Nova Scotia Premier publishes statement on U.S. tariffs

Nova Scotia’s Premier, Tim Houston, released a statement via Nova Scotia’s provincial website regarding the newest round of American tariffs that went into effect at midnight on Aug. 22.

After federal trade talks between Canada and the United States failed to result in a new agreement before midnight Saturday, a new round of 50 percent tariffs went into effect on Canadian exports. In response, Houston published a statement to Nova Scotia’s provincial website addressing people’s concerns.

The statement reads as follows:

“Canada’s negotiating team tried to secure a deal for Canadians, which I’ve forcefully and vocally supported.

I continue to stand ready to support and work with the Prime Minister. We will work together to do everything possible to protect the massive number of Nova Scotian and Canadian families, workers and businesses that have now been added to the large list of those directly impacted by President Trump’s devastating tariffs.

It’s clear that we cannot trust or rely on the United States as we once did. This reality must make us more determined than ever to make Nova Scotia and Canada stronger. For Nova Scotia that means developing our own energy, developing our own natural resources and finding new markets for Nova Scotian goods and services.

We have tremendous opportunities, and I am fully committed to seizing them.

Building up Nova Scotia is the only true path to protecting our future. Potential doesn’t build hospitals and roads. Turning potential into reality does.

This is our time to find the common ground necessary to build. This is how we make ourselves stronger and protect our future.

Let’s make it happen.

Let’s go Team Canada!”

According to the “tariff response” section on the province’s website, Nova Scotia’s response to the new U.S. tariffs come in the form of multiple programs and educational tools.

The two primary programs listed are “Nova Scotia Loyal” and the “Workplace tariff response program.” The former is a program which seeks to make it easier for Nova Scotians to identify which products are local and Canadian, in an attempt to stimulate local economies instead of American imports.

The latter program is an extension of a Federal program announced by Prime Minister Carney in September 2025, where funding is provided to employers and employees whose livelihoods have been affected by tariffs on industries crucial to Nova Scotia.

To learn more about Nova Scotia’s response to the newest round of US tariffs, more information can be found at the province’s website.

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