Dan Mitchinson: US correspondent on US President Donald Trump imposing 50 percent tariffs on Canada

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday imposed 50 percent tariffs on most Canadian goods, and concerns have been raised about the economic implications.

The new tariffs would exclude energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals, but would cover goods that had previously been protected from import taxes by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Canadian officials haven't said much, but there's speculation Canada could raise tariffs on their own goods. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
International correspondence with Ends and Eye Insurance, Peace of Mind
for New Zealand Business, Jen Machen's and US correspondence with
US Elo Jan Hi Heather. Okay, So fifty percent tariffs
on Canada is a bit rough.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Well, it is, isn't it? And on top of that,
the President is now announcing a fresh round of tariffs
on countries. It could happen by the end of this week,
just as his temporary ten percent global tariffs are scheduled
to end, which is really strange. There as a spokesperson
for the White House earlier today telling CNBC he couldn't
be specific on a timeline. There's a good chance, he said,

(00:35):
it could happen in the next few days, but Congress
and other stakeholders have to be brief before this happens.
And of course you get this on top of the
trade actions, the twenty five percent on imports from Brazil
and as you mentioned Canada as well. So I mean
it's it's not looking good, especially if you import to
the United States or other countries.

Speaker 1 (00:54):
So what is the point of the fifty percent on Canada?
What's what's the what does he trus? What's the point
he's to geek to.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
Well, I think he's just trying to slap this back
because he said there has been trade discrimination against a
number of US industries. So he said, well, if you're
going to do that to us, we're going to do
that to you. And that will impact any kind of
wine and beer that comes over hockey sticks, which I
honestly don't think will be a big deal over here.
Maybe in parts of the northern or eastern part of

(01:23):
the United States, but you know, things like cement and
dog leashes and a lot of other products there are.
Canada's are our second biggest trading partner next to Mexico.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
Yeah, it's canada reaction to it.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
They're not saying much right now, but I would imagine,
again speculating here, that there may be a hike in
some tariffs going across to them as well, if this
is something that is going to be ongoing with the US.

Speaker 1 (01:47):
Right what's going on with your passport ranking?

Speaker 2 (01:50):
You know, we used to be number one, and we've
slipped we're down to number ten today. To well, I
guess we're tied for tenth right now in the world.
And this means that we can travel visa free to
one hundred and eighty countries around the world according to
the Henley Passport Index, and that's on par with Iceland,
but we sit behind thirty six other countries that offer

(02:12):
greater visa free mobility. And the reason for our drop
in rankings is that our country, we just there's no
give and take, so we can access those one hundred
and eighty countries out of two hundred and twenty seven,
but the US only allows forty six other nationalities to
enter here visa free. By the way, you guys are
are you know, in the top ten this year as well?

(02:32):
Which is you know, it is great?

Speaker 1 (02:34):
Yeah, obviously, Yeah, well, I mean it does help that
we are you know, not starting wars with anyone slepting
on teriffs just.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
You know, well, yeah, that's that's one of the things.
And if you're wondering who number one is, it's is
Singapore this year, so they yeah, you thing to Singapore?
Did I have not? It's it's it's on my list,
I have you.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah, you'll love it. It's it's like it is so weird.
It is so weird and amazing at the same time.
It's like it's like stepping into the future with their
weird little like electronic trees and stuff like that, but
it's like slightly dystopian but also kind of nice and safe.
Yeah yeah, yeah. Anyway, so there's that. Thank you very much, Dan,

(03:15):
You go and have yourself a lovely day. Dan Mitchison,
US correspondent. For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen
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