‘Attack on Canada and who we are’: Manitoba premier reacts to Trump’s tariffs

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew speaks at a press conference at the Manitoba Legislature, in Winnipeg, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is weighing in on U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

On Saturday, Trump signed an executive order following through on threats to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports.

In a series of social media posts, Kinew called Trump’s tariff tax “an attack on Canada and who we are.”

“So Trump built a wall, but it’s a tariff wall targeting us,” his post read.

Canada will be hit with a 25 per cent tariff across the board, with an exception on energy, which will be 10 per cent. Mexico will see a 25 per cent tariff on all goods including energy, while China will be hit with a 10 per cent tariff on imports, too.

They are expected to take effect Tuesday.

“Every single day this week, our government is going to be announcing new steps to protect your jobs and to safeguard our economy here at home,” Kinew said in his post.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce Canada’s response to Trump’s tariffs Saturday evening.

Kinew said Manitoba “fully supports” the federal government’s response.