National

Joly off to Washington to talk tariffs with Rubio as Trump floats 5% target for NATO

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Jan, 2025 03:01 PM

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly will press Canada's case against damaging tariffs with Donald Trump's new secretary of state next week in Washington.

Trump is threatening to impose 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on imports from Canada starting on Feb. 1 though Joly says things are still in transition while Trump hasn't yet confirmed a commerce secretary.

Joly spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio for half an hour by phone Wednesday and will meet him in person next week.

Congratulations on your confirmation as the United States’ Secretary of State @marcorubio.

I look forward to working together on our diplomatic and trade relationship as well as advance our two countries’ shared priorities, including through Canada’s chairship of the G7.
— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) January 21, 2025

She says she stressed to Rubio that tariffs will hurt America's economy and its relationships with other countries and wants to convince the Trump administration that Canada can help Washington stand against China.

Joly says Rubio seemed open to new ideas during the discussion.

Joly says she will also meet with "other key Republican senators" while in Washington and Canada will participate in Trump's planned review of trading practices.

Also on Thursday Trump repeated previous calls for NATO military allies like Canada to spend 5 per cent of their GDP on defence — a target that no NATO country currently meets.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded by citing Ottawa's planned increases to military spending and said Canada is a partner to the U.S. in an unstable world.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada, G7 leaders, denounce Venezuela's suppression of political opposition

Canada is joining its closest allies in denouncing Venezuela's crackdown on democracy — the first G7 foreign policy statement since Canada began chairing the group this year. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was inaugurated Friday for a third six-year term, after a July election widely seen as illegitimate.

Canada, G7 leaders, denounce Venezuela's suppression of political opposition

Feds issue new COVID vaccine guidance, says provinces now responsible for buying them

Federal funding for COVID-19 vaccines will stop this year and the provinces and territories will be responsible for buying them, as well as determining the timing of the vaccinations, the Public Health Agency of Canada says. The agency published the information online on Friday, along with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization's COVID-19 vaccine guidance for 2025 through to the summer of 2026.

Feds issue new COVID vaccine guidance, says provinces now responsible for buying them

Ottawa signs $40M deal with Saskatchewan to offer drug coverage for rare diseases

The Saskatchewan and federal governments have announced an agreement for coverage of select new drugs for rare diseases. Ottawa says the plan is to invest more than $40 million to cover three drugs that treat certain cancers and a urinary issue.

Ottawa signs $40M deal with Saskatchewan to offer drug coverage for rare diseases

Liberal leadership race: A look at the potential candidates

The federal Liberals are running their first leadership race in more than a decade and their shortest in the party's modern history to replace Justin Trudeau. He announced Jan. 6 that he will step down as soon as a national vote is completed to elect his successor.

Liberal leadership race: A look at the potential candidates

Man dies after falling into a sinkhole while skiing at resort in southeast B.C.

A skier has died after falling into what police say was a snow sinkhole at the Fernie Alpine Resort in British Columbia's East Kootenay region. RCMP say in a statement that an ambulance was called for the 67-year-old man on Wednesday when he was found buried in snow in a natural terrain trap.

Man dies after falling into a sinkhole while skiing at resort in southeast B.C.

Border jumper into Canada deported

U-S Customs and Border Protection says the 33-year-old man was handed back to American authorities in Tacoma, Washington. The man was arrested in Surrey over the weekend.