Sask. quietly ends its response to U.S. tariffs; Opposition calls decision 'tone deaf'

In March, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced his government's response to U.S. tariffs. Three months later, those measures are ending.

The removal of the countermeasures was not announced to the public. It was only confirmed once media asked the provincial government.

Premier Scott Moe announced in March that the province was prioritizing Canadian suppliers for goods and services procured by the Government of Saskatchewan and temporarily halting capital projects with the goal of minimizing or eliminating American materials.

In a statement to CBC News on Wednesday, the province confirmed it will return to its standard procurement process.

The statement comes a just day after the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) confirmed it would resume the purchase and distribution of American-made alcohol. In March, Moe directed the SLGA to stop purchasing US-produced alcohol. It later modified that policy for 54 brands that, while American-owned, are produced in Canada.

"This change was made to allow Saskatchewan people the option to choose whether they want to buy these products or consider alternatives," the statement said.

The federal government's 25-per-cent tariff on U.S. alcohol remains in effect.

The provincial government said it will continue to encourage support for Saskatchewan and Canadian products "whenever there is an option to do so." 

It's not clear if Saskatchewan's response to U.S. tariffs had any real effect on provincial procurement.

Data provided by the government showed a that over the past five years, the province had awarded nearly 90 per cent of all procurements to Saskatchewan companies and more than 99 per cent of procurements went to Canadian companies.

That did not stop the provincial Opposition from spending a large portion of the spring sitting criticizing contracts the government had with American companies or American suppliers.

None of the contracts flagged by the Saskatchewan NDP were cancelled.

Procurement policy changed amid 50% tariffs on steel, aluminum

On Thursday, Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck pointed to the recent doubling of U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum on June 4 as one of the reasons why the Opposition is unhappy with the province's decision to end countermeasures.

"People that I'm talking to, certainly those in the steel industry, those who continue to be concerned about threats from the United States toward our economy and our sovereignty, they're not ready to to roll over yet," Beck said.

"There's a lot of frustration that the premier sort of slid this in at a time when we continue to see job losses. We continue to see concerns within the steel industry in particular, and we can continue to see other provinces remain strong and committed to supporting Canadian industry to supporting Canadian jobs."

Beck said the Sask. Party government's decision to terminate countermeasures is "wrongheaded."

"I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed and frustrated to see this government again being out of line with where most Canadians, most people in this province, are at."

Beck said Moe and his government were one of the last in the country to implement countermeasures against the U.S., and now the first to "roll over" and reverse that position. She said the province should be focused on increasing opportunities in steel and aluminum jobs in Saskatchewan. 

"This reversal, frankly, [is] tone deaf to those who are watching their industry buckle under this 50 per cent tariff from the Americans right now."