The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on unjustified U.S. tariffs against Canada:
“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.
“While less than 1 per cent of the fentanyl intercepted at the U.S. border comes from Canada, we have worked relentlessly to address this scourge that affects Canadians and Americans alike. We implemented a $1.3 billion border plan with new choppers, boots on the ground, more co-ordination, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. We appointed a Fentanyl Czar, listed transnational criminal cartels as terrorist organizations, launched the Joint Operational Intelligence Cell, and are establishing a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force on organized crime. Because of this work – in partnership with the United States – fentanyl seizures from Canada have dropped 97 per cent between December 2024 and January 2025 to a near-zero low of 0.03 pounds seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“Canada will not let this unjustified decision go unanswered. Should American tariffs come into effect tonight, Canada will, effective 12:01 a.m. EST tomorrow, respond with 25 per cent tariffs against $155 billion of American goods – starting with tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately, and tariffs on the remaining $125 billion on American products in 21 days’ time. Our tariffs will remain in place until the U.S. trade action is withdrawn, and should U.S. tariffs not cease, we are in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures.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.
“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.”
Could suspend all/most tariffs from China while "illegitmate/unjustified" extortion is in place. That could help retailers with US crossborder shopping into Canada, and encourage US to drop tariffs quickly before alternate supply chains/brands take hold in Canada.
It doesn't make sense for Auto industry to start new US investments if tariffs go away in 2 or 4 years. But auto sector commitment to Canada is needed to not shift our auto consumption to better value imports. "National security" restrictions on FDI from China in our resource sector have to be eliminated today. Negotiate processing plants for resources in Canada, to ship more finished products elsewhere, but we need to stop having only US control our economy/security.
US behaviour is unacceptable and based on lies. There is no negotiation that will work with such terrorists. Need to start permanent structural economic/security shifts now, and force US to beg forgiveness for their mistake.
Why do you have such a hard on to trade with china? The country who has a an opaque court to go after trade partners in Canada?
You never seem to promote Africa other asian countries, europe (outside of russia) unless prompted.
Edit: I keep forgetting South and Central America, don't mean to not include them. Unlike sprial.
Also need to immediately remove terrorist designation of Mexican cartels (Excuse that entitles US to war on Mexico). Ships from China can help Canada Mexico trade bypassing US roads/rail if that is affected. Agriculture has important Mexican sourcing, and we have supply that competes with US. Auto parts trade can help smooth production in both countries.
The direct oppossite of US sycophancy that has been applied prior to these tariffs needs to be Canadian policy. It plays into the divisiveness of the world that US profits from.
Again with banging on that china drum. Are you a tankie?
We don't need closer realtions with china.
Tankie confirmed.
First, China makes stuff that competes with what little the US makes. They also buy a lot of stuff. As a country that can stand up to US, protecting their trade with Canada could at least result in a UN security council objection to invasion.
The US was by far the greatest evil in the world prior to Trump, but instead of hoping for CIA/deepstate evil against world, the US empire's shift to explicit extortion/war on allies, and by far the biggest threat to Canada, explaining facts about fentanyl and fair trade balance is not an effective response. Trump/cabinet knows they are lying instead of mistaken.
Aggressive moves to diversify trade now instead of waiting for war to roll out is needed. By all means sell stuff to Europe/Africa/South America, but China is a big market, and can sell us substitutes for everything US. Cancel US weapons contracts. Boeing orders.
Playing into US hands to amplify divisiveness between us, China, Mexico is path to defeat. We need to be on team delete America, and divisiveness is team USA. Other NATO colonies will also be offered a path of divisiveness to increase their sycophancy to US. The Asian ones are so far spared, but may side with US, as their traditional CIA coopted sycophants are politically entrenched to servitude rather than "these supposed values we all BS about".
Vassal state bullshit Chinese propaganda.