Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast from Friday, March 2, 2018 to Sunday, March 4, 2018

Today – Clearing this morning. Wind northwest 20 km/h gusting to 40. High plus 3. UV index 3 or moderate.

Tonight – A few clouds. Wind northwest 20 km/h becoming light this evening. Low minus 6.

Saturday, March 3 – Sunny. Wind becoming north 20 km/h gusting to 40 late in the morning. High 6.

Saturday night – Clear. Low minus 6.

Sunday, March 4 – Sunny. High plus 3.

Sunday night – Clear. Low minus 5.

President Donald Trump announces tariffs on steel and other imported metals

United States President Donald Trump announced on Thursday tariffs of Twenty-five percent for steel and 10 percent for aluminum are set to be implemented.

“And it will be for a long period of time,” Trump said.

“The fact is, we weren’t treated, and we haven’t been treated fairly by other countries. But I don’t blame the other countries. When I was in China, I said, “Listen, President Xi” — I have a lot of respect for President Xi. I said, “I don’t blame you.” If you’re able to get away with making almost $500 billion a year off of our country, how could I blame you? Somebody agreed to these deals. And those people should be ashamed of themselves, what they’ve let happen.”

Trump added: “So we’re bringing it back, and we’re going to bring it back relatively rapidly, and we’re going to be instituting tariffs. Next week, we’ll be signing — perhaps some of you folks will be here. When you have Nucor, when you have U.S. Steel, you have the great aluminum companies represented at this table. And they’ve been decimated. Aluminum has been decimated in the country.”

Trump said the American steel and aluminum companies have been unfairly treated by bad policy, by bad trade deals, by other countries.

“They’ve been horribly treated by other countries, and they have not been properly represented,” the President said.

“More importantly, because of that, workers in our country have not been properly represented. So we’re going to build our steel industry back and we’re going to build our aluminum industry back.”

Donald Trump announces tariffs on steel and other imported metals

Canada vows retaliation over new tariffs, risking a trade war

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, issued the following statement on Thursday:

“As a key NORAD and NATO ally, and as the number one customer of American steel, Canada would view any trade restrictions on Canadian steel and aluminum as absolutely unacceptable.

“Any restrictions would harm workers, the industry and manufacturers on both sides of the border. The steel and aluminum industry is highly integrated and supports critical North American manufacturing supply chains. The Canadian government will continue to make this point directly with the American administration at all levels.

“Canada is a safe and secure supplier of steel and aluminum for U.S. defence and security. Canada is recognized in U.S. law as a part of the U.S. National Technology and Industrial Base related to national defence.

“The United States has a $2-billion surplus in steel trade with Canada. Canada buys more American steel than any other country in the world, accounting for 50% of U.S. exports.

“It is entirely inappropriate to view any trade with Canada as a national security threat to the United States. We will always stand up for Canadian workers and Canadian businesses. Should restrictions be imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum products, Canada will take responsive measures to defend its trade interests and workers.”

Canada vows retaliation over new tariffs, risking a trade war

Trump: “Trade wars are good, and easy to win”

Trump’s aluminum tariff could raise beer prices

Ontario Premier concerned about steel and aluminum tariffs

Premier Kathleen Wynne released the following statement on Thursday:

“I am very concerned by President Trump’s announcement (on Thursday) that the U.S. government will introduce tariffs next week on steel and aluminum imports.

Any tariff measures that include steel or aluminum from Ontario could have serious negative impacts on workers and businesses on both sides of the border.

Any suggestion that Ontario-made steel or aluminum constitutes a ‘national security threat’ to the U.S. is false. Canada and the U.S. are key allies and partners, and are integral to each other’s national security.

I am fully engaged in advocating for Ontario workers and businesses on this issue, both directly with the U.S. government, and in close collaboration with the efforts being made by the Government of Canada. I am asking my federal colleagues to continue to aggressively explore all options to protect Ontario’s workers and industry.

I will always stand up for Ontario’s workers, and for free and fair trade that benefits workers in both Ontario and the U.S.”