Canada's Foreign Minister Joly: Potentially use oil and gas exports as a lever if US tariffs continue

Lallalit Srijandorn FXStreet

Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said late Wednesday that the country could potentially use oil and gas exports as a lever if US tariffs continue, per Reuters.

Key quotes

Canada may consider using its oil and gas exports as leverage if US tariffs on Canadian imports increase.

While Canada has pledged to impose tariffs on C$155 billion worth of US imports, it has not yet suggested cutting commodity exports.

Canada currently exports around 4 million barrels of oil per day to the US. (representing about 90% of its total crude exports).

Will not put up with going through tariff 'psychodrama' every month.

Urges Canadians to take vacations elsewhere instead of the US.

Market reaction

At the time of writing, the USD/CAD is trading 0.04% lower on the day to trade at 1.4335.

Tariffs FAQs

What are tariffs?

Tariffs are customs duties levied on certain merchandise imports or a category of products. Tariffs are designed to help local producers and manufacturers be more competitive in the market by providing a price advantage over similar goods that can be imported. Tariffs are widely used as tools of protectionism, along with trade barriers and import quotas.

What is the difference between taxes and tariffs?

Although tariffs and taxes both generate government revenue to fund public goods and services, they have several distinctions. Tariffs are prepaid at the port of entry, while taxes are paid at the time of purchase. Taxes are imposed on individual taxpayers and businesses, while tariffs are paid by importers.

Are tariffs good or bad?

There are two schools of thought among economists regarding the usage of tariffs. While some argue that tariffs are necessary to protect domestic industries and address trade imbalances, others see them as a harmful tool that could potentially drive prices higher over the long term and lead to a damaging trade war by encouraging tit-for-tat tariffs.

What is US President Donald Trump’s tariff plan?

During the run-up to the presidential election in November 2024, Donald Trump made it clear that he intends to use tariffs to support the US economy and American producers. In 2024, Mexico, China and Canada accounted for 42% of total US imports. In this period, Mexico stood out as the top exporter with $466.6 billion, according to the US Census Bureau. Hence, Trump wants to focus on these three nations when imposing tariffs. He also plans to use the revenue generated through tariffs to lower personal income taxes.

Author

Lallalit Srijandorn

FXStreet

Lallalit Srijandorn is a Parisian at heart. She has lived in France since 2019 and now becomes a digital entrepreneur based in Paris and Bangkok.

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