Wilkinson Seeks Deeper US Trade Links as Provinces Urge Local Focus
Canada’s energy minister proposed joint US-Canada investment in critical minerals and energy projects on Tuesday, even as provinces push to reduce dependence on US trade after recent tariff threats.
Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson told the Atlantic Council that such collaboration would help the US reduce reliance on Russia and China for materials like uranium, germanium, and lithium. His comments came a day after the US paused plans for 25% tariffs on Canadian imports for 30 days.
“If we actually work together, we can pull forward some very specific projects,” Wilkinson said at the Washington think tank, adding that any deal would require assurance that “the tariffs aren’t coming back.”
The proposal faces opposition at home. British Columbia Premier David Eby said major mining companies plan to redirect exports away from US markets. Newfoundland’s Premier Andrew Furey sent his fisheries minister to Europe to promote seafood exports and launched a “buy local” campaign, saying Canada would not “bend the knee” to President Donald Trump.
“What [Wilkinson] is proposing is effectively co-ownership of Canadian natural resources. That should give us all pause for thought,” Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood, senior researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, told Canada’s National Observer.
The US accounted for nearly 60% of Canada’s critical minerals exports in 2023, with two-way trade reaching $38.2 billion, according to Natural Resources Canada. The country has recently pursued trade diversification, signing a deal with Ecuador and negotiating with Southeast Asian nations, Trade Minister Mary Ng said Tuesday.
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