Essex MP Tracey Ramsey is ramping up her criticism of the Trudeau government over the U.S. imposed steel and aluminum tariffs by demanding the Prime Minister testify at an emergency meeting.
Ramsey is the vice-chair of the standing committee for international trade. In a letter to Clerk Christine Lefrance on Tuesday, she made the demand that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appear as a witness.
The letter also demands the government have a plan to have the tariffs removed before Parliament rises for the Christmas break on December 14.
The committee will have to vote on her motion during its next meeting Friday morning.
"Canadians saw our Prime Minister sign the USMCA [United States Mexico Canada Agreement], giving up any leverage we had with President Trump to finally remove the devastating tariffs on our steel and aluminum industries," said Ramsey. "They need an answer why."
Last month, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters Canada would lift its tariffs if the U.S. reciprocates during a visit to Windsor. She argued the tariffs were a separate issue from trade talks.
"We have been consistent on this from the first moment the U.S. started talking about 232 steel and aluminum tariffs that this had nothing to do with our NAFTA negotiations,” said Freeland at the Unifor Local 444/200 Hall. “That has been a very important position for Canada. We are going to maintain that.”
The agreement was signed at the G20 Summit in Argentina by Trudeau, Trump, and Mexico's outgoing President, Enrique Pena Nieto.
"Last week, the Opposition called for the Prime Minister to hold an emergency meeting with President Trump to secure the immediate removal of tariffs, but unfortunately the Prime Minister failed to do so," read the letter. "Businesses across the country have already been forced to cut orders, reduce shifts, and lay off workers."
Adding to the uncertainty, Donald Trump has threatened to pull the U.S. out of NAFTA in six months if Congress does not ratify the USMCA. It could leave Canada, Mexico and the U.S. without a trade agreement.
"New Democrats have repeatedly called on the Liberals to stand up to Trump and provide clear leadership on this issue for the sake of our workers, our small businesses and communities who rely on these key sectors," said Ramsey. "By calling for an emergency committee meeting, we can directly ask our Prime Minister to explain his actions."
