(Updates with morning prices)

By Sanchayaita Roy

March 21 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell on

Friday weighed down by mining and telecom stocks amid worries

that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration will hurt the

economy and stoke inflation.

Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index

was down 0.8% at 24,858.59.

Capped communication was the biggest loser and

down 2%, while the materials sector fell 1.4% due to

lower gold prices.

Despite the day's losses, the benchmark index was up 1.2% so

far this week, primarily benefiting from the U.S. Federal

Reserve's projections of interest rate cuts for the year.

The Bank of Canada last week raised concerns about

inflationary pressures and weaker growth stemming from trade

uncertainty after U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.

"A lot of this is still reacting based on the looming threat

of a protracted trade war with the United States," said Shiraz

Ahmed, senior portfolio manager and founder of Sartorial Wealth

at Raymond James.

Political developments were also in focus after a report

said new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is poised to call a

snap federal election on Sunday for April 28.

"It's going to add some more uncertainty to the Canadian

market. Everybody wants this election and tariff talk to be

behind us", Shiraz added.

Data showed Canada's retail sales shrank faster than

anticipated in January as car purchases and supermarket and

grocery sales fell.

Among individual stocks, Premium Brands ( PRBZF ) gained 5.1%

after the specialty food producer and distributor beat

fourth-quarter earnings estimates.