Canadian leaders invade Washington on ‘charm offensive’ ahead of Trump tariffs ‘The purpose of the trip here is diplomacy,’ Kinew says ahead of meetings with White House advisers, U.S. politicians By: Carol Sanders Posted: 12:58 PM CST Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 Last Modified: 6:54 PM CST Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 Updates

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/02/2025 (210 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canada’s 13 provincial and territorial leaders launched a “charm offensive” in the U.S. capital Wednesday to remind America of its deep ties to its northern neighbour, Wab Kinew told reporters ahead of a meeting at the White House.

Manitoba’s premier said the nations’ friendship has “been the best in the world for decades and decades and we want to continue that for decades more.”

Kinew travelled to Washington, D.C. as part of a group mission aimed at strengthening the links between the two countries before President Donald Trump imposes crippling tariffs next month on goods imported from Canada.

In a livestreamed Wednesday-morning news conference with the rest of the delegation, Kinew said although Canadians are tough, united and will stand up for their values, the leaders were not there to threaten retaliation.

“The purpose of the trip here is not for us to come down and try to issue ultimatums and things like that,” he said. “The purpose of the trip here is diplomacy.”

“We’re all a little puzzled by this talk of tariffs, but we’re still here with that warm and hearty handshake and, who knows, we might even help our friends shovel.”–Premier Wab Kinew

It’s the first time that all 13 of Canada’s premiers and territorial leaders have visited Washington, D.C. as part of a joint mission, said Council of the Federation chairman, Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

In addition to a White House meeting with two senior Trump advisers — but not the president — the group met members of the U.S. Congress and business leaders to advocate for maintaining strong ties by addressing shared issues such as jobs and the economy, energy, critical mineral supply chains, border security and immigration.

In a news release issued late Wednesday, the Council of the Federation said the premiers at the White House stressed the need to work together to avoid tariffs that would hurt workers on both sides of the border.

“They also listened and learned about opportunities to work with the Trump administration to align on and achieve shared priorities, including creating jobs, growing economies and protecting communities from the impact of fentanyl and other illegal drugs,” the release said.

Kinew and the premiers met earlier in the day with pro-tariff Nebraska Republican Rep. Adrian Smith and New York Democrat congressman Tim Kennedy.

Kennedy, who lives in the border city of Buffalo, N.Y., joined 60 fellow Democrats in signing a Feb. 3 letter urging the Trump administration to rescind the executive order imposing tariffs on Canadian goods.

“Constituents in our districts are already facing high energy prices and grocery store costs,” the letter said. “As hardworking families continue struggling with inflation, the last thing we should do is make the cost of living even more expensive.”

On Wednesday evening, Kinew posted online a video of himself strolling without a coat or tuque as flurries fell on the U.S. capital.

“We’re all a little puzzled by this talk of tariffs, but we’re still here with that warm and hearty handshake and, who knows, we might even help our friends shovel,” the premier quipped Wednesday.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter

Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.

Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.