“Manitoba Premier, Wab Kinew, has declared a recent visit to Washington, D.C., by Canada’s premiers as successful, despite the absence of any modification in the U.S.’s intent to levy high tariffs on Canadian products. This report was brought to you by The Canadian Press and was published on February 13, 2025.

Throughout the two-day visit, Kinew had the opportunity to meet several individuals, including the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, who has previously served as the governor of North Dakota. Kinew expressed that Burgum’s familiarity with Manitoba and Canadian matters, coupled with his current role, presents Manitoba with a significant advantage in the Trump administration.

In addition to this, Kinew and some of his colleagues encountered Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and an influential Trump adviser, and managed to engage in a brief conversation with him. Despite these interactions, Trump has shown no indications of retracting his threat of tariffs. Before Kinew’s press briefing, Trump reiterated his suggestion that Canada should become a U.S. state.

Kinew emphasized that the meetings this week were an opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the new U.S. administration and to highlight the measures Canada is taking to address U.S. concerns related to border security and drug trafficking.

“For Manitoba and Canada to get in on the ground floor, I think is important,” stated Kinew in a call with reporters on Thursday. He added, “This is about the next four years. And so being here this week … I think is a good step and hopefully provides reassurance to people in Manitoba and across Canada.”

The premiers also had the opportunity to meet with members of Congress to underscore the importance of trade in various sectors, including agriculture and manufacturing, Kinew added.

© 2025 The Canadian Press”