QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Internal Trade
Trade Tariffs
February 24, 2026
Welcome, minister. Good to have you and see you here in the peak of health.
Minister, within hours of the U.S. Supreme Court decision on the IEEPA tariffs, the administration pivoted to section 122, imposing a 15% global surcharge that expires in 150 days, while section 232 tariffs remain in place.
While section 122 is temporary, section 301 remains available to target Canada specifically. Have you or your officials conducted a formal risk assessment of potential section 301 exposure?
You’re absolutely right, senator. Section 232 tariffs remain the most significant economic headwind currently for large and important sectors of the Canadian economy.
We are continuing to work with the Americans to see if there is a way to bring some relief to those, we think, also unjustified sectoral tariffs. That’s section 232.
You’re right. Ambassador Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, has publicly indicated he will launch some section 301 — exactly the premise of your question, I think — investigations, which then allow him to recommend certain remedies to the President, including the imposition of other tariffs.
This is an ongoing threat of the U.S. administration. It’s not new. They pivoted to section 301 in light of the Supreme Court’s decision. I know our embassy in Washington is presently doing some work. Again, they haven’t announced the details of precisely which investigations have begun.
My communication with Ambassador Greer this week was cordial. I’m hoping to see him towards the end of next week. That’s precisely a question I’ll put to him. I’d like to understand the detail of where they’re proposing to go.
Canada will, of course, be ready to support those industries that may be targeted, as we did in the 232 tariffs, should that be the case.
