International Trade Committee on June 19th, 2018

Evidence of meeting #114 for International Trade in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was know.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Briefing on the Canada-United States Trade Relationship

MPs speaking

Also speaking

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

I'll be super-quick, Randy. I just want to say I have had the same experience in hearing from our American counterparties.

1:55 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK

Okay, let's go to the meat and potatoes now.

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

Okay. Look, it is absolutely the case, as I said in response to Tracey and to Colin, that our steel and aluminum workers and industries need our support, and just as we have supported the forestry sector, we are working on a plan to support them. I agree with you also, Randy—

1:55 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK

But you've had a year to do that. Now we have the auto sector. We know this is coming up, so I assume you're being proactive and putting a plan in place. Is that fair to say?

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

You are right in that assumption.

1:55 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK

What does that look like? How do I go back to those auto workers and—

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

I'm not going to reveal the details today, but we are consulting carefully on the list, and what is actually on the list will have an impact. We are consulting on what kind of support the industry and workers will need.

I also want to point out that the overall economic situation is relevant. Just as we saw a price response with softwood lumber tariffs, it's going to be important to look at what the broader economic situation is in response to these U.S. measures and in response to the responsive actions taken by Canada, the EU, and Mexico. I want to be clear that the government is very seized of the issue. We believe our workers and industry need to be supported, and we will support them. That also includes the car sector.

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Mark Eyking

Mr. Hoback, one quick question and one quick answer would be good.

1:55 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK

Actually I was going to make a quick comment.

Chair, it's very important that the trade committee get back to this issue as quickly as possible. I would make a motion that we get together next week for two meetings of four hours at least to bring in witnesses who will be impacted by the tariffs that are going to be applied against them so that Canadian companies and Canadian businesses have a good understanding of what they are going to go through as these tariffs are applied. Maybe they will have some other ideas on other alternatives to actually stand up for them without it actually being a tariff.

Andrew Coyne had a very good article this week about alternatives to tariffs and making sure that we can still push back—

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Mark Eyking

Mr. Hoback, I'm sorry; I don't want to interrupt you—

1:55 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK

No, I actually would like to—

June 19th, 2018 / 1:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Mark Eyking