FREDERICTON — Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King is hoping cooler heads prevail and trade continues to flow uninterrupted across the United States-Canada border after president-elect Donald Trump takes office next week.
Since Sunday he has been leading a 21-member team of cabinet ministers and industry representatives on a U.S. mission aimed at averting the "catastrophic impact" of Trump's threatened tariffs.
The premier is meeting this week with industry leaders and elected officials in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine to highlight the importance of the province's potato and seafood exports.
King said he wants to stress the importance of continuing to have an "uninterrupted relationship" between the two countries as has been for "generations and centuries."
United States president-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods on his first day in office Monday unless Canada tightens border security. Trump has said the United States does not need anything from Canada and has spoken about using "economic force" to make the country the 51st state.
But King noted that Canada does not simply export products, it also helps create jobs through the processing of those goods, and he is looking to highlight that aspect through the trip aboard a "Team Canada" bus emblazoned with pictures of potato fields and lobster.
"Our products from Canada help create jobs and help create economic activity in the United States, and that's what makes America great, and that's what we want to help them continue to do," he said in an interview Monday night from Portsmouth, N.H.
Prince Edward Island exports about $1.8 billion worth of goods to the United States, accounting for about 25 per cent of the province's gross domestic product.
The threatened tariffs would have a “catastrophic impact” on Prince Edward Island and on most of the Canadian economy, King said, but they will also sting south of the border.
“It'll be devastating for the consumers in the United States who will end up paying more for the products that they love to consume .... It would be a terrible, terrible day, and I hope it doesn't come to pass,” he said.
“I really believe and hope that cooler heads will prevail, and good business will take centre stage.”
King and his team met with Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Monday, said Emily Blue, a spokeswoman for King. On Tuesday, meetings were scheduled with New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey.
Robert Huish, associate professor at Dalhousie University's international development studies department, said it is important for provincial and municipal leaders to engage directly with elected American officials who can put pressure on Congress, which would have to approve the tariffs.
"The more that Canada reminds the Americans that we have direct trade with most U.S. states, and we have important bilateral relations with many cities, it should resonate that Trump's proposals are harmful to all," he said.
But, he emphasized the importance of a co-ordinated "Team Canada" approach. "It cannot be a team of captains," he said. "We have to have a proper leadership there."
Drew Fagan, a professor at University of Toronto's Munk School of Public Policy, said it's important to have a number of people speaking up for Canada but they need to be consistent. "And I'm not sure that we're seeing that consistency."
He blamed the divergent voices on a leadership vacuum at the federal level after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his intention to resign, adding the way to succeed with the United States in negotiations is to be the "smarter party."
"And smarts come from coordination and focus."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 14, 2025.
Hina Alam, The Canadian Press
