Canada’s premiers say U.S. President Donald Trump knows the provincial and territorial leaders are in Washington this week making a diplomatic push against devastating tariffs.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, chair of the Council of the Federation, says premiers are making the case against all tariffs to business groups, lobbyists and Republican lawmakers, even if they aren’t meeting with Trump himself.

It’s the first time all 13 premiers have travelled to the American capital together.

The president signed executive orders Monday to impose 25 per cent levies on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States, including Canadian products, starting March 12.

Those duties were announced one week after Trump agreed to a month-long pause on his plan to hit Canada with 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on imports, with a lower 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy.

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says the delay shows Canadian efforts to convince Republicans, and ultimately the president, to drop the tariff threat are working.

–The Canadian Press–