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Canada Ag Trade Alliance: tariff threats lengthen uncertainty

A Canadian ag trade leader says it’s unclear if U.S. negotiators have any decision-making power as talks continue between the two countries.

Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance executive director Michael Harvey tells Brownfield, “When you go to Washington, almost the only person who has any influence on the decision is President Trump himself,” he says. “So, it can be a little bit frustrating when you go to Washington to realize that you’re talking to people who should have influence but maybe don’t.”

He says until any kind of progress is made, consumers and supply chains are left with uncertainty.

“It’s a lot more difficult to make investment decisions when you’ve got so much uncertainty,” he shares. “But, on the Canadian side, it makes it uncertain just how good of an access a specific company will have to the United States over time.”

Harvey says he does not expect the latest round of threats by the Trump administration to get fully implemented.

“This is President Trump’s negotiating style, what he does is threaten- that’s the way he likes to negotiate,” he says. “So on a positive side you could say this means that he wants to negotiate. Or you could just say it’s a threat.”

Harvey is a member of the Canadian Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee on Canada-US Economic Relations.

Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is in Washington this week for discussions following President Trump’s recent 50 percent tariff announcement on some imports, including dairy, lumber, and honey products.