to do it would be on additional products produced-not existing, and Canada is going to need to deal with China and needs a broader relationship with them.

Premiere Moe says what everyone can hope for is to have no tariffs or at least the lowest tariffs on all the commodities Canada can possibly have with our largest trading partner, the United States.  “If we can achieve that, we can achieve some stability and some certainty, and I think adding to that, if we can clean up some of the regulatory environment…we have to be able to build the mine sites and oil production plants and build our nation in a much quicker fashion than what we are able to today.”

Moe said it is essential to continue working hard to clean up and streamline the regulatory environment that Canada has to be able to be a serious landing place for global investment and the strongest economy in the G7.