Interprovincial trade could help blunt Trump tariffs. These are 3 barriers – National [Video]

U.S. President Donald Trump could slap tariffs on Canada as early as next week and Ottawa is already preparing a response to the threat from Washington.

In addition to retaliatory tariffs, Canada’s plan includes boosting trade between Canadian provinces, which some experts say could help mitigate some of the worst effects of Trump’s tariffs.

Matthew Holmes, executive vice-president and chief of public policy at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said, “There’s work you can do at home to actually make Canadians have a stronger economy at home. So we’re not as reliant and exposed to the U.S. market.”

Holmes said that while fixing Canada’s internal trade barriers won’t happen overnight, it could help Canada during a trade battle with the U.S.

“Over time, addressing internal trade in Canada could offset the risk or the damage we might face from broad tariffs from the United States,” he said.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., on …