Islanders and all Canadians are waking up to a new and uncertain reality after U-S President Donald Trump’s deadline for economy-wide tariffs passed overnight, triggering a continental trade war. Trump’s executive order imposed 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs, with a lower 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy as of midnight eastern time. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement Monday that Canada was ready to respond with its own 25 per cent tariffs on $155 billion worth of American goods. He says the retaliatory tariffs will remain in place until the U-S ceases its tariffs.
In early February, before the tariffs were paused for a month, the PEI Government said it would respond to the imposition of tariffs by the United States by removing U.S. based products from liquor stores. The Province had indicated all American wines, beer, and spirits would be removed from provincial liquor store shelves across the province, which would also mean that restaurants and agency stores couldn’t reorder or restock U.S. products. The Province had said it would also limit procurement with U.S. based companies canceling existing contracts, limiting the ability for U.S. companies to bid or compete for provincial government contracts.
