‘Forceful but...’: Justin Trudeau Responds to Donald Trump’s Threat of Tariffs on Canada

"No one — on either side of the border — wants to see American tariffs on Canadian goods. I met with our Canada-U.S. Council today. We're working hard to prevent these tariffs, but if the United States moves ahead, Canada's ready with a forceful and immediate response," Justin Trudeau posted on X.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country's response would be "forceful but reasonable" if the US decides to impose 25 percent tariffs, as threatened by President Donald Trump.

"No one — on either side of the border — wants to see American tariffs on Canadian goods. I met with our Canada-U.S. Council today. We're working hard to prevent these tariffs, but if the United States moves ahead, Canada's ready with a forceful and immediate response," Justin Trudeau posted on X.

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Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico as early as Saturday.

 

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"If the president does decide to impose tariffs on Canada, we're ready with a response – a strategic, strong but measured, rapid response," Justin Trudeau told reporters before meeting his advisory council on Canada-US relations on Friday, The Globe and Mail reported.

On Thursday, Donald Trump renewed his threats, saying that the tariffs were coming and that he had yet to decide whether Canadian oil would be covered by those tariffs.

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Trudeau said that along with Canada, the tariffs would also damage the US economy and undermine the collective security of the two nations.

Trudeau also mentioned that Canada would continue making its case on why trade with Canada is in the long-term prosperity and security of the United States, highlighting Canada's steel and aluminum, critical minerals, and clean energy, as well as its "stable democratic institutions, shared values, and the best workers in the world," the Globe and Mail reported.

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"If the tariffs are implemented against Canada, we will respond. We won't relent until the tariffs are removed, and of course, everything is on the table," Trudeau said.

Trump says nothing Canada, Mexico, or China can do to delay Feb 1 tariffs

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On Friday, Donald Trump threatened to impose hefty new tariffs of 25 percent on imports from Mexico and Canada, and 10 percent on goods from China. Nothing the three countries could do would now prevent these tariffs.

Trump did mention a carve-out for oil from Canada, saying that the rate would be 10% versus the 25% planned for other goods from the United States' northern neighbor. But he indicated that wider tariffs on oil and natural gas would be coming in mid-February, remarks that sent oil prices higher.

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Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office as he was signing executive orders, Trump said he understood the duties could result in higher costs being passed on to consumers and acknowledged his actions might cause disruptions in the short term. Most economists estimate such sweeping import taxes, and the likely retaliation, would disrupt economic activity around the globe.

Asked if there was any opportunity at this stage for the three top U.S. trading partners to win a delay, Trump said: "No, no. Not right now, no."

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