The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/03/05 at 02:00 EST

Episode Date: March 5, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/03/05 at 02:00 EST

In Scarborough, there's this fire behind our eyes. A passion in our bellies. It's in the hearts of our neighbors. The eyes of our nurses. And the hands of our doctors. It's what makes Scarborough, Scarborough. In our hospitals, we do more than anyone thought possible. We've less than anyone could imagine.

But it's time to imagine what we can do with more. Join Scarborough Health Network and together, we can turn grit into greatness. Donate at lovescarborough.ca. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Neil Herland. Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States. We begin in Washington, US President Donald Trump addressed the

American Congress tonight. Trump spoke about his new tariffs on goods from several nations, including Canada, and he vowed to retaliate against any country that tries to respond with counter tariffs on US goods. April 2nd, reciprocal tariffs kick in. And whatever they tariff us, other countries, we will tariff them. That's reciprocal, back and forth. Whatever they tax us, we will tax them.

That sets up the possibility of an escalating U.S. trade war with Canada. Trump also reiterated his assertion that America's neighbors are responsible for the flow of drugs into the states. We need Mexico and Canada to do much more than they've done and they have to stop the fentanyl and drugs pouring into the USA. They're going to stop it. The speech began with a rocky start when Democratic Congressman Al Green from Texas kept heckling the president. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson

ejected him from the chamber. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could speak with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday. Howard Lutnick is the U.S. Commerce Secretary. He says a new deal is possible. There will be tariffs, but the question is, is there room from where we are today until tomorrow?

And I think the answer is yes. But Lutnick insists the issue of fentanyl and migrants crossing the border is still a concern for the White House, despite Canada's efforts to improve border security. Canadian officials say they're trying to build an off-ramp with the US from the trade war. Ottawa, the provinces and territories announced retaliatory measures immediately. Rafi Boujikaneen has more. We can continue to discuss a way to frankly get these tariffs lifted. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he is still regularly in talks with American officials,

including US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. We want the free trade agreement with the United States and Mexico respected. It is much the same with Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolie. I'll try to find off-ramps. Jolie, LeBlanc and other federal ministers have been travelling repeatedly to D.C. to prevent the US.S. from imposing tariffs in the first place, so far unsuccessfully. A senior Ontario government source tells CBC News Lutnick spoke to Premier Doug Ford after

Ford announced counter tariffs, a ban on American liquor sales, and a threat to cut off power. The source said Ford told Lutnick he's not backing down and Lutnick himself pointed to the free trade agreement as a potential de-escalation, though nobody announced any next steps toward it. Rafi Boudjikani on CBC News, Arua. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the US tariffs are creating a lot of uncertainty in the fishery. Nearly all the province's crab, worth hundreds of of millions is exported to the United States, but politicians and the industry are optimistic the fishery will go ahead.

Heather Gillis reports. Crab harvesters and processors are working out prices for this year's catch, and that just got a lot harder to do with the 25 percent U.S. tariff on Canadian goods. Paul Grant with Beothic Fish Processors, says tariffs will hit everyone's bottom line. For a load of crab, you probably have to pay, you know, $60,000, $65,000 extra in tariffs. If you have a load of lobster meat,

it could be over $300,000. Last year, 95% of the province's snow crab was exported south. Now the province is searching for new buyers in the rest of Canada, Europe and Asia. Provincial Fisheries Minister Jerry Byrne calls the tariffs a betrayal from Canada's closest ally. Never since the 1992 moratorium has such a challenge been put before us. But he thinks the US market for Newfoundland seafood is elastic and believes people will still buy it. Heather Gillis, CBC News, St. John's. And that is your World This Hour.

For CBC News, I'm Neal Hurland.