Canada prepares for Trump tariffs, says Trudeau
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that Canada is ready to respond “purposefully, forcefully but reasonably” if US President Donald Trump proceeds with tariffs on Canadian imports.
Speaking at a Council on Canada-US Relations meeting in Toronto, Trudeau emphasized that Canada is prepared for any potential outcomes, despite it not being their preferred course of action. “It’s not what we want, but if he moves forward, we will also act,” Trudeau was quoted as saying.
In a diplomatic effort, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty, and Immigration Minister Marc Miller are currently in Washington to convince Republican lawmakers and Trump’s team to dissuade the president from imposing the tariffs.
Trump is expected to announce the tariffs on Saturday, with Canadian oil facing a 10% tariff, potentially effective February 18.
Trump also plans to impose tariffs on the European Union, claiming the bloc had not treated the US well.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that the duties on Canada and Mexico were in response to the illegal fentanyl distribution, which has led to thousands of deaths in the US. Both countries remain among the top US trading partners.
