Canada braces for tariff battle as Trudeau vows swift response
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that Canada is prepared for a careful, energetic, yet reasonable, and immediate response to tariffs if the United States imposes them on imports from Canada. The White House announced a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico and a 10 percent tariff on China.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced he would impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Saturday, February 1. Canada does not favour such decisions, "but if he starts his actions, we will respond as well," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday.
The Prime Minister spoke directly, recognizing that the upcoming weeks could be difficult for Canada. He emphasized that the federal, provincial, and local governments would work together to support Canadians.
According to President Trump, the announced tariffs are a response to, among other things, the alleged influx of illegal immigration and drugs from Canada. In recent weeks, Canada has increased border protection, and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc posted a video on Thursday explaining how Canada has improved border security. Ottawa allocated approximately 1.4 billion Canadian dollars for this purpose, as Trudeau reminded on Friday, noting that only 1 percent of fentanyl enters the U.S. from Canada, just as only 1 percent of illegal immigrants to the U.S. cross the Canadian border.
Trudeau will attend the Canada–U.S. Relations Council meeting on Friday, which includes politicians, business representatives, and trade union members.
Talks are ongoing
Three Canadian government representatives, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty, and Immigration Minister Marc Miller are in Washington on Friday to discuss the country with Republican politicians.
The Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, also responded to the announcement of tariffs. - She stated that we will always defend our nation's dignity, respect for our sovereignty, and dialogue on equal terms without subordination. She added that Mexico would wait for Trump's final decision and maintain a cool head when making decisions.
Tariffs on China as well
On Friday, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed the plan to introduce tariffs on Canada and Mexico during a press conference. She could not specify whether the tariffs would also apply to oil, which the U.S. purchases in large quantities from these countries. Leavitt also announced that the United States would impose a 10 percent tariff on China.
