Canada is not taking Donald Trump’s tariffs on the country lightly.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hit back with his own sweeping series of counter-tariffs on U.S.-made products after the Trump administration’s levies on Canadian imports went into effect just after midnight on Tuesday.
“Today, after a 30-day pause, the United States administration has decided to proceed with imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports and 10 per cent tariffs on Canadian energy. Let me be unequivocally clear—there is no justification for these actions,” Trudeau said in a statement before the tariffs came into force.
Canada has imposed 25 percent tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. products. In just 21 days, another $125 billion in costs will be added onto a number of high-price items for American consumers, including cars, trucks and steel, Trudeau said.
“Canada will not let this unjustified decision go unanswered,” he added. “Our tariffs will remain in place until the U.S. trade action is withdrawn, and should U.S. tariffs not cease, we are in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures. While we urge the U.S. administration to reconsider their tariffs, Canada remains firm in standing up for our economy, our jobs, our workers, and for a fair deal.”
Trudeau noted: “Because of the tariffs imposed by the U.S., Americans will pay more for groceries, gas, and cars, and potentially lose thousands of jobs. Tariffs will disrupt an incredibly successful trading relationship. They will violate the very trade agreement that was negotiated by President Trump in his last term.”
Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said at a mining conference on Monday that he would “fight like hell,” claiming Trump is “underestimating the Canadian people.” He warned that he could remove U.S.-made alcohol from Liquor Control Board of Ontario shelves and tear up a $100-million deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for Starlink internet.
“If they [U.S.] want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything, including cut off their energy, with a smile on my face,” Ford said. “We’re going to win this tariff war,” he added.
“I can’t for the life of me figure out why this guy is attacking his closest neighbors, allies and friend,” Ford said.
Trump’s tariffs announcement caused chaos on the stock market, causing markets to spiral as hopes of avoiding a trade war were dashed. According to the BBC, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 1.4 percent, the S&P 500 was down 1.75 percent and the Nasdaq sank 2.6 percent.
“No room left for Mexico or for Canada,” Trump said at the White House on Monday. “The tariffs, you know, they’re all set. They go into effect tomorrow.”
According to Bloomberg, Canada is the largest buyer of American-made goods, and vice-versa.
Responding to a press release from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce urging “reconsideration of, and a swift end to,” the tariffs, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce said on X, “We couldn’t agree more.”
An additional 10 percent tariff on China was also announced by Trump on Monday.
