Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has strongly condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest trade war as a “dumb” action that may destroy the Canadian economy. Trudeau made the remarks just hours after the U.S. imposed tariffs, including a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports and a 10% tax on Canadian energy exports. As a response, Canada declared its list of tariffs on U.S. products worth $107 billion (C$155 billion), and the two countries were ready for an ongoing trade war.
Trudeau asserted his defiance, noting that Canada had endured difficult tests in the past and came out stronger. “We will not let this aggression go unanswered,” he declared to a world watching with concern the consequences of the trade war. The Prime Minister also dismissed Trump’s assertions that the tariffs were a reaction to Canada’s supposed inability to curb fentanyl trafficking as “completely bogus and false.
The tariffs on U.S. exports like farm products and manufactured items will impact C$30 billion worth of products first. A further C$125 billion in tariffs will come 21 days later. Trudeau cautioned that the measures can harm the American economy as well, with the warning that U.S. consumers will have to pay more and also suffer from possible job losses in industries dependent on Canadian exports.
Trudeau also aimed at Trump’s overall foreign policy, comparing his belligerent trade approach to Trump’s friendly relations with Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin. He again assured that Canada would never be the 51st state, dismissing Trump’s earlier jibes that Canada should surrender its sovereignty to the U.S.
Besides Trudeau’s reaction, some provincial politicians expressed outrage. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he would retaliate with a 25% export tax on electricity to U.S. states, and other provinces such as Quebec and Nova Scotia threatened significant job losses from the disruption to trade. Ford also removed U.S. liquor from store shelves and terminated contracts with U.S. firms in open defiance of Trump’s measures.
The ongoing trade war poses to heavily hurt Canada’s economy, particularly if tariffs continue to escalate, with experts projecting broad job losses and economic turmoil in the nation.
