Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the United States should end its tariffs on Canada while calling for free trade between the countries during a recent appearance on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast.
“The tariffs aren’t a good idea… We should get the tariffs out. Because there’s so much we could be doing together as neighbours and partners, if we got rid of those tariffs,” Poilievre said in the podcast episode aired March 19.
The Conservative leader argued the removal of tariffs would also improve affordability for Americans, saying Canada is a major supplier of lumber for home-building, and a large supplier of aluminum for vehicle production. Poilievre said aluminum tariffs are increasing prices for the Ford F-150, the best-selling truck in the United States, as it has a military-grade aluminum body.
“So I think it’s in America’s interest to come towards a tariff-free deal and trade freely as friends, and that will be good for both of us,” he said.
Rogan’s show is one of the most popular podcasts worldwide, with more than 10 million listeners per episode, on average.
Poilievre confirmed his appearance in a social media post on March 18, where he said he “Fought for Canadian workers and Canadian interests on the world’s biggest podcast.”
Poilievre told reporters in New York on March 19 that he had a “great conversation” with Rogan. When asked why he chose to appear on Rogan’s show now, and not during last year’s election campaign, Poilievre said he wanted to “maximize Canadian leverage” going into negotiations on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement this summer.
“I’m here to fight for Canada, to fight for our workers, our jobs, our steel, our aluminum, our lumber, our autos. And what better place to do it than in the biggest podcast in the world,” Poilievre said, adding that he would be open to going back on Rogan’s podcast in the future.
Poilievre is currently on a week-long trip to the United States, which began with a trip to Detroit, Mich., to meet with auto industry leaders. After meeting with Texas Governor Greg Abbot and recording the podcast episode with Rogan, Poilievre will be delivering a keynote speech on the Canada-U.S. relationship in New York on March 19.
In a podcast episode released after last year’s federal election, Rogan had said he invited Poilievre on his show during the campaign, but the Conservative campaign declined.
“I offered to have that Pierre guy come on the podcast. He didn’t do it. Wouldn’t do it, thought it was too problematic or whatever,” Rogan said. Rogan added that Poilievre’s advisors had told Poilievre not to go on his show.
Rogan is known for his high-profile guests and long-form interviews, which don’t shy away from controversial topics. Some of Rogan’s guests in the last few months have included independent Senator Bernie Sanders, musician Bono, and actors Matthew McConaughey, Russell Crowe, and Charlie Sheen.
Figures from the administration of U.S President Donald Trump have also made an appearance, such as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FBI Director Kash Patel, as well as Trump ally Elon Musk, who is a show regular.
Other Canadian politicians have been making appearances in U.S. media to reach American audiences amid trade tensions between the two countries. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has appeared on U.S. news networks to advocate against tariffs, while Prime Minister Mark Carney had initially soft-launched his entry into politics on the “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart.
Carney had told Stewart in January 2025 that he had the qualifications to steer Canada through challenges and that he was a political “outsider.” He officially announced his bid for Liberal Party leadership a few days later.
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