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Pierre Poilievre says Canada can help make America great again.
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The Opposition and Conservative Party leader went on CNN Tuesday to directly pitch the American public about cross-border trade with Canada.
Poilievre appeared on The Lead with Jake Tapper to push tariff-free trade with the show’s American viewers, saying it’s time to tear down the trade barriers between the two countries and present a united front against a more belligerent China, and make life safer and more affordable for Canadian and American workers alike.
Poilievre also pitched “your friend north of the border” Canada as a “reliable, predictable” source of lumber, diesel and critical minerals for the U.S.
“We’ve got 10 of the 12 NATO-defined minerals necessary to fight a war,” Poilievre said. “So if America wants to be affordable and safe in the world, then we’re the partner to do it. So let’s sign a deal and get it done.”
Poilievre: Auto, union bigwigs agree with me
The Conservative leader met with executives from automakers General Motors and Ford, and top brass from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), during a trip to Windsor, Ont. and Detroit on Tuesday.
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He told Tapper that they agreed with him.
“Everyone agrees that if we have tariff-free trade, that if we align ourselves against the real trade abusers like China, we can strengthen North America, we can make life more affordable for both our people, and we can make this continent a lot richer,” Poilievre said.
Tory leader back at it
Tapper noted Poilievre made a similar pitch in March, and asked why such a pitch would work this time. Poilievre said the Conservative plan saves money and jobs on both sides of the border, particularly in the auto industry, noting the U.S.-produced Ford F-150 truck is made with Canadian aluminum. He says a new auto pact would achieve the U.S. objective of repatriating auto production while maintaining production on the Canadian side.
“By getting rid of the tariffs on Canadian aluminum and auto parts, we can ultimately lower the cost for American electricians, plumbers and farmers to buy the most popular pickup truck running 50 years now,” Poilievre said. “So let’s lower costs for Americans and Canadians and create jobs on both sides of the border.”
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