Trudeau calls premiers to talk US trade

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday called his nation’s lawmakers to discuss its trading with the U.S., according to his office.

“The Prime Minister and Premiers agreed to continue to vigorously defend the interests of the Canadian softwood lumber industry across the country, including through litigation,” it said in a statement, according to CBC News. “[They also] agreed that a negotiated settlement is in the best interest of both Canada and the United States.

“They agreed to continue to work together, and acknowledged that while Canadians are polite and fair, we will always strongly defend Canadian interests.”

{mosads}Trump earlier Tuesday downplayed concerns about a U.S.-Canada trade war after his administration slapped tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber.

“No,” he told reporters when asked if he fears that scenario. “They have a tremendous surplus with the United States. Whenever they have a surplus, I have no fear.”

The Commerce Department said Monday that it would impose a “countervailing duty” of between 3 percent and 24 percent on Canadian lumber exporters.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross added that the duties would amount to roughly $1 billion on softwood lumber.

“It has been a bad week for U.S.-Canada trade relations,” he said in a statement.

Ross also cited Canada’s decision to “cut off the last dairy products being exported from the United States” as another growing problem.

“This is not our idea of a properly functioning free trade agreement,” he said.

Trump’s saber-rattling on Canadian trading practices has sparked concerns about a broader trade conflict between the two countries.

Canada is America’s second-largest trading partner, with $575 billion in two-way goods exchanged in 2015.