‘Let’s have some backbone’: Kinew talks tariffs ahead of premiers’ trip to Washington

Premier Wab Kinew talks about Trump’s proposed tariffs, what the impact would be, and the steps his government would take.

Manitoba’s premier said counter tariffs aren’t out of the question if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on his own threats, but a trade war must be avoided.

Wab Kinew made the comments on Thursday during his monthly sit-down on CTV Morning Live Winnipeg.

Kinew is set to join the other Canadian provincial and territorial premiers heading to Washington to try and dissuade Trump from imposing 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on Canadian imports.

“We don’t want to escalate back and forth because the only party that wins in a tariff war between U.S. and Canada is the China Communist Party. So let’s not escalate, but let’s have some backbone in these conversations too,” he said.

Trump has threatened to impose the tariffs on Feb. 1 if Canada and Mexico don’t crack down on illegal migration and drugs crossing their borders.

The Kinew government announced earlier this week it is shoring up security at the border in Manitoba by staffing 11 conservation officers to patrol between ports of entry, focusing on secondary roads and back-country areas.

Kinew said the Canadian delegates will make the case that the two countries have a good thing going in their current trade relationship.

“Instead of trying to go down the road of tariffs, why don’t we work together? Because we’ve got other priorities around the globe,” he said, citing possible collaboration on mining, energy and manufacturing.

“It’s probably going to advance both of our interests if we work together.”

Still – Kinew believes Trump’s tariff threat is something Canadians might have to get used to. The premier believes Trump is using it as leverage in the renegotiation of the USMCA free trade deal.

Trump vowed to renegotiate the pact during his election campaign. The current USMCA deal is set for review in 2026, and the three countries will have to confirm in writing if they wish to extend or re-evaluate it.

In the meantime, Kinew said the Manitoba economy must be protected amid the looming threat. Part of that is cracking down on the border, he said.

“We can do those things in a way that also shows the U.S. administration that we’re serious about security, we’re serious about the economic relationship that we have,” Kinew said.

Still, Canada’s trademark politeness will only take them so far, he said.

“I use the hockey analogy. We’re always friendly Manitoba, sorry - that kind of happy-go-lucky thing, but at the same time, when we go into the corners, we’ve got to get our elbows up. We can’t be pushed around and if we get pushed, we have to stand up for ourselves, too.”

- With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé