U.S. President Donald TrumpB次元官网网址檚 press secretary says the plan to slap Canada with tariffs on Saturday is still in play, as NDP leader Jagmeet Singh leaves the door open to supporting the Liberal government if devastating duties are implemented.

Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House that she spoke with the president Monday night and he indicated Feb. 1 was B次元官网网址渟till on the booksB次元官网网址� for imposing tariffs against Canada and Mexico.

Ottawa has prepared multiple options for retaliatory tariffs, depending on what Trump ultimately does. Trump initially promised 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs in response to what he called the failure of both countries to curb the illegal flow of people and drugs across the border.

Canadian officials have been cycling through Washington in recent weeks to promote CanadaB次元官网网址檚 $1.3 billion border security plan and make the case that tariffs would hurt both economies.

The federal government is also looking at a relief package to help businesses and industries affected by TrumpB次元官网网址檚 tariffs. Multiple premiers have said provinces are considering relief plans much like those introduced during the pandemic.

ItB次元官网网址檚 not clear what Ottawa has planned but itB次元官网网址檚 likely that much of the spending would require legislative approval.

That canB次元官网网址檛 happen until March 24, when Parliament resumes sitting. Opposition leaders have vowed to bring down the minority Liberal government at the first opportunity.

But Singh is leaving the door open to supporting the governmentB次元官网网址檚 plan to respond to a tariff war B次元官网网址� assuming he gets a chance to see it first.

The NDP leader said Tuesday that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Liberals brought opposition leaders together to present the governmentB次元官网网址檚 response plan. Singh said no such plan has been presented for TrumpB次元官网网址檚 tariff threats.

B次元官网网址淎s it stands, my position remains we will be voting against the government at the earliest convenience,B次元官网网址� Singh said in Burnaby, B.C.

B次元官网网址淚f the Liberals are serious about providing support to workers B次元官网网址� and I think they should B次元官网网址� then bring the opposition leaders together, present a plan.B次元官网网址�

Leavitt was asked about efforts by Canada and Mexico to address TrumpB次元官网网址檚 concerns about border security but only noted a B次元官网网址渉istoric level of co-operation from MexicoB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� without mentioning CanadaB次元官网网址檚 border plan. The number of people and drugs crossing illegally into the United States from Canada is minuscule compared to to volume crossing the United StatesB次元官网网址� southern border.

Leavitt, who is the youngest person to serve as presidential press secretary, also took questions about TrumpB次元官网网址檚 pause on federal grants and loans, and the ramp-up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to fulfil the presidentB次元官网网址檚 pledge of mass deportations.

Trump has signed a stack of executive actions since returning to office as his new administration attempts to rapidly push America in a different direction. The president also has wielded his tariff threat against a growing number of countries, most recently against Colombia on Sunday.

Trump didnB次元官网网址檛 implement the duties against Canada on his first day back in office, as heB次元官网网址檇 vowed to do.

Instead, he signed an executive action that orders multiple federal agencies to study trade policies and trade deficits. It directs the secretary of commerce and the secretary of homeland security to assess migration and fentanyl flows from Canada, Mexico and China and recommend B次元官网网址渁ppropriate trade and national security measures to resolve that emergency.B次元官网网址�

TrumpB次元官网网址檚 order says that the report on trade with Canada is not due until April 1. But the president has not backed away from his tariff threat and has repeatedly suggested the duties would come on Feb. 1.

His rhetoric has continued to escalate with complaints far beyond border security. He has insisted that the U.S doesnB次元官网网址檛 need Canadian commodities and products and continues to chide Canada over its defence spending.

B次元官网网址淐anada has taken massive amounts of, you know, they send us millions of cars. We donB次元官网网址檛 need them for that,B次元官网网址� Trump told Republican lawmakers in Florida Monday night.

B次元官网网址淲e want to have the cars made in Detroit or South Carolina or many other locations B次元官网网址� whether itB次元官网网址檚 union or not union.B次元官网网址�